Serein
The Serein at Chablis
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Burgundy
Mouth
• location	Yonne
• coordinates	47°55′21″N 3°31′30″E / 47.92250°N 3.52500°E / 47.92250; 3.52500
Length	188 km (117 mi)
Basin size	1,120 km2 (430 sq mi)
Basin features
Progression	Yonne→ Seine→ English Channel

The Serein (French pronunciation: [səʁɛ̃] ^ⓘ) is a river of eastern France. It is the main waterway of the Chablis wine district in Burgundy. It is 188 km (117 mi) long.^[1] The Serein is not navigable.

Origin of the name

Serein is the French word for "serene". This may reflect the placid nature of its course, or the strong monastic tradition in the area.

Geography

The Serein rises in the Auxois hills at Arconcey and flows north-north-west into the Yonne at Bassou. Both the A6 Autoroute du Soleil and the Paris-Lyon railway line follow a similar route through the area.

Main tributaries of the Serein and their length

The Serein has the following tributaries over 10 km length:^[1]

• Baigne (L) - 14 km
• Soutain (L) - 13 km
• Argentalet (L) - 26 km
• Ru du Champ Millet (R) - 10 km
• Ru de Vaucharme (L) - 16 km

note: R=Right L=Left

Départements and towns crossed

From source to mouth:

• Côte-d'Or: Arconcey, La Motte-Ternant, Époisses
• Yonne: Montréal, L'Isle-sur-Serein, Noyers, Chablis, Pontigny Abbey, Bassou

History

The history of the area is dominated by the Church at Pontigny and nearby Auxerre, whose remit extended to building the famous castle at Noyers.