Selongey brings together ecclesiastical architectural history, a Gallo-Roman archaeological site and a landscape of wooded hills and wide expanses of grain fields. When planning, it is worth looking at the area’s history on several scales: from the listed church and the chapels with their recorded dates to the layout of the Villa des Tuillières. There is also a special point of reference in time: the Fêtes de Gallas commemorate an event from 1638 and take place every 50 years. This makes it possible to distinguish between architectural and archaeological history on the one hand and a stay planned specifically around a festival date on the other.
Churches and chapels: different points in time
The church in Selongey has been classified as a historic monument since 20 July 1908. The church heritage also includes the carillon in the bell tower of the Église Saint-Rémy: it dates from the 14th century and comprises 48 bells. These offer two complementary perspectives on sacred architectural history: formal heritage classification and a specific feature whose origins date back to the Middle Ages.
The chapels can be compared by their construction dates, locations and a striking detail. The Chapelle Sainte-Gertrude was built in 1530. Inside is a statue of Saint Gertrude, with mice climbing up her cloak. The Chapelle Sainte-Anne in Selongey dates from 1637, providing a later historical point of reference. Their locations also differ: Sainte-Anne is in Selongey, while Sainte-Gertrude is in Montagny, a quarter of a lieue from Selongey town centre. Although the chapels are associated with different places, their dates allow them to be considered together as part of the area’s history.
A Gallo-Roman archaeological site and a historic tradition
The Villa des Tuillières is a Gallo-Roman archaeological site with five buildings spread over an area of one and a half hectares. Its overall plan is still very easy to make out; the complex’s violent destruction by fire helped preserve it. Unlike the church and chapels, the focus here is on the relationship between several buildings and the legible overall plan of the complex. This makes the villa a distinct cultural-history highlight alongside the individual buildings.
The Fêtes de Gallas commemorate the attack on Selongey in 1638. The municipality holds the festival every 50 years; the next event is scheduled for 2038. The festival tradition therefore answers a different planning question from the historic buildings and archaeological sites: it may determine when to travel. If you would like to plan your stay specifically around the Fêtes de Gallas, factor the scheduled 2038 date into your plans and confirm the event details before booking.
Landscape and access
The area around Selongey is characterised by the hilly, wooded foothills of the “mountains” and the wide grain fields of the Dijon Plain. The wooded terrain and open plain offer two distinct landscape views, adding a regional perspective to the local and architectural history. For travellers who want to explore both culture and landscape, the surroundings provide another highlight alongside the historic buildings.
For travel by road, the A31 is a useful reference point: Selongey is about five minutes from the motorway via the Til-Châtel exit. This is an approximate travel time for this road route.
Climbing in Selongey
Climbing is one of the leisure activities offered in Selongey by the CLÉS association. If you would like to include this activity in your stay, contact CLÉS in advance to ask about current opportunities to take part.
Discover more destinations: Villeferry, Heuilley-Sur-Saône, Aloxe-Corton, Saulon-La-Rue, Vandenesse-En-Auxois, Pernand-Vergelesses, Arnay-Le-Duc, Poncey-Sur-L'ignon.
See the regional travel overview: Cote-Dor.
