Autricourt is located some 55 km south-east of Troyes and 22 km north by north-east of Châtillon-sur-Seine. The northern border of the commune is the departmental border between Côte-d'Or and Aube. Access to the commune is by the D13 road from Grancey-sur-Ource in the north-west passing through the centre of the commune and the village and continuing south-east to Belan-sur-Ource.
Much of the commune in the north and south is heavily forested however the centre of the commune is farmland.[3]
The Ource river flows through the centre of the commune from south-east to north-west before it continues north-west to join the Seine at Merrey-sur-Arce. The Ruisseau de Beaumont flows from the north-east towards the south-west to join the Ource in the commune.[3]
The village has Celtic origins with ditches and embankments that have been observed near the present village. In the hamlet of Champigny Gallic tombs have been found. The name Autricourt came from the Frankish era and was the name of a landowner: Auster with curtis meaning "domain". Araound the 11th century a feudal fief was created as evidenced by the presence of the castle and which later came under the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy.
A Chateau (14th century).[13] The chateau is in a park in the village centre and is privately owned. The oldest part dates to the end of the 11th century and it is surrounded by a moat fed by a branch of the Ource. The existing building, a lodging flanked by two round towers, dates to the 14th and 16th centuries. Over time it belonged to the lords of Autricourt, Rupt, Anglure, Ligneville, Crillon, Valois, Mursey, and Gaucourt.[14] In 1795 the chateau and its grounds were purchased by Jacques-Alexandre Gautier de Vinfrais, formerly Lord of Villeneuve-le-Roi and of Ablon. In 1809 the chateau was inherited by the Treil de Pardailhan family who have conserved it until recent years.
Religious heritage
The commune has many religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
The Parish Church of Saint Valentin (15th century)[15]
Because of its efforts to raise the quality of its nocturnal environment the commune was labeled a "2 star Village" in 2013.[46] The label is awarded by the National Association for the Protection of the sky and nocturnal environment (ANPCEN) and has 5 levels. A panel is displayed at the entrance to the village to show this distinction.
Notable people linked to the commune
Louis-Anne Gautier de Vinfrais, Knight of Saint Louis and of the Legion of Honour, arquebus-holder for Louis XVIII and Charles X, admitted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during the Restoration. He was mayor of Autricourt from 1813 to 1830. He was a descendant of Charles Gautier de Vinfrais, an officer of the Royal Hunt.[47]