Ronchamp: Architecture, Culture and Mining Heritage
Accommodation in Ronchamp
Ronchamp brings together architecture, mining heritage and cultural activities. When planning your trip, you can consider these themes separately: the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut and other buildings lead to different chapters in the town’s history; cultural events, exhibitions and the history of coal mining complement them.
Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut
The Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut was rebuilt by Le Corbusier and inaugurated in 1955. In July 2016, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List alongside 16 other buildings by Le Corbusier. The inauguration and the later inscription mark two distinct points in time: the history of the rebuilding and the later joint recognition at an international level.
Colline Notre-Dame du Haut is located in Ronchamp, in Franche-Comté and in the southern part of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. Various cultural events are held on the hill throughout the year. If you are planning your trip around an event, check its specific dates in advance.
Buildings and Architecture
The Sainte-Claire monastery is partly built into the hillside and extends over two levels. Another architectural example is L’école en Bois, built in 1938 to designs by architect Henry Jacques Le Même. The building, made entirely of wood, comprises a central pavilion, a front portico and two classroom wings. It is listed as a Monument Historique and as Patrimoine du XXème siècle. The buildings have contrasting features: the monastery’s hillside setting and levels, and the school’s wooden construction and structured layout.
The Heritage of Coal Mining
The Puits Sainte-Marie is the last architectural testimony to the coal mines operated in Franche-Comté. It is listed as a Monument historique and as Patrimoine du XXème siècle. The “Traces de mine” programme takes school students on a discovery of Ronchamp’s mining heritage. A photo rally leads through the streets of the La Houillère district and into the area around the Puits de l’Étançon, in search of traces of coal mining. The programme and the rally have different focuses: the programme is intended for school students, while the rally focuses on searching for traces of mining.
Ronchamp Tourisme helps visitors discover the area through various avenues: Colline Notre-Dame du Haut, museums, the Maison de la NĂ©gritude, the heritage of the Mine de Charbon, and hiking and cycling trails. This overview can help you decide which cultural and landscape themes to prioritise during your stay.
Cultural Activities
La Filature is a former textile factory in Ronchamp that has been converted into a third place. It houses a Fablab and a Micro-Folie with innovative exhibitions; the exhibition programme may change. This cultural venue, created from a former industrial site, complements the architectural and mining-history highlights. If a particular exhibition is central to your travel plans, check the current programme before finalising your visit.
Discover more destinations: Plancher-Bas, Frasne-le-Château, Montboillon, Chaux-lès-Port, Étuz, Volon, Bousseraucourt, Saulx.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-SaĂ´ne.
