Gerland can be explored through two distinct aspects: the history of its church and other architectural traces, and a landscape shaped by ponds, the forest massif and the hamlet of Balon. Highlights range from a wall painting in the parish church to three ponds of ecological value. When planning your visit, you can focus on architectural history, the landscape or a combination of the two.
Church and architectural traces
The Église Saint-Pierre is located on the RD 35 in the centre of Gerland and has been listed as a historic monument since 1925. The south arm of its transept contains a wall painting depicting John the Baptist and Thomas Becket. In addition to being a local landmark, the protected church features a specific detail of art-historical interest.
In the south-east of the municipality, the church stands out in the landscape, while little else of the village is visible from there. This view of the building differs from its position in the village centre: the church is both part of the village and a defining feature of the surrounding landscape.
The washhouse is also on the RD 35, but to the north, well outside the village. The rectangular building is open on its east façade and has a rectangular stone basin. It was built in the 19th century and also has a fireplace and stone shelves. Its shape, open side and features give it a different character from the church in the centre.
Remains of the moat survive from Gerland’s old castle, spanned by a solid bridge. These architectural remains add another distinct trace to the village’s history.
Ponds, forest and Balon
On the edge of the Cîteaux Forest massif lie the three ponds of ecological value: Étang Creuzille, Étang Neuf and Étang de la Folie. Their dates of origin also differ: Étang Creuzille and Étang de la Folie date from the Middle Ages, whereas Étang Neuf was created in the 19th century. This offers a landscape perspective alongside a clear historical distinction between the three bodies of water.
Gerland is part of the Natura 2000 site FR2612007 “Forêt de Citeaux et environs”. The Meuzin also flows through Gerland, adding a river to the local waterscapes.
Around the hamlet of Balon and its houses are hedged meadows, crossed by the Fossé Carreau stream. Landscape and history meet here: a former Roman road runs through Balon, where Merovingian graves containing around twenty skeletons were discovered. The graves are a historical find, while the hedged meadows and stream describe the hamlet’s landscape.
Gerland offers a range of themes to explore: the church, washhouse and castle remains on the one hand, and ponds, river and hedged meadows on the other. Balon combines landscape and historical traces; at the ponds, you can also distinguish between those dating from the Middle Ages and the more recent Étang Neuf.
Discover more destinations: Fleurey-Sur-Ouche, Ternant, Terrefondrée, Laperrière-Sur-Saône, Viserny, Chazilly, Chassagne-Montrachet, Flammerans.
See the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.
