Discover Chargey-lès-Port through its village history: the historic trail comprises 17 panels that trace the history and development of the village over the centuries. Churches, a chapel, traditional houses and memories of former uses add to this chronological perspective. In Chargey-lès-Port, different forms of heritage come together: buildings, historical traces and customs passed down through generations.
A trail through the village’s history
The 17 panels give the trail a clear theme: they trace the village’s development over several centuries. If you are interested in how a place changes over time, they offer a connecting thread that extends beyond a single building. Other historical traces complement this perspective with different architectural styles, former uses and religious memories.
Chapel and church: different periods of construction
The Chapelle de la Roche was once an oratory belonging to the local lords. It is located near the cemetery on the Chemin de la Roche, a road leading towards Purgerot. The present-day chapel was built around 1860 beside the older structure, which was at risk of collapsing. This means the older, endangered structure and the present-day chapel should be distinguished as two separate construction phases. The present-day Église Saint-Didier was built between 1780 and 1782. Compared with the chapel, which was built later, its construction dates back several decades earlier; the two religious buildings thus represent different periods in the village’s history.
Houses, roofs and dry-stone shelters
The rural heritage includes a Renaissance house with a tower in Impasse du Cornot. It complements the religious buildings with an example of rural architecture. Traditional buildings also tell the story of construction methods: numerous houses built above stone cellars were once roofed with stone slabs known as laves. Here, laves refers to the stone slabs used for earlier roofing. When comparing the architectural styles, the Renaissance house stands as a single, named example alongside the houses with lave roofs, which represent a recurring style of construction. The cabanes de coucous are dry-stone shelters traditionally used by winegrowers; in other parts of Franche-Comté, they are called cabordes.
Historical traces and fruit-growing traditions
Mentioned in 1385, the windmill of Chargey is considered the oldest known windmill in the Haute-Saône département. Today, only a field name points to its existence. It is therefore one of the historical traces no longer visible as a building. An account from 1789 describes the blessed cherry tree as a regular stop on Rogation processions, during which the fruits of the earth were blessed. While the mill is remembered through a field name, the tradition surrounding the cherry tree offers a glimpse of an earlier religious custom.
If you would like to include fruit-growing culture in your stay, alongside architectural history, the Verger de Sauvegarde offers a different theme. The orchard is open to everyone; local residents can pick apples, plums and pears there.
Discover more destinations: Chassey Les Montbozon, Gy, Nantilly, Confracourt, Volon, Héricourt, Ray-Sur-Saône, Saulx
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Saône.
