Villers-sur-Port has a clear cultural focus: Saint Urbain Church brings together several historical periods, two tower houses feature stone spiral staircases, and the Deroyaume art foundry adds a craft dimension to the townscape. For your selection, this means that history here is not explored through just one era or a single attraction. The church, architecture and foundry techniques offer different points of interest; a mountain biking route also connects the town with the forests between Bougnon and Provenchère.

Saint Urbain Church and its layers of history

Saint Urbain Church was rebuilt in the 18th century. Among its historic furnishings is a baptismal font made of worked stone from the 16th century. A bell dating from 1631 survived the destruction during the Ten Years’ War and depicts Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas. Different dates and points of reference thus come together: the baptismal font is older than the bell, both objects predate the church’s reconstruction, and the bell also carries a specific story of survival. This distinction is useful for understanding the subject: building history, the age of an object and its imagery are separate aspects. Those primarily interested in church and art history will find a precise focus in these details, rather than just a general historical backdrop. The hamlet of Vallerois is also part of the town’s history: it belonged to a family of the same name.

Tower houses as an architectural highlight

Another architectural highlight is two tower houses with stone spiral staircases. Their architecture is considered typical of the elaborate style of the 16th and 17th centuries. The spiral staircases are a specific architectural feature; the dating refers to the style of the design. This offers a different perspective from the church objects: the focus is on house forms and staircase construction rather than the baptismal font, bell and reconstruction. For planning your cultural trip, you can therefore distinguish between an interest in religious objects and one in historic architecture. Both themes are part of Villers-sur-Port’s cultural profile, but appeal to different interests.

Craftsmanship and the art foundry

The Deroyaume art foundry in Villers-sur-Port offers an additional perspective on craftsmanship. Its specialities include sand casting, lost-wax casting, chasing, patination and restoration. These terms describe different areas of craft: sand casting and lost-wax casting are casting processes; chasing and patination involve finishing or treating a surface, while restoration concerns work on existing objects. The foundry can therefore be considered a subject in its own right alongside the historic buildings. Its specialities range from casting processes and surface treatment to restoration. When choosing a trip based on your interests, you can thus consider craft techniques as a focus alongside architectural history and church art.

Mountain biking route and woodland

For an outdoor activity, the mountain biking route “Sentier de la tuilerie à Villers-sur-Port par Bougnon” offers a specific point of interest. It leads into the forests between Bougnon and Provenchère and includes a visit to Villers-sur-Port and its art foundry. The route description thus brings together woodland, a town visit and craftsmanship. This distinguishes the option from a focus on the church and tower houses: here, the town is linked with a mountain biking route and the forests between Bougnon and Provenchère. When making your choice, you can therefore opt either for a predominantly cultural and historical focus or for a route that links Villers-sur-Port, the art foundry and the woodland.

Discover more destinations: Filain, Clairegoutte, Fontenois-La-Ville, La Résie-Saint-Martin, Anchenoncourt, Briaucourt, Aillevillers-Et-Lyaumont, Fretigney-Et-Velloreille

For the regional travel overview: Haute-Saône.