Saint-Valentin Church was rebuilt in 1670; its bell tower dates from the 15th century. Together with the motte on the Gourgeonne, a 20-stop walking tour and the small Friday morning weekly market, Lavoncourt offers several starting points for a trip focused on culture and local history. You can distinguish between sacred art, the remains of a medieval castle, historical depictions of the village and a cycling loop with a cultural heritage theme.

Saint-Valentin Church: Building History and Art

The church as a whole has been listed as a historic monument since 12 October 2016. Its history includes destruction and reconstruction: during the 1637 siege, the Swedes burned down the earlier church. In 1670, Saint-Valentin was rebuilt on its ruins. The 15th-century bell tower and its Romanesque-style windows add an older architectural accent.

Inside are statues and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, complemented by numerous protected furnishings and works of goldsmithing. The high altar reredos is made of polychrome-painted and gilded wood and was installed in the first third of the 18th century. Its central painting depicts an episode from the life of Saint Valentine. The church’s building history, architecture and furnishings thus offer different historical and artistic ways to explore it.

The Motte on the Gourgeonne

All that remains of Lavoncourt’s medieval castle is a motte on the banks of the Gourgeonne. It is well preserved and is among the region’s most representative terraced sites surrounded by ditches. Unlike the church, the focus here is not on furnishings or imagery, but on the surviving remains of a castle and the form of its layout. The motte complements the church’s history with an archaeological and landscape perspective on Lavoncourt.

Market and Village Walking Tour

Lavoncourt’s small weekly market welcomes around ten vendors, including vegetable growers, a butcher, a fishmonger and honey sellers. It takes place every Friday morning near the Petit Casino. The mix of vendors may vary; if you are planning your visit around the market, check the date before travelling.

Lavoncourt Smart Village – Voyage dans le temps is located in L’Étape, 70120 Lavoncourt. The tourist walking tour of Lavoncourt has 20 stops; panels show the village in the 19th century and today. This draws attention not only to individual buildings or works of art, but also to historical depictions of the village. If you would like to use the mobile experience, check its availability on site.

Religious Heritage on the Cycling Loop

The Jules Rimet cycling loop (No. 20) is defined by its surviving religious heritage, including altar reredoses, churches, chapels and wayside shrines. A comparison with the walking tour reveals two different thematic approaches: the tour has 20 stops featuring historical depictions of the villages; the cycling loop is characterised by various forms of religious heritage.

Discover more destinations: Conflandey, Anchenoncourt, Saint-Julien, Leffond, Plancher-Les-Mines, Hugier, Fresne-Saint-Mamès, Raddon-Et-Chapendu

For the regional travel overview: Haute-Saône.