Hauteville-lès-Dijon can be explored through two very different historic sites and its agriculturally shaped plateau. Fort d’Hauteville reflects the history of fortifications around Dijon; Église Saint-Pierre stands out for both its history of reconstruction and its rare masonry. Paths through the commune add their own distinctive landscapes.
Fort d’Hauteville and its history
Fort d’Hauteville was built between September 11, 1877, and the end of 1880. It is part of the Séré de Rivières fortification system, built around Dijon in the late 19th century. The fort is therefore part of a broader military-historical context, while also remaining a specific site in Hauteville-lès-Dijon. If you are interested in the history of fortifications, the combination of its construction dates and place in the system provides a clear timeframe.
On March 17, 2006, the entire fort was added to France’s supplementary list of historic monuments. The fort is also home to the “La Vie Paysanne Autrefois” museum, which was inaugurated on September 21, 2021. If you are planning a visit, check the visitor information in advance. This helps distinguish interest in the fort’s military history from interest in the museum, which is devoted to rural life in the past.
Église Saint-Pierre: reconstruction and masonry
Église Saint-Pierre offers another perspective on the area’s history. After being partially destroyed by a fire, the church was rebuilt around 1720 by Jean III de Berbisey. He was the first president of the Parliament of Dijon and, at the time, a co-lord of Hauteville. The reconstruction links the building’s history to a specific person and his role at the time; the date, however, remains approximate.
Masonry in the opus spicatum style can be found on the church façade and its inner north wall. This building technique is rare in Burgundy. The church is therefore interesting not only for its reconstruction after the fire: the masonry technique described offers another way to appreciate the area’s architectural heritage.
The plateau and paths through the commune
The Hauteville plateau is the dominant natural landscape in the commune and is mostly characterized by extensive ploughed fields. This gives the paths described here an open, agricultural setting. Circular Route 43, “Les Minières,” crosses agricultural plateau areas and varied cultivated land, passing several architectural landmarks. It also descends into the Combe Pionelle and climbs back up the opposite side as far as the forest.
The Circuit de la Combe Souillot offers a different focus: it leads into the Charmes d’Arans and along its plots with varied crops. The two route descriptions therefore differ mainly in what they highlight along the way. On Les Minières, the plateau, architectural landmarks, and the route to the forest form a sequence; on the Circuit de la Combe Souillot, the focus is on the cultivated plots of the Charmes d’Arans. If you would like to choose a route based on a particular landscape theme, this distinction can help guide you, without treating the two paths as one combined route.
Together, the fort, church, and paths offer different starting points for a stay: the history of fortifications, architectural heritage, and an agriculturally shaped landscape. You can choose what to focus on depending on whether you would like to explore historic buildings or the landscapes and forms of cultivation described here. If you plan to visit the museum, check the visitor information in advance.
Discover more destinations: Montigny-Sur-Aube, Couchey, Saint-Seine-L'abbaye, Morey-Saint-Denis, Chaudenay-Le-Château, Saulon-La-Rue, Chaugey, Créancey.
For the regional travel overview: Cote-Dor.
