In the cemetery of Villars-sous-Écot, the former village chapel is partially preserved, including its choir. The present-day village church has a bell-tower porch dated 1757. There are also hiking trails and motocross and supermoto events, so a trip can focus on architectural history, a specific hike or motorsports.
Village history: chapel and church
During the interior restoration of the former village chapel, a rib vault and two capitals were uncovered. One of the capitals bears the coat of arms of Neuchâtel. These architectural details add specific features of the older building to the preserved choir.
The history of the church took a decisive turn in 1749, when worship in the chapel was forbidden because the building was at risk of collapsing. A new church was then built in the centre of the village in 1757. The present-day village church has a bell-tower porch dated to that year, topped by a four-sided dome.
The church’s furnishings also include various historical details. The present-day village church contains two paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. It also has two twisted columns covered with carved vine leaves. Together with the chapel’s history, this provides a clear timeline: from the partially preserved older building to the church built in 1757 and its described features.
Hiking trails with different focuses
The “Chemin de la mémoire et de la paix” reaches Villars-sous-Écot. The first long, steady climb to the Mémorial de l'Écot begins there. The route follows farm tracks and small roads. If you plan to take this route, check the trail conditions before setting out.
The “Circuit du Bois de Villars-sous-Écot Monument du Maquis” loop is described by both its length and difficulty: it is 26 kilometres long and rated difficult. This offers a different point of reference from the Chemin de la mémoire et de la paix, whose description highlights the climb to the Mémorial and the route along tracks and small roads.
The also-named “Le bois de Villars-sous-Écot et le Monument du Maquis” loop is waymarked and maintained by the hiking section of the Maison pour Tous de Pont-de-Roide and the Doubs departmental committee of FFRandonnée. On the GR de Pays, it heads towards Villars-sous-Écot, passes through the village centre and continues down through the village to the football pitch. This describes both a section through the village and the rest of the route to a specific endpoint.
Trail conditions and waymarking can change; check both before setting out. When choosing a hike, you can therefore decide whether to focus on the 26-kilometre distance and its difficult rating, or follow the described climb or the route through the village centre.
Motocross and Supermoto
The Circuit de la Versenne has a 2,100-metre-long, internationally homologated track. In Villars-sous-Écot, the Moto Club de Villars-sous-Écot organises and promotes motocross and supermoto events at the Circuit de Versenne. Its activities are open to all ages and experience levels. If you want to plan your trip around a specific event, check the date in advance.
Landscape setting
The narrow Bié valley cuts deeply into the Doubs loop plateau and separates Écot and Goux-les-Dambelin. This landscape feature provides a distinct geographical point of reference alongside Villars-sous-Écot’s architectural history, hiking trails and motorsports.
Discover more destinations: Brey-Et-Maison-Du-Bois, Les Grangettes, Saint-Point-Lac, Arc-Et-Senans, Clerval, Métabief, Hyèvre-Paroisse, Rang.
For the broader travel overview: Doubs.
