Fontains combines village history with a landscape shaped by agriculture. The carefully preserved 19th-century washhouse is a defining feature of the village; the Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur dates from the 13th century. Old Briard farmhouses, historic paths and the fertile plains of the Brie add further perspectives to this local history. This offers different points of focus when deciding where to travel: architectural history, farming heritage, landscape or a walk with a clearly named starting point. If you would like to explore rural heritage through its different local themes, you can consider Fontains in light of these points of focus.

The Brie countryside and local heritage

The fertile plains of the Brie have been farmed since the Middle Ages. They have shaped the landscapes that still characterise the municipality today. This long history of agricultural use is therefore part of how the landscape looks today. The old Briard farmhouses are also part of Fontains’ cultural heritage and tell of several centuries of local life. The historic paths likewise tell of centuries of life in the area and add another aspect of local history to the story of the farmhouses. The landscape, farming heritage and historic paths each offer a different emphasis: those who focus more on the rural surroundings when choosing a destination will find a point of reference in the plains; those interested in local life can focus on the farmhouses and paths.

The washhouse and church

The Fontains washhouse dates from the 19th century and has been carefully preserved. It remains a defining feature of the village today. The Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur dates back further, to the 13th century. Comparing their dates makes different historical periods of the local heritage tangible: the church points to an earlier origin, while the washhouse represents a later, equally well-preserved part of the village’s history. The church’s name is associated with the possible presence of relics of the saint after whom it is named. This gives it a connection to religious tradition in addition to its architectural history; this connection is presented as a possibility.

A walk starting in Fontains

The “De château en fermes briardes” walking route uses the church in Fontains as its second starting point and is 18.5 kilometres long. This gives the church a dual significance for planning a trip: it is part of the local architectural history and also a specifically named starting point for a longer walk. The stated distance gives you a way to judge whether this kind of walk suits your stay. If you plan to follow the route, check local trail conditions before setting out. This will help you decide whether to focus your trip more on the village’s historical themes or on the longer walking route.

Cultural context

Fontains is one of the eight libraries and reading centres whose cultural activities are supported by the cultural services of Brie Nangissienne. This also places the village within intermunicipal cultural activity. For travellers who want to consider a municipality’s cultural life alongside its architectural history and landscape when choosing where to go, this offers another perspective on local themes. Taken together, these provide different reasons to consider Fontains: the history of individual buildings, its farming heritage, the agriculturally shaped landscape, the walking route or the supported cultural activities.

Discover more destinations: Chartrettes, Perthes, La Chapelle-Gauthier, Grez-sur-Loing, Aufferville, Mouroux, Favières, Bougligny

For the overview of the wider area: Seine-et-Marne.