Charette-Varennes combines two distinct landscapes along the Doubs. Charette lies on a small hill above the river; Varennes is situated between the D73 and a bend in the Doubs. The village also includes a château and chapel complex, evidence of earlier architectural history, and marked trails through the fields. You can tailor your stay to culture, nature or activities on the water.
Landscapes and nature along the Doubs
South of Charette, the outlying settlements lie between ponds and forests, with the Guyotte flowing through the landscape. Charette-Varennes is part of the ZNIEFF “Basse vallée du Doubs et réseau d'étangs au sud”. Shaped by the Doubs, the landscape includes riparian forests, gravel banks, oxbow lakes, artificial bodies of water created by gravel extraction, marshes, and dry and wet floodplain meadows.
The commune is also one of the five communes in the Natura 2000 site “Les prairies inondables de la Basse vallée du Doubs jusqu’à l’amont de Navilly”. In this lower Doubs landscape, riverside woodland provides habitat for the European beaver and enables the black kite to settle. The ponds provide nesting sites for marsh harriers, purple herons and cattle egrets. Riverbanks, wetlands, ponds and floodplains offer a variety of nature-focused themes for your stay.
Châteaux, chapels and local history
The Domaine de Varennes is a château and chapel complex at 2 rue de Bourgogne. The Château de Varennes was partially built in 1810 and expanded and completed in the 1840s. The Domaine chapel was built between 1913 and 1923 as a small Neo-Romanesque brick building. Part of the Domaine is listed as a historic monument; the chapel has been fully protected since 8 June 2021.
The former Château de Charette tells an older story: its buildings have disappeared, but the motte and water-filled moats remain. The church of Charette-Varennes also dates from a different era. It was built in the mid-18th century and has an adjoining chapel on Route de Pierre.
The Monument de la Vierge on Rue de la Chapelle commemorates a chapel that was once built on the banks of the Doubs and destroyed by the river. It was later rebuilt as an extension of the church. This story differs from that of the Domaine chapel: one is part of the château complex, while the other is connected with the history of the church and the river.
Trails, fishing and dining
Charette-Varennes has marked hiking trails that follow land consolidation tracks and cross fields. Route details may change locally, so check the latest information before setting out. Fishing is possible at various spots along the Charetelle, the Guyotte and the Doubs. Check the applicable fishing rules and conditions separately. There is also a boat launch for fishing boats on the banks of the Doubs; local access conditions may change.
The Doubs Rivage restaurant serves regional cuisine. Dishes include, among others, fried fish, frog legs, game, pike-perch, Bresse poultry, Charolais beef and snails. The menu may change. If you plan to dine there for a particular dish, check the current selection in advance.
A place with historical significance
A parachute drop took place at the parachute drop site on 25 June 1944. The site is freely accessible year-round; nevertheless, check the latest conditions before your visit. Alongside architectural history and landscapes, events from the Second World War are another theme to consider when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Saunières, Demigny, Change, Saint-Boil, Chasselas, Dracy-Lès-Couches, Saint-Loup-Géanges, Tancon
See the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.
