Damvillers: Art, History and Nature

Damvillers combines a rich heritage of art and local history with natural surroundings near the Thinte. Different themes can help guide your choice of accommodation: the monument to painter Jules Bastien-Lepage, Église Saint-Maurice, traces of the former fortifications and the Ballastières. There are also walking routes with distinct themes—a nature trail in the natural area and a circuit that brings works of art into the lanes and hilly countryside.

Art, Architecture and Local History

The Monument to Jules Bastien-Lepage was erected in Damvillers in 1889 in memory of the painter, who was born there. The work is by Auguste Rodin. The monument thus brings together two distinct roles: Jules Bastien-Lepage is the person being honoured, and Rodin is the artist.

Église Saint-Maurice has been fully classified as a historic monument since June 9, 1921. The church in Damvillers has major construction phases dating to the 15th and 18th centuries. Its classification indicates its protected status; the construction phases place its architecture in time.

The town’s fortifications also span different periods. They are believed to date back to the 13th century, with a major construction phase in the 16th century. Remains of the former Porte de Verdun have survived; the gate itself was destroyed in 1922. The remains are associated with the period of Spanish occupation.

Another memorial commemorates E. M. Gérard: his statue was unveiled in 1858. Gérard was a marshal and Peer of France who was born in Damvillers. Alongside the monument to Jules Bastien-Lepage, you can learn about another notable person born in Damvillers.

The Ballastières and Their Natural History

The Ballastières de Damvillers cover just under 20 hectares near the Thinte River. The area was created from a former gravel and sand extraction site. An educational trail about one kilometre long runs through the area and is freely accessible year-round. A viewpoint and an observation post help introduce the area’s ecological diversity to the public.

White storks are also part of Damvillers’ natural history: they were reintroduced here in 1991. As of August 20, 2026, eleven white stork nests had been recorded. The reintroduction year and the time-specific nest count describe different aspects: the development of storks at the site and the number recorded at a later date.

Exploring Damvillers on Foot

The Circuit Jules Bastien-Lepage has a different focus from the trail at the Ballastières. It runs on foot through the lanes and hilly countryside of Damvillers and showcases ten of the artist’s paintings. While the educational trail introduces visitors to the ecological diversity of the natural area, the Circuit Jules Bastien-Lepage connects art with the lanes and landscape. The two routes therefore differ mainly in their themes: nature education on one, Jules Bastien-Lepage’s paintings on the other.

Check the latest access and route information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Ville-Sur-Saulx, Moirey-Flabas-Crépion, Vacherauville, Vaux-devant-Damloup, Seigneulles, Nettancourt, Watronville, Bonnet.

For the broader travel overview: Meuse.