Sombernon: Street Art, Roman Route and Local History

Sombernon combines a distinctive geographical location with architectural and cultural history, as well as a named route spanning 34 kilometres. The town lies on a rocky ridge that forms the watershed between the Rhône and Seine drainage basins. This gives you a choice of different themes for planning your trip: local history, the “Perché sur la Colline” street art festival and the Voie romaine Sombernon-Alésia. If you are considering a hotel stay in Sombernon, these themes can help you decide what kind of stay you would like.

Location and historic buildings

A watershed separates drainage basins whose waters flow into different river systems. In Sombernon, it follows the rocky ridge that separates the Rhône and Seine drainage basins. The town also has historic buildings from different periods: Sombernon’s château had a chapel founded in 1423, while the Église de la Nativité dates back to the 13th century. Those interested in architectural history can therefore explore two distinct landmarks: a chapel associated with the château and a church.

The Voie romaine Sombernon-Alésia

The Voie romaine Sombernon-Alésia connects Sombernon with Alise-Sainte-Reine and is 34 kilometres long. Its starting point in the town is the Lavoir de la Villotte. The route runs between the Oze and Ozerain rivers and passes from village to village, by churches and châteaux. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the starting point and the route’s length separately: the Lavoir marks the beginning, while 34 kilometres is the length of the route. The succession of villages and historic buildings also gives the route a scenic and cultural dimension. It is a travel theme in its own right for visitors who want to explore Sombernon beyond the buildings in the town itself.

Spring and washhouse

The spring La Source de la Brenne only emerges after flowing into the Lavoir. The washhouse has arched openings. This local detail draws attention not only to the course of the spring but also to the building’s specific form. Unlike the dates associated with the chapel and church, the focus here is on the relationship between the spring and the building. The spring-and-washhouse feature adds a different architectural point of interest to the historic buildings.

Street art and local crafts

The “Perché sur la Colline” street art festival takes place in Sombernon and has been held in the town’s streets since 2015. The 12th edition was scheduled for 12 and 13 September 2026. If you are planning a trip around the event, check the dates that correspond to your intended travel dates. The Latreille and Denizot brickworks offer another glimpse into local history: they made “violin-shaped” bricks in Sombernon. This distinctive shape illustrates brickmaking as a historic local craft and adds a different cultural dimension alongside the religious buildings and street art festival.

Discover more destinations: Chorey, Lamarche-Sur-Saône, Val-Suzon, Vianges, Meuilley, Jours-Lès-Baigneux, Asnières-en-Montagne, Fontaine-Française.

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.