A memorial to the history of enslavement, a reservoir with clearly stated dimensions and a forest walk with viewpoints offer different ways to explore Champagney. By choosing the focus of your stay, you can explore cultural history, a waterside landscape or nature. The Maison de la Négritude et des Droits de l’Homme provides a specific historical connection; at the Retenue du bassin de Champagney et canal inachevé, the dam and body of water take centre stage, while the Sentier La Rochotte offers views of Champagney, the large reservoir and the Rahin Valley.

A Memorial Connected to 1789

The Maison de la Négritude et des Droits de l’Homme is a memorial connected to Article 29 of the Cahier des Doléances of Champagney. In it, the residents called for the abolition of the enslavement of Black people as early as 1789. The Maison was founded in 1971 and addresses slavery in the past and present. A specific historical connection to 1789 thus meets an examination of the subject that reaches into the present day. Those interested in cultural history will find a clear focus here; the subject is distinct from Champagney’s landscapes and nature experiences.

Sacred Art Treasures at Église Saint-Laurent

Église Saint-Laurent offers another distinct cultural attraction. The church houses an 18th-century carved wooden pulpit with polychrome decoration. The Comtois bell tower contains 35 restored bells. The pulpit and tower offer two different points of interest: the carved wooden furnishings on the one hand, and the restored bells on the other. Together with the memorial, they paint a picture of Champagney in which both the history of remembrance and sacred cultural heritage have a place.

The Dam and Waters of the Champagney Reservoir

The Retenue du bassin de Champagney et canal inachevé is a striking example of engineering and landscape. Its dam is 785 m long and rises more than 36 m above the valley floor at its highest point. At the maximum water level, the Champagney Reservoir covers about 106 hectares and has a circumference of 7 km. The dimensions of the structure and the extent of the body of water can therefore be considered side by side. If you are interested in water engineering, the dam offers a different point of interest from the water itself; the landscape figures also specifically refer to the maximum water level.

Swimming and Seasonal Canoe Hire at Les Ballastières

Les Ballastières has a beach set up for swimming within the municipality of Champagney. Canoes can be rented there during the peak season. Seasonal lifeguard supervision may vary; check whether canoes are available before your trip. This lets you choose between spending time at the beach and a seasonal activity on the water, without assuming that the same conditions apply to both.

Forest Walk and Nature Observation on the Sentier La Rochotte

The Sentier La Rochotte is a forest walk with beautiful viewpoints over Champagney, the large reservoir and the Rahin Valley. There are two starting points: Place Charles de Gaulle in the centre of Champagney or Chemin du Champey. As local signposting can change, it is worth checking the signs on site. Along the trail, you can observe varied geology and a rich variety of flora. The plants mentioned include cow-wheat, foxglove, broom, canules and columbine. In addition to its viewpoints, the route offers an opportunity to notice the details of nature along the walk.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Delain, Écromagny, Pusy-Et-Épenoux, Chassey Les Montbozon, Oricourt, Saulx, Villers-sur-Port, Plancher-Les-Mines

For the higher-level travel guide: Haute-Saône.