Discover Saint-Apollinaire

Saint-Apollinaire brings together cultural history, two named walking routes and several buildings from different periods. The town’s history spans a medieval pilgrimage, the defensive system around Dijon and later municipal uses. On foot, you can explore a historic route with plaques set into streets and pavements, or take a longer walk across an agricultural plain. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Apollinaire, these distinctions can help you view the town in a way that suits your interests.

Defensive history and historic buildings

The redoubt in Saint-Apollinaire is part of the Séré de Rivières defensive system around Dijon. Construction took place from 1878 to 1880. By decree of 17 March 2006, it was listed as a historic monument. This makes it easy to distinguish the period when it was built from its later protected status.

The church of Saint-Apollinaire preserves a medieval apse that is listed as a historic monument. In the Middle Ages, the church was also a pilgrimage site centred on its miraculous well. The building thus brings together an architectural feature and a religious history. The château of Saint-Apollinaire has two later chapters: M. Champy converted it into a museum in 1856; in 1931, the municipality acquired the château to establish a mairie-école. This French term refers to a combined town hall and school.

The château complex includes a dovecote with a hexagonal ground plan. Another building in Saint-Apollinaire is the Mille-Club, salle Marcel Daisey. It was built in 1972 and has been awarded the “Architecture contemporaine remarquable” label. Compared with the medieval church and the redoubt, the Mille-Club brings 20th-century architecture into focus.

Walks with different highlights

The Chemin de Mémoire is 3.4 km long, rated very easy and described as taking 1 hour 40 minutes. Its historical character is conveyed by plaques set into paths and pavements, which tell the story of the town. For a walk focused on local history, its theme, length and stated duration are all easy to see.

Des Longènes au Bois-Guillaume is a moderate, 11 km walk with a stated duration of 3 hours 30 minutes. It runs between town and countryside across an agricultural plain. Compared directly with the Chemin de Mémoire, both its distance and stated duration are greater: 11 km instead of 3.4 km, and 3 hours 30 minutes instead of 1 hour 40 minutes. The difficulty ratings also differ: the Chemin de Mémoire is rated very easy, while Des Longènes au Bois-Guillaume is rated moderate.

Events and other activities

For more than 70 years, a fair has been held at Clos Saint-François every year on the second Sunday in September. If you are considering visiting during this period, check the exact event date. The Epleumiades are also among Saint-Apollinaire’s recurring cultural events. There is also a fitness trail in Parc de la Redoute.

Discover more destinations: Sennecey-Lès-Dijon, Saint-Philibert, Échalot, Chassagne-Montrachet, Villy-Le-Moutier, Châtellenot, Labergement-Lès-Seurre, Spoy.

For the main travel overview: Cote-Dor.