Barretaine sits high on the edge of the Jura’s first plateau. The village can be explored from two very specific perspectives: the sweeping views from Croix du Dan and the local history reflected in Église Saint-Savin. There is also a cautiously worded account of its early origins and a culinary theme centered on plants. When planning your trip, you can weigh whether landscape, church history, or plant processing should take center stage.
Views and a stage of the route at Croix du Dan
From the Croix du Dan viewpoint, the view stretches across the Dole plain to the Burgundy hills beyond Beaune and Dijon. Visibility depends on the weather. When planning a visit to this viewpoint, it is therefore worth considering whether the distant views are likely to be visible on the day.
Stage 7 of the Échappée Jurassienne also climbs to Croix du Dan, where there are views of Poligny and the Culée de Vaux. These named viewpoints offer a different perspective from the view across the Dole plain and the hills beyond Beaune and Dijon. If you plan to hike Stage 7, check trail conditions before setting out.
Church history across several periods
Église Saint-Savin de Barretaine brings together several historical layers. The earlier Église Saint-Savin was demolished in 1769 and rebuilt elsewhere in the village. The present church has a bell dated 1782. These dates mark different events: 1769 is the year the earlier church was demolished, while 1782 is the date of the bell in the present church.
A painting on a retable in the church depicts the former Saint-Savin chapel. A retable is an altarpiece; the painting thus provides another visual trace of Saint-Savin’s history. Alongside the former church’s relocation, there is a motif depicting an earlier chapel. Visitors interested in church art can find a different way into the history here than through dates and structural changes.
An account of early origins
Barretaine is said to date back to the 9th century. This account points to a broad historical horizon; the dates 1769 and 1782, by contrast, mark specific events in the church’s history. Thus, a cautiously worded account of the village’s origins sits alongside later, dated details, without turning the early reference into a precise founding year.
Plant processing as a culinary highlight
Sensations Simples processes plants into syrups, Délices, seasonings, ice cream, and sorbets. In the Jura, the business grows around ten plant species organically across an area of 3,000 m² at an altitude of 600 m. This processing adds a culinary theme to the views and church history. Product availability may vary; if a particular product is important to your trip, check its availability in advance.
Discover more destinations: Morez, Nevy-lès-Dole, La Tour-Du-Meix, Pupillin, Foucherans, Moirans-En-Montagne, Les Rousses, Mérona.
For the regional travel overview: Jura.
