Montberthault: Church, Film History and Mills

A trip to Montberthault offers a variety of interests side by side: church architecture, a connection to the Serein, film history, historic mills and a hiking route. Montberthault lies on the Serein; this landscape setting complements the history of architecture and technology. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you decide whether architecture, film history or outdoor activities should shape your stay.

Saint John the Baptist Church

Saint John the Baptist Church has a choir dating from the 12th century, as well as a nave and transept dating from the 13th century. This makes it possible to distinguish two building sections from different periods in a single church: the choir dates from the 12th century, while the nave and transept date from the 13th. The transept is the part arranged crosswise to the nave; the term helps explain the layout of the building. The church also has a massive bell tower topped by a slender spire. The contrast between the tower’s solid body and its fine spire makes the exterior silhouette a distinctive feature in addition to the building’s chronology.

A film-history connection

The rocky site of La Roche de Jean Marais is associated with Jean Marais’s leap in 1960 for the film Le Capitan. For those interested in culture, this connection adds a film-history perspective to the architectural history and offers a different way into the area’s history than the dating of church features.

Bridge, washhouse and mill in Frémoy

In Frémoy, a Roman bridge spans the Argentalet. The washhouse preserves a spring in a niche at its rear; a stone watering trough stands by the roadside. The two structures illustrate different ways of making use of water: the bridge’s defining feature is its crossing of the Argentalet, while the washhouse is distinguished by its spring and trough. One structure can thus be understood by its position over the water, the other by the visible facilities at the rear and by the roadside.

The Moulin de Frémoy is documented as a fulling mill from 1410 and was later converted into an oil mill and a grain mill. This sequence links an early date with several later uses, making the change in function central to its history. A fulling mill was used to process cloth; the term therefore helps distinguish this type of mill from oil and grain mills. In Frémoy, structures by the water thus stand alongside a mill with several historical phases of use.

Hiking route and accommodation planning

The Circuit de Randonnée du Serein is intended for individuals, families, clubs and recreational use. It is open to the public on foot and by road. If you include the route in your travel plans, check local conditions before setting out.

Montberthault also has an Aire Naturelle de Camping. If you are considering this option for your accommodation, check the facilities and operating arrangements on site before making a decision.

Discover more destinations: Buffon, Flavigny-Sur-Ozerain, Chambolle-Musigny, Champagny, Monthelie, Diancey, Jossigny, Arc-Sur-Tille

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.