Sampans brings together a range of interests: Mont Roland is a destination for mountain biking, nature watching and pilgrimage routes, while the village’s washhouse, manor houses and marble traditions tell the story of the community. When planning your visit, it helps to first decide whether you would rather spend your time on trails and in the countryside or exploring the area’s cultural heritage.

Mont Roland: Mountain Biking, Nature and Pilgrimage

Le Mont Roland – 100B is an easy, 7 km mountain biking loop in Sampans. There is a car park at the Mont-Roland sanctuary for this route. It passes through the dry grasslands characteristic of the area, which are home to remarkable biodiversity. Its distance and stated difficulty level give you two specific criteria for deciding whether to include the loop in your plans.

There is more to explore at Mont Roland: a nature trail lets you observe local flora and fauna. The sanctuary can be reached via a Way of the Cross and includes a 19th-century church. The trail at Mont Roland lies along the Way of St James. From Mont Roland, there are spectacular views of the collegiate church of Notre-Dame de Dole and the church of Notre-Dame de Mont Roland.

Washhouse, Manor Houses and Marble

Sampans’s local heritage includes a washhouse. Numerous manor houses along the RD905 are part of the area’s cultural heritage. These buildings offer tangible clues to the village’s history, while its marble traditions tell a longer story.

Sampans marble has been highly regarded since antiquity. From the 16th century onwards, marble from Sampans adorned numerous public buildings; from the 18th century onwards, it was also used in religious buildings. This timeline shows two areas of use: its use in religious buildings came later than its use in public buildings.

A single object is also part of the church heritage: the church in Sampans houses a chalice classified as a protected cultural object. Together with the marble traditions, it broadens the view of the area’s cultural history beyond its buildings.

Winegrowing History and Flea Market

In the 14th century, Sampans was known for its vineyards. They are said to have produced a quality wine that was renowned throughout the region. This historic winegrowing tradition adds another dimension to the village’s history, alongside its architecture and marble.

Sampans also holds an annual flea market; the Association La Boule Sampenoise is organising its sixth edition. If the market is important to your trip, check the event date in advance.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a hotel in Sampans, it helps to have a clear focus for your trip: Mont Roland offers mountain biking, nature watching and a connection to pilgrimage, while local heritage leads you to the washhouse, manor houses, marble and protected chalice.

Discover more destinations: Le Larderet, Offlanges, Chaussin, Foucherans, Pratz, Les Arsures, Nevy-lès-Dole, Lamoura

For the wider travel overview: Jura.