As you travel from Sens towards Auxerre, the next place of any size on the Yonne is the modest town of JOIGNY , its elegant old houses ranged up the slope above the river. The first fort was constructed here at the end of the tenth century, with houses built beneath it, though much of the original settlement was destroyed by a fire in 1530. The town is not worth a prolonged visit, but makes a pleasant rest stop, particularly on market days (Wed & Sat). Buildings worthy of attention are the Château des Gondi , built by Cardinal Gondi in the sixteenth century and wilfully Classical, and the remains of the … more »