Autricourt is located some 55 km south-east ofTroyes and 22 km north by north-east ofChâtillon-sur-Seine. The northern border of the commune is the departmental border betweenCôte-d'Or andAube. Access to the commune is by the D13 road fromGrancey-sur-Ource in the north-west passing through the centre of the commune and the village and continuing south-east toBelan-sur-Ource.Much of the commune in the north and south is heavily forested however the centre of the commune is farmland.[3]
TheOurce river flows through the centre of the commune from south-east to north-west before it continues north-west to join theSeine atMerrey-sur-Arce. TheRuisseau de Beaumont flows from the north-east towards the south-west to join the Ource in the commune.[3]
The village hasCeltic origins with ditches and embankments that have been observed near the present village. In the hamlet ofChampigny Gallic tombs have been found. The nameAutricourt came from theFrankish era and was the name of a landowner:Auster withcurtis 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 theDukes of Burgundy.
AChateau (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 byJacques-Alexandre Gautier de Vinfrais, formerly Lord ofVilleneuve-le-Roi and of Ablon. In 1809 the chateau was inherited by the Treil de Pardailhan family who have conserved it until recent years.
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 theNational 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.
Louis-Anne Gautier de Vinfrais,Knight of Saint Louis and of theLegion of Honour, arquebus-holder forLouis XVIII andCharles X, admitted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during theRestoration. 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]
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