Discover Fontaines

If you are looking for a hotel in Fontaines, the local themes can shape the focus of your stay: quarry history, historic buildings and walking trails offer different ways to get to know the area. The Maison du Patrimoine, the Église Saint-Just and the Chemin des calvaires each lead you through the history and landscape of Fontaines in their own way.

Quarry History and Craftsmanship

At the Maison du Patrimoine, the exhibition “De la pierre à l’œuvre” explores the geology of Fontaines and the history of its quarries. It is complemented by a fossil collection from the Côte Chalonnaise. The exhibition thus focuses both on the geological aspects of the subject and on working with stone.

The Maison du Patrimoine also displays traditional tools used in stone masonry. These include tools still used in the restoration of monuments. The quarries of Fontaines were already being worked in Gallo-Roman times; the exhibition and the tools offer different ways to explore this long history.

The Visite des carrières de Fontaines also focuses on quarry work. The guided tour recalls the quarry workers and stonemasons who worked there. As dates may change, check them before making plans. In a stone-carving workshop at the Maison du Patrimoine, participants work on a block of stone and take their finished piece home. Dates, fees and availability may change; check the details when planning your workshop.

Church, Bell and Washhouse

The Église Saint-Just is a listed Cistercian church dating from the late 12th century. It houses a bell dating from 1515, which is listed as a historic monument. Visitors can take a self-guided tour inside the church. Check the current visiting arrangements before your visit.

The Lavoir Saint-Nicolas offers another glimpse into local history: the octagonal washhouse dates from 1832. Together with the many springs that supply fountains, washhouses and livestock troughs, it is part of a local approach to water. The spring water then flows into the Thalie.

Walking Trails and Circular Route

Several walking trails, accessible to everyone, follow country lanes to viewpoints and local heritage sites. If you are looking for a more precisely described route, the Chemin des calvaires starts in Fontaines: the circular route is 7.8 kilometres long and is described as a very easy walk taking one hour and 30 minutes. It includes eleven sights.

One of the stops is the Saint-Nicolas wayside cross on the Chemin des calvaires. The cross dates from the 18th century. Christ wearing the crown of thorns is depicted on one side, and the Virgin and Child on the other. The route thus combines a specific walking distance with an opportunity to discover the area's religious heritage.

Fontaines on a Cycling Tour

A cycling tour also takes you to Fontaines: on the third stage of “Au fil du Canal du Centre… à vélo,” cyclists ride into the village to discover its historic heritage. They leave the cycle route for a few hours to do so. This is a different timeframe from the walking tour given for the Chemin des calvaires. When planning your activities, you can use these details as a guide for the respective stage or route.

For your stay, you can choose between several themes: focus on the quarries and stone masonry, explore historic buildings and local history, or set aside time for walking trails and a circular route. The cycling tour adds another option: a detour to Fontaines on its third stage.

Discover more destinations: Chissey-Lès-Mâcon, Montbellet, Chatenay, Mercurey, Sens-Sur-Seille, Montpont-En-Bresse, Clessé, Ligny-En-Brionnais.

View the wider travel guide: Saône-Et-Loire.