A château with preserved 18th-century interiors, churches with different historical connections, and a circular route that takes in the lake, landscape and birds offer several specific ways to discover Longeau-Percey. When planning your stay, you can first decide which focus you want to shape it: architecture, church history or outdoor activity. Each theme has its own emphasis and can also be explored on its own.
Château and churches: different periods in time
The Château de Percey-le-Pautel was built between 1752 and 1755, replacing an older building that had been destroyed in the early 17th century. The château therefore belongs to a later period than its predecessor. The preserved 18th-century interiors include wood panelling and stucco. These are two different decorative elements: wood panelling on the one hand and sculptural ornament on the other. Two water basins are still visible on the grounds. To understand the building history, it helps to distinguish between the two buildings: the destroyed older house was the predecessor; the dates 1752 to 1755 refer to the later château. The interiors and water basins add concrete details about the estate to this historical perspective.
The Église Saint-Hilaire de Longeau probably dates from the 12th century (1193). In the 17th century, during the Thirty Years’ War, it was burned down by Croatian troops. The main altar is signed by Antoine Besançon of Langres. The dating is probable; the fire and signature are additional, distinct points of reference in the church’s history.
For the Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Percey-le-Pautel, a later point in time takes centre stage: it was rebuilt in 1840. In contrast to Saint-Hilaire, this church is not associated with the probable 12th-century dating and the fire during the Thirty Years’ War, but with its 19th-century reconstruction. This makes it possible to explore different periods of construction and events within the cultural themes.
Circular route: lake, landscape and birds
The Tour du lac de la Vingeanne – PR N°140 circular route offers a different perspective; its route page was updated on 13 January 2026. It provides information about the lake and its surroundings, the traditionally shaped landscape, and the birds of the lake, including how to identify them and their behaviour. According to the route page, updated on 13 January 2026, the nature theme covers not only the lake but also the landscape and birdlife. According to the route page, updated on 13 January 2026, the circular route is an easy mountain-bike trail; the stated duration for this trail is 45 minutes. The route also takes walkers through the village of Percey.
When planning, it is helpful to note what each of these details refers to: according to the route page, updated on 13 January 2026, the 45 minutes refer to the easy mountain-bike trail; the route through Percey is described there as a section for walkers. The château and churches offer building history, historical events and a specific detail about an altar; the circular route draws attention to the lake, landscape and bird behaviour. Depending on whether you are more interested in these historical periods or the themes of the route, you can plan your stay accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Neuilly-l'Évêque, Semoutiers-Montsaon, Villars-En-Azois, Saint-Michel, Gudmont-Villiers, Saint-Dizier, Vignes-La-Côté, Brainville-Sur-Meuse.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Marne.
