Deycimont offers two different ways to explore its local history: sacred art in the Church of Sainte-Menne and distinctive local landmarks such as the du Fournel site, La Roche du Fournel, and the Pierre du Sabbat. A large-scale painting depicts a scene from the life of Saint Menne; rocks, a cave, and a former stone arrangement provide a different focus. When choosing the village for a stay, you can first consider whether you are more interested in the artwork or in the landscape features and their historical interpretations.
Church of Sainte-Menne: a painting with a story of its own
The Church of Sainte-Menne in Deycimont is dedicated to Saint Menne. It houses “Vocation de sainte Menne,” an anonymous 18th-century oil painting on canvas. The work measures 400 × 250 cm. It shows an angel appearing and placing the holy veil on Saint Menne. The title and scene evoke the saint’s calling: the painting depicts not only the figure, but also a specific moment in her story.
The work can be described in terms of its form and subject: the canvas and dimensions describe the object, while the encounter with the angel describes the scene. Together with the church’s connection to Saint Menne, this creates a clear cultural focus.
Fournel and La Roche du Fournel
The du Fournel site, also called du Fourneau, overlooks the village of Deycimont. One historical interpretation links it to ancient fertility rites practiced by farmers since the Neolithic period.
La Roche du Fournel, also called TĂŞte du Fourneau, opens into a cave at its base. An opening in the rock facing south receives sunlight around midday; the light can vary depending on the season. At La Roche du Fournel, the focus is therefore on the physical rock formation and its orientation, while the interpretation of the du Fournel site refers to historical rites.
Pierre du Sabbat and the former stone arrangement
The Pierre du Sabbat rises above the valley and lies a few metres north of the Fournel. It was once surmounted by a cromlech of menhirs, with the stones arranged in a circle or semicircle around a central stone. The term cromlech thus refers to an arrangement with a clear centre, not just a single upright stone. The former arrangement draws attention to the relationship between the menhirs; the location and historical stone formation give the Pierre du Sabbat two distinct features.
The traditions differ: the Fournel is associated with a historical interpretation involving fertility rites, while the Pierre du Sabbat is linked to the former arrangement of the menhirs. Here, you can therefore encounter both an interpretation of the significance of a place and a concrete description of its former stone arrangement.
Route to the du Fournel site
Getting there involves walking 1.5 km along a path through meadows. The path is unpaved but passable; check its current condition and local conditions before setting out. Take the distance into account when planning your day.
Discover more destinations: Bellefontaine, Mazirot, Saulxures-Sur-Moselotte, Claudon, Sercœur, Raon-Aux-Bois, Gérardmer, Rugney
For the broader travel overview: Vosges.
