A 4.9-kilometre circular trail, a Merovingian cemetery with 291 graves and historic fountains give Bourogne a distinctive cultural and natural character. The Sentier découverte de Bourogne follows a circular route past the Anastomose, the Pelouse Sèche and the cemetery grounds. Historical highlights also include Saint-Martin and the surviving parts of the Renaissance château; the Espace multimédia Gantner adds a focus on contemporary art and new technologies. These specific nature, history and art themes can help you choose your stay.
Circular Trail and Landscape
The Sentier découverte de Bourogne is 4.9 kilometres long and forms a circular route. The Anastomose is presented along the trail as a natural curiosity. The route also passes the Pelouse Sèche, a dry grassland area protected by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels. The grounds of a Merovingian cemetery, containing 291 graves, are also part of the trail. A natural feature, a protected area and an archaeological site offer different points of interest along the same loop. Check local trail signs before setting out.
The arboretum offers another distinctive feature: 19 tree species are planned for reintroduction in the municipality. The planned reintroduction of tree species and the protection of a dry grassland area represent separate nature themes.
The local geography includes several waterways and the Rhône-Rhine Canal. The Bourbeuse crosses Bourogne from east to west. The Allaine also flows through the municipality and forms boundaries with Morvillars, Méziré and Allenjoie. The Rhône-Rhine Canal was excavated in Bourogne between 1808 and 1810. The river courses, municipal boundaries and historic canal each offer a different perspective on the landscape.
Church, Château and Fountains
The church of Saint-Martin contains an 18th-century baptismal font and a wooden pulpit with five carved panels depicting Christ and the Apostles. In the choir is a gravestone dating from 1559, associated with the lords of Brinighoffen. The new church of Saint-Martin in Bourogne was completed at the end of 1755. The furnishings, gravestone and building history each mark a different historical period.
The Château de Bourogne was a Renaissance building from the 16th century. Its cellar and a corbel of a corner tower that is still visible have survived. These surviving parts distinguish the château from the fountain structures, whose history and functions are also part of Bourogne’s heritage.
The Fontaine-lavoir dite du château has been listed as a “Monument historique” since 1980. The complex includes a fountain, a livestock watering trough, a washhouse and a rinsing basin. The Fontaine-lavoir du corps de garde is another structure of this kind; it was rebuilt in 1849. The different elements of the first complex show that a historic washhouse fountain can comprise more than a single water source.
Contemporary Art and New Technologies
The Espace multimédia Gantner in Bourogne is a centre for contemporary art and new technologies. The centre holds exhibitions throughout the year exploring the relationship between art and new technologies; individual exhibitions run for a limited time. It also hosts concerts and multimedia workshops. Since 2012, the Espace multimédia Gantner has held the “Centre d’Art Contemporain” label awarded by the French Ministry of Culture. If you want to see a particular exhibition, check its programme.
Routes Through Bourogne
EuroVelo 6 passes through Bourogne. The GR5 long-distance hiking trail and the Sentier Equestre bridleway also pass through the municipality. This gives you a clear choice of route type: the Sentier découverte is a 4.9-kilometre loop, while the three routes mentioned above pass through Bourogne. You can plan your stay around a circular trail or one of the routes that passes through the municipality, without treating these different route types as equivalent.
Discover more destinations: Chaux, Grosne, Meroux, Suarce, Cravanche, AutrechĂŞne, Lepuix, Bavilliers.
For the broader travel overview: Territoire De Belfort.
