Bourogne: Heritage, Art and Trails

If you are looking for a hotel in Bourogne, the focus of your stay can guide your choice of destination: architectural history, contemporary art, or routes for walking and cycling. The commune’s notable features include the Church of Saint-Martin and surviving parts of the château, as well as EuroVelo 6 and the Sentier découverte. This means there is a range of interests to choose from, spanning historic buildings, an art center, trails and landscape features.

Cultural history in Bourogne

Bourogne’s château was a Renaissance building dating from the 16th century. The cellar and a corbel from a corner tower that is still visible have survived—tangible remains of the former building. The new Church of Saint-Martin was completed at the end of 1755. Its furnishings include an 18th-century baptismal font and a wooden pulpit with five carved panels depicting Christ and the Apostles. The choir also contains a tombstone dating from 1559, associated with the lords of Brinighoffen.

When exploring the historic waterworks, it is worth distinguishing between two names: the Fontaine-lavoir dite du château comprises a fountain, a livestock trough, a washhouse and a rinsing basin. It has been listed as a “Monument historique” since 1980. The Fontaine-lavoir du corps de garde is a separate structure; it was rebuilt in 1849.

Contemporary art at the Espace multimédia Gantner

Another point of interest is the Espace multimédia Gantner in Bourogne, a center for contemporary art and new technologies. Since 2012, it has held the French Ministry of Culture’s “Centre d’Art Contemporain” designation. Its year-round program includes exhibitions exploring the relationship between art and new technologies, as well as concerts and multimedia workshops. Some exhibitions are temporary. If you want to plan your stay around a particular exhibition, check the dates in advance.

Water and nature

The Rhône–Rhine Canal was excavated in Bourogne between 1808 and 1810. The Bourbeuse flows through the commune from east to west. The Allaine also flows through Bourogne and forms commune boundaries with Morvillars, Méziré and Allenjoie. This brings together different aspects of the local geography: the canal’s construction history and the rivers that flow through the area or form its boundaries. The Bourogne Arboretum includes 19 tree species planned for reintroduction to the commune.

Choose trails by activity

Routes can be distinguished by how they are used: EuroVelo 6 passes through Bourogne, as do the GR5 long-distance hiking trail and the Sentier Equestre bridleway. The Sentier découverte de Bourogne, by contrast, is a 4.9-kilometer circular trail. Check local trail signs before setting out. Along the trail is the Anastomose, presented as a natural curiosity, as well as the Pelouse Sèche, protected by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels. The site of the Merovingian cemetery along the trail contains 291 graves. This offers a choice between a circular trail with natural and archaeological features and routes for cycling, long-distance hiking and horseback riding.

Discover more destinations: Cravanche, Bavilliers, Autrechêne, Danjoutin, Villars-Le-Sec, Grosmagny, Suarce, Auxelles-Haut.

For the broader travel overview: Territoire De Belfort.