A view of the village of Baon and its stone rooftops, in the heart of the Tonnerrois.

Yonne · Tonnerrois · Burgundy

Living in Baon, a stone village for slowing down without dropping off the map

A few kilometres from Tonnerre, Baon lines up its stone houses in the hollow of the Tonnerrois valleys. Quiet streets, plenty of sky, paths that run off into the fields — and the train, at the nearby station, to stay connected to the rest of the world.

  • A stone village in the Yonne
  • A quarter of an hour from Tonnerre
  • Paris reachable by train via Tonnerre
  • Nature, paths and châteaux all around
  • 58residents (2023)
  • ~14 kmfrom Tonnerre
  • ~1h45Paris by train
  • Natura 2000marsh & paths
  • 3 castlesTanlay · Ancy · Maulnes

A village of stone

Here, stone is everywhere — walls, barns, worn thresholds, gently rolling roofs.

Many houses are old and the village has kept a rural outline that few recent buildings disturb. Nothing frozen in time, though: these are lived-in houses, repaired over the generations — a village that lives in its stone rather than putting it on show.

Ambiance illustration: a stone village in the hollow of the Burgundy valleys.
The stone village

Connected without the rush

Baon is not the end of the world. Tonnerre is a quarter of an hour away by car (~14 km), with its station, shops and everyday services. From there you reach the region's towns — and Paris — without giving up the quiet of the countryside.

  • Paris by train — Tonnerre station links directly to Paris (TER/Intercités from Paris-Bercy): allow roughly 1h45 to 2h depending on the timetable.
  • Montbard by TGV — another gateway to Paris: Montbard station puts Paris just over an hour away (about 1h by direct TGV), some 40 minutes by car from Baon.
  • Regional bearings — Dijon, Sens and Troyes act as hub towns for shopping, culture or work, reachable by car.
  • Working from here — Baon is eligible for fibre optic (full coverage of the commune); several operators offer it.
Google Maps Plan Waze

Nature as a neighbour

The countryside does not stop at the last house: it surrounds the village.

Paths set off between meadows and hedgerows, skirt the woods and reach the Natura 2000 marshland — and the Burgundy Canal is only a few kilometres away. You head out for a walk without even thinking about it. As the seasons turn, the quiet life of the place reveals itself: butterflies in summer, fireflies once night falls, the birds of the marsh. Nothing spectacular or landscaped — a countryside discovered on foot and in silence.

Ambiance illustration: a Burgundy meadow crossed by butterflies.Generated illustration
The meadow and its butterflies
Ambiance illustration: a country path between fields and hedgerows.Generated illustration
A path through the fields
Ambiance illustration: fireflies at dusk at the edge of a wood.Generated illustration
Fireflies at dusk
Ambiance illustration: undergrowth in Burgundy.Generated illustration
The undergrowth

A land of châteaux

You don't just live in a quiet village: you live in a land of heritage. Tanlay and its moats, Ancy-le-Franc and its Renaissance façade, Maulnes and its pentagonal plan: châteaux just a few kilometres away, part of daily life more than of a tourist leaflet.

The château of Tanlay, its façade and towers, seen from the lawn.
The Château de Tanlay
The Renaissance façade of the Château d’Ancy-le-Franc.
Ancy-le-Franc

Settling in Baon

Settling in Baon often means taking on an old house and bringing it back to life.

Redoing a roof, bringing a barn back to life, replanting a garden; finding space, setting up a quiet office for remote work, living in the countryside without feeling cut off from everything. It also means choosing a village on a human scale, where everyone counts — a pace for those looking to settle rather than to pass through.

Ambiance illustration: a wide sky above the fields.
The sky above the fields

Who is it for?

Baon won't suit everyone, and that's just fine. People often feel at home here when they are…

  • Ambiance illustration: a laptop on a table, a stone terrace open to the countryside.Generated illustration

    Remote workers

    A quiet office, room to think, fibre to stay connected and Tonnerre station for the days at the office.

  • Ambiance illustration: a packed metro train at rush hour.Generated illustration

    After more space

    Families or couples who want a large house, a garden and extra rooms, far from the noise and density of the city.

  • Ambiance illustration: a hand brushes the greenery above a stone wall, the village in the background.Generated illustration

    Nature lovers

    Walkers, gardeners, watchers of the seasons: here, the paths, meadows and marsh begin at the end of the street.

  • Ambiance illustration: craftsmen building a dry-stone wall.Generated illustration

    Lovers of old stone

    Those who dream of an old house to restore, a barn to convert, a limestone wall to save.

  • Ambiance illustration: a man walking a horse along a path, vineyards and a village beyond.Generated illustration

    Active retirees

    A peaceful setting to breathe, garden and entertain, while keeping Tonnerre and its services a few minutes away.

  • The Fosse Dionne, the circular spring and wash-house of Tonnerre.Photo: Velvet · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Close to Tonnerre

    Those who work around Tonnerre and want to come home to quiet in the evening, without living in town.

Come and see

A village isn’t toured like a monument — you come to know it. If you feel like stopping by, or simply have a question, the town hall door stays open.