Bierry-les-Belles-Fontaines offers two clearly distinct ways to explore the area: architectural history and forest landscape. Churches, chapels, Château d’Anstrude and the public washhouse Lavoir public represent the cultural focus; the Vallon de la Come du Pied de Biche draws attention to landforms and beech forest habitats. Before your trip, you can decide whether historic buildings or the natural environment should be the main focus.
Architectural history across several periods
The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste apparently existed as early as the beginning of the 12th century. Its Marian chapel was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style between 1877 and 1880. The style attribution applies to this rebuilding and not automatically to the entire church. Another sacred site is the Chapel of Saint Hubert, dedicated to Saint Hubert and restored in 1956. The dates can be read as different building phases: an apparently early church structure, the rebuilding of the Marian chapel in the 19th century, and the restoration of the Chapel of Saint Hubert in the 20th century. Neo-Gothic architecture draws on medieval forms and refers to a later style; it should be distinguished chronologically from medieval Gothic architecture.
The château complex and public washhouse
At Château d’Anstrude, the building and its outbuildings, the entrance grille, and the balustrade on the walls around the moat are listed as historic monuments. The listing was made by decree dated June 12, 1946; this date refers to the decree, not to when the château was built. The public washhouse, Lavoir public, is also partially listed as a historic monument. Its façades and roofs, as well as the interior of the washhouse itself, are protected. The two listings therefore cover different scopes: a named château complex and specific exterior and interior areas of the washhouse.
Forest landscape and habitats
The ZNIEFF Vallon de la Come du Pied de Biche is located in the commune of Bierry-les-Belles-Fontaines. The natural area includes a wooded combe and the edges of a Jurassic limestone plateau. The slopes also differ: on a well-exposed slope, the area includes dry beech forest; on the opposite slope, moist beech forest. The contrast therefore relates both to the landforms and to the different forest types. Both habitats are considered to be of European interest. You can understand the landscape from two perspectives: the combe and plateau edge provide a reference to landforms, while the opposing beech forest types provide one to habitats.
Travel planning and accommodation
The historic sites and the wooded surroundings, with their springs and waterways, can be included in hiking or mountain biking routes. This lets you combine architectural history and landscape as themes for an active trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Bierry-les-Belles-Fontaines, you can first consider which theme you would like to shape your stay most.
Discover more destinations: Pourrain, Molinons, Villy, Rogny-Les-Sept-Écluses, Sauvigny-Le-Bois, Cravant, Préhy, Champcevrais.
For the wider travel overview: Yonne.
