Office de Tourisme de Pouilly-en-Auxois

The town of Pouilly-en-Auxois, situated originally on a hill-top, gradually built up lower down in the valley from the 16th century onwards, when the castle and surrounding walls built by the Dukes of Burgundy was no longer needed. Unfortunately, there are no castle remains to be seen. On the hill named St Pierre, the “Chapelle de Notre Dame Trouvée” (Chapel of Our Lady Found), built in the 13th and 14th century, was the spiritual centre of the village until 1868 when the St Pierre church was built in the centre. The word ‘found’ in the name of the chapel comes from the legend that a black statue of Our Lady was found in the rubble of a building destroyed by the Normands. This valuable statue from the 12th century was stolen in 1980. From the 12th century, Pouilly was a centre for agricultural markets, for wheat mainly. Just before the Revolution Pouilly became the property of the Royal House of St Cyr after having belonged to the Beauffremont, the Chabot and the d’Harcourt families. In 1818, the economy of Pouilly depended on wheat, hemp, oils, skins, wool and sheep. Hat-making was also an activity. In 1847 there were cattle and horse markets, and cement quarries.

POUILLY-EN-AUXOIS
The town of Pouilly-en-Auxois, situated originally on a hill-top, gradually built up lower down in the valley from the 16th century onwards, when the castle and surrounding walls built by the Dukes of Burgundy was no longer needed. Unfortunately, there are no castle remains to be seen. On the hill named St Pierre, the “Chapelle de Notre Dame Trouvée” (Chapel of Our Lady Found), built in the 13th and 14th century, was the spiritual centre of the village until 1868 when the St Pierre church was built in the centre. The word ‘found’ in the name of the chapel comes from the legend that a black statue of Our Lady was found in the rubble of a building destroyed by the Normands. This valuable statue from the 12th century was stolen in 1980. From the 12th century, Pouilly was a centre for agricultural markets, for wheat mainly. Just before the Revolution Pouilly became the property of the Royal House of St Cyr after having belonged to the Beauffremont, the Chabot and the d’Harcourt families. In 1818, the economy of Pouilly depended on wheat, hemp, oils, skins, wool and sheep. Hat-making was also an activity. In 1847 there were cattle and horse markets, and cement quarries.
THE DOVE-COTE
This round tower dating from the 15th century, 9 m high, is now the Tourist Office. The interior walls contain 1200 pigeon holes. Originally, a ladder turned around a central axis and allowed access to the young pigeons in the higher holes. Dove-cotes belonged to the lords at this time. The pigeons in flight caused much damage to farms and during the French Revolution, they were due to be exterminated, as well as the dove-cotes themselves. Nevertheless, there are still three dove-cotes in Pouilly, as well as a square aviary.
	The dove-cote before and after the renovation