Hugier brings together a 19th-century washhouse, a parish church with its own building history, and vineyards featured on a regional route. This gives the village several themes to explore during a stay: architectural history, religious art and winegrowing. A good place to start is the Fontaine lavoir d’Hugier washhouse, built in 1853 to plans by the architect Christophe Colard.

At the washhouse: design and tradition

The complex consisted of a collecting basin topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, a livestock watering trough and a covered washhouse. The structure thus brought together different areas: the basin, a trough for livestock and a sheltered washing area. The name lavoir refers to its function as a washhouse; together with the collecting basin and the livestock trough, it helps explain the complex’s multiple components. If you are interested in historic building designs, you can see here how the different functions of a single complex fit together.

The statue of the Virgin Mary at the fountain is also connected with the history of winegrowing. Until the early 2000s, Hugier’s winegrowers kept up the tradition of placing a bunch of grapes in the Madonna’s two hands at the fountain every year on 15 August. The custom links the fountain with Hugier’s winegrowers and, in turn, with the village’s winegrowing tradition.

Church of Saint-Médard and building history

The parish church of Saint-Médard in Hugier appears to have been built to plans by the architect François Ducy between 1749 and 1761. Compared with the washhouse, dated 1853, the church’s presumed construction period is considerably earlier. The two buildings can therefore be viewed as reflecting different periods in Hugier’s architectural history. The church is also part of the Route des Retables. Retables are altarpieces, so the route offers an art-historical perspective on the church. If you are interested in religious art, this connection to the route offers a thematic point of interest alongside the church’s construction period.

Vineyards and routes

Les Coteaux d’Hugier lie in a green, hilly landscape on the heights of Hugier. The estate covers 5 hectares of vineyards and offers vineyard tours. The elevated setting describes the landscape, while the 5 hectares refers to the estate’s vineyard area—two different measures of winegrowing in Hugier. Check the arrangements in advance if you are planning a visit.

The “La Pierre qui Vire – No. 19” route also passes through Hugier and highlights the vineyards of the Coteaux d’Hugier. This offers two different perspectives: a vineyard tour at the estate, and winegrowing as a theme on a route that passes through the village. As the route description may change, check the current route before planning your visit.

The routes focus on different themes: the Route des Retables offers a connection to religious art, while La Pierre qui Vire – No. 19 highlights the vineyards. You can therefore choose to focus on architectural and art history or on winegrowing.

Discover more destinations: Cult, Servance, Bourguignon-Lès-Morey, Volon, Brotte-lès-Ray, Villers-Bouton, Huanne, Chariez

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Saône.