Semur, a town of antique hunters.
For a town of fewer than four thousand people, Semur brings together a density of secondary-market dealers uncommon in Burgundy. Its auction houses settle into 18th-century hôtels particuliers, Semur's grand private mansions — the Hôtel Jambon for Daguerre, a practice run since 2002 by Alexandre Landre — while the private dealers offer Burgundian furniture, paintings, objets d'art and curios.
The walk is done on foot, almost without a detour: you leave Maison Jazey, head up the rue de la Liberté to the Semur gate, turn off along the rue du Renaudot, then walk down the rue Buffon, where the two auction houses and the La Cabottine workshop-boutique are clustered. A morning is enough for the loop; a full day to linger, haggle and go back for a second look.
Antiquaire porte de Semur.
Pascal Diebold · 4 rue de la Liberté.
A door away from Maison Jazey, Pascal Diebold's shop occupies a historic address on the rue de la Liberté and has dealt in antiques for decades: furniture, paintings, antique and modern objets d'art, ceramics and silverware.
The shop also carries out restoration of objets d'art, welcoming both collectors after a particular piece and the curious who come to rummage. The setting — spare and crowded at once — rewards a patient visit.
Our take: a natural first stop for anyone staying at Maison Jazey — the next door along, quite literally.
La Belle Poule antiquités.
Pierre Douchet · 3 rue du Renaudot.
On the rue du Renaudot, La Belle Poule is the gallery of Pierre Douchet, an antique dealer for more than thirty years, paired with a furniture-restoration workshop. The emphasis falls on furniture and works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries, with a few 19th-century pieces and a graphic-arts holding: engravings and drawings.
The gallery is listed on Proantic and is one of the dealers who co-organise the Brocante & Bouillon du vieux Semur, the town's summer flea-market gathering.
Our take: for lovers of characterful pieces, panelling and framed drawings, this is the most scholarly stop on the trail.
La Cabottine.
Dalila & Frédéric · 8 rue Buffon.
At 8 rue Buffon, Dalila and Frédéric have run, since 2019, a workshop-boutique that blends interior decoration, upholstery and cabinetmaking. The space offers a well-judged mix of antiques sourced across France and Europe, contemporary pieces, lighting, tableware, scented candles and supplies for painting furniture.
The on-site restoration workshop means an armchair can be reupholstered or a chest of drawers brought back to life — a rare service in the town centre.
Our take: the most design-led address in the centre, warm and photogenic.
Semur's two auction houses — Daguerre and Alexandre Landre — face each other on the rue Buffon, at numbers 18 and 17. A quiet concentration, yet one the art dealers of Paris and Lyon know well: it is easy to take in both salerooms in a single morning.
Daguerre — auction house.
Hôtel Jambon · 18 rue Buffon.
At the Hôtel Jambon, 18 rue Buffon, Daguerre's Burgundy branch sets out its weekend sales in the salons of an 18th-century mansion. Xavier Sauty de Chalon holds regular hours there for complimentary valuations and inventories.
The sales draw local collectors, Swiss bidders and live bidding via Drouot. Furniture, paintings, objets d'art, rare books, jewellery and wines feature on the programme, depending on the sale.
Our take: check the sale calendar before your stay — a saleroom session in Semur is an experience in its own right.
Alexandre Landre, auctioneer.
Saleroom · 17 rue Buffon.
Just next door, at 17 rue Buffon, the Alexandre Landre firm — auctioneer, licence 2002-311 — runs one of its five French salerooms. The practice covers fine art, jewellery, clocks and watches, decorative arts, wines, Russian art, arms and furniture.
Every Monday afternoon, free valuations with no appointment: a ritual the regulars know well, and one we happily recommend to travellers curious to understand the antiques ecosystem of the Auxois.
Our take: the second auction house on the rue Buffon, a complement to Daguerre.
The five addresses.
- Antiquaire porte de Semur
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4 rue de la Liberté, 21140
03 80 97 08 62
Mon – Fri: 9 am – 7 pm · Sat: 10 am – 7 pm
≈ 1-min walk (same street) - La Belle Poule antiquités
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3 rue du Renaudot, 21140
06 44 06 36 77
By appointment / shop hours
≈ 4-min walk - La Cabottine
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8 rue Buffon, 21140
07 69 46 37 37
boutique-cabottine.fr
≈ 5-min walk - Daguerre — Hôtel Jambon
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18 rue Buffon, 21140
daguerre.fr
Wed – Fri: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm / 2 – 6 pm
≈ 6-min walk - Alexandre Landre
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17 rue Buffon, 21140
03 80 24 09 66
Mon: 2 – 5.30 pm (free valuations) + by appointment
≈ 6-min walk - From Maison Jazey
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20 rue de la Liberté, 21140
Walking route: rue de la Liberté → Semur gate → rue du Renaudot → rue Buffon
To go further.
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Fashion, jewellery, a bookshop, patisserie, fine grocer — our eight addresses.
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