We loved this riverfront house from the moment we found it in 2001 during our first visit to Semur-en-Auxois. It is a peaceful getaway just a short walk to the center of town, and just across the river from one of the best restaurants in town. We encourage guests to carefully review the floor plan before booking, to make sure the house is suitable for their needs. The house has 3 floors: the entry level has the salon/living room (accessed by 3 steps down), kitchen, and a bathroom. The upper level, accessed by stairs in the kitchen, has a US Queen/UK King bed and en-suite shower room, plus a sitting area, desk, and a private balcony. The lower level, accessed by external stairs, has flexible sleeping arrangements: let us know whether you want it as 2 single beds or a US King/UK Superking. The lower bedroom also has an en-suite shower room and direct access to the riverside patio with a stone dining table and river access. Every room in the house has river views, and from some areas you can see the town ramparts. In addition to the riverside patio and upper bedroom balcony, there is a small riverfront garden area slightly elevated from the river, near the firewood storage. There is also an upper garden, accessed by external stairs, with a seating bench and plenty of room for a picnic. We are happy to answer any questions you might have before (and after) you book. The check-in is contactless: we will send you directions and a lockbox code before you arrive. Our local property manager, Igor, is fantastic and can help with anything you may need during your stay.

We love sharing this house and the town of Semur with guests. When we visit ourselves, we love to take walks around town, visit the Sunday farmer's market, enjoy the pedestrian area in town at our favorite local brasserie, attend tastings at the local wine shop, and use the house as a base for exploring all the different wine regions in Burgundy. Others use the house as a sanctuary and writing retreat, as a home base for bicycle tours, as a centralised home for a gastronomical tour of this part of France, and more. We, the owners, are Jerry and Kathy, and our local property manager is Igor. Our adult children, Brooke and Tim, occasionally help with urgent queries. Between us, we cover time zones between the west coast US and mainland Europe. We are very happy to share any knowledge we've gained over the years that will help you plan your own stay, and we also have a rich guestbook full of individual comments from our guests over the past 20 years. We keep a photo album of guestbook pages, so do let us know if you'd like to see it before you book!

Semur-en-Auxois is a picturesque town with a rich history, and it is also an active, modern town where people live their daily lives. Tourists are welcome, of course, but Semur also is a place where neighbors know each other and people warmly greet you with "bonsoir" on your evening walk along the river. There is a delightful mix of old and new, including the tried-and-true culinary favorites as well as new shops and restaurants that open regularly. You can stock the kitchen from only the farmer's market and the local organic shop and butcher and small local shops, or you can visit one of multiple large grocery stores -- or both! It's up to you. The town comes especially alive during the Medieval Festival in May, the fireworks display around the Assumption in August, the wine harvest and uncorking in autumn and spring. During Christmas, the cathedral and town hall squares transform themselves into a Christmas market, and the draught horses that run the races during the Medieval festival are outfitted with reindeer-like antlers and proudly draw Santa's sleigh around town for the local (and not-so-local) children. This vibrant town is small enough to open its heart to visitors, and large enough to keep you occupied for your entire stay trying all the restaurants and cafes, and visiting all its shops and galleries. And its central location in Burgundy mean that you are well located for a wider exploration of the region, knowing you will be greeted by the sight of the ramparts and cathedral as you come back "home" to Semur when you are ready.