Fontaines is best explored through its stone heritage: quarries, stonemasonry and historic monuments offer a journey from local history to practical opportunities for walks and discovery. The Maison du Patrimoine focuses on geology and the history of the quarries; alongside the exhibition, the Église Saint-Just, the Lavoir Saint-Nicolas and a themed trail offer more to explore. During your stay, you can choose between exhibition displays, historic buildings and exploring the village on foot.
Quarries, geology and craftsmanship
The “De la pierre à l’œuvre” exhibition at the Maison du Patrimoine describes the geology of Fontaines and the history of its quarries. It also features a fossil collection from the Côte Chalonnaise and traditional stonemasonry tools. Some of the tools are still used to restore historic monuments. The quarries were already being worked in Gallo-Roman times, so the story spans everything from early extraction to working with stone.
A guided tour of the Fontaines quarries explores the history of work in the area in a different way: the commentary recalls the quarrymen and stonemasons who worked there. Visitors can also try their hand at the craft: at a stone-carving workshop at the Maison du Patrimoine, participants can work on a block of stone and take their finished piece home. As dates, fees and availability may vary, check these details before making firm plans for the workshop.
Church, bell and washhouse
The Église Saint-Just is a listed Cistercian church dating from the late 12th century. It also houses a bell dating from 1515, which is registered as a historic monument. A self-guided tour is possible inside. As visitor arrangements may change, check the latest visiting information before your visit.
Another glimpse of local heritage awaits at the Lavoir Saint-Nicolas, an octagonal washhouse dating from 1832. Numerous springs in Fontaines feed fountains, washhouses and livestock troughs before their water flows into the Thalie. The springs and historic washhouse offer further insight into the village’s buildings and water supply.
Exploring Fontaines on foot
Several walking routes are accessible to everyone and follow country lanes to viewpoints and local heritage sites. For a clearly defined walk, try the Chemin des calvaires: this 7.8 km circular route starts in Fontaines, is rated very easy and is listed as taking 1 hour and 30 minutes. It includes eleven points of interest in total. The stated duration can help you plan your time; if you would like to spend longer at the stops, allow extra time.
One of the points of interest on the Chemin des calvaires is the Saint-Nicolas calvary, dating from the 18th century. One side depicts Christ wearing the crown of thorns, while the other shows the Virgin and Child. The cross is a specific stop along the route and offers a glimpse of the religious imagery depicted on this monument.
Fontaines on a cycling trip
A cycling stage also leads to Fontaines: the third stage of the “Au fil du Canal du Centre… à vélo” route passes through the village. Cyclists leave the cycle path for a few hours and ride into the village to discover its historic heritage. This gives you two different ways to explore: a circular route starting in Fontaines, or a several-hour detour into the village as part of the cycling tour.
Discover more destinations: Sens-Sur-Seille, Plottes, Vitry-En-Charollais, Saint-Loup-Géanges, Charolles, Mussy-Sous-Dun, Saint-Didier-en-Brionnais, Saint-Symphorien-De-Marmagne.
For the broader travel guide: Saône-Et-Loire.
