AVALLON

AVALLON. - Capital of the department of the Yonne, 52 km. from Auxerre, on the right bank of the river Cousin. It is the ancient Aballo in the Itinerary of Antoninus and in the Peutinger Table; it belongs to the archdiocese of Sens (v.). A stronghold in the heart of France, it was contested by the Frankish kings and the dukes of Burgundy. Occupied by Charles VII, it was definitively reunited with the crown of France at the death of Charles the Bold.

On the site of an ancient church dedicated to the Madonna, the collegiate church of St. Lazarus arose at the beginning of the 12th century, greatly venerated in the region because its relics were destination of continuous pilgrimages in the nearby town of Vézelay. In the interior the central nave presents its bays with progressively lower height given the slope of the terrain. On the outside the main apse and the two side apses are contained by a straight wall. The two portals present a rich decoration; the tympana of the portals were decorated with the adoration of the Magi, with the descent into limbo and with statues, among which the destroyed one of St. Lazarus. The torii columns demonstrate, according to Mâle, the influence of miniature painting on the decoration.

Outside the town, the church of St. Martin du Bourg is artistically noteworthy. An archaeological collection is gathered in the picturesque clock tower. The library contains over 5000 vols. and 100 manuscripts.