vesoul - DE Media

presse file 2015
VESOUL,
a town to discover
or rediscover…
Place du Palais de Justice
“T’as voulu voir Vesoul, et tu as vu Vesoul.” Through the charm of a chorus and a song title of
Jacques Brel, the prefecture town of the Haute-Saône became famous for French song lovers
(and others!).
Press contact: Marion HUMBAIRE
2 rue Gevrey – BP 90117 - 70002 VESOUL CEDEX – Tel. +33 (0)3 84 97 10 86
– E-mail. [email protected] – www.ot-vesoul.fr
In Vesoul, private mansions of the 16th and 18th centuries remind prosperous times of the
town history.
A narrow pass or a largely opened porch can lead to a courtyard or a flowered garden, to a
picturesque and unexpected detail.
Strolling in shops, daydreaming on cafe terraces, walking in the English Garden where
thousands of flowers will welcome visitors: beyond suspicion, this is the town of Vesoul that
will surprise and charm walkers.
The English Garden
Table of contents
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Summary p. 2
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Location and figures p. 3
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Vesoul in History p. 4
•
2014 news p. 5
•
Architectural heritage p. 6-7
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Georges-Garret museum p.7
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Local towns p.8
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Natural heritage p. 9-10
•
Cultural life p. 11
•
Family tourism p.12
•
Gastronomy and local products p. 13
•
Accommodation and restaurants p. 14
•
Leisure p. 15
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Practical information p. 16
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VESOUL, location and figures
Number of inhabitants in Vesoul: 15 637
Number of inhabitants in the Greater Vesoul: 32 865 for 20 towns
Vesoul, prefecture city
Department of the Haute-Saône
Region of the Franche-Comté
3 hours far from Paris (SNCF line Paris-Belfort, TGV at Besançon
Franche-Comté TGV)
45 min far from Besançon
1 hour far from Belfort
1h30 far from Dijon
Aerodrome
VESOUL
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Vesoul in History
La Motte
The first houses of Vesoul sprung up on La Motte’s hillside shortly after the fort (or castrum
vesulium, as it was called in that day) was built. The hillside afforded protection from the
recurring floods on the plains below. The ramparts were built in the 13th century. And the
town’s fairs, merchants and lawyers built the reputation it came to enjoy...
The end of the 15th century brought ruin but the 16th century saw prosperity return. It
became an administrative centre and artisan hotspot – and one of the region’s top
winemaking towns. The town was rebuilt around Saint Georges church. The handsome
houses dating back to those days are rectangular and flanked by turrets housing the
staircases. Their fine gothic cable mouldings, brackets and sculpted coats of arms still bear
medieval hallmarks. And give them the charm you can enjoy today.
The 18th century saw the Haute-Saône’s economy and population thrive. Villages rebuilt
their churches and public buildings. Vesoul boomed as it had never done before. Its
population quadrupled and the town was transformed. The affluent bourgeoisie modernised
the family homes or built new townhouses behind elegant symmetrical facades. They also
widened the roads, built fountains and opened up squares. Two landmarks, Saint Georges
church and the Palais de Justice (Law Courts) were built at that time. Vesoul’s 40 solicitors
made it a prominent legal centre. Houses also sprung up outside its walls.
The 19th century saw Vesoul into the Industrial Age. The town grew and railway links put it at
the centre of a major local and national network. Factories sprung up around the town
centre and working-class suburbs followed. The centre of town, however, changed little. It
was a quiet administrative and commercial town, and home to the 11th fighter pilot
regiment. It took pride in the peaceful quiet quality of life it afforded. Handsome Modern
Style, Art Nouveau and Art Deco homes started appearing a stone’s throw from the town in
1900. The houses in Rue Gerôme and Rue du Docteur Doillon, and the building housing the
Caisse d’Epargne bank branch today date back to that period.
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2014 news
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11-18 February: Festival International du Film Asiatique
Middle of March: cavalcade
14-17 March: Habitat Festival at the Parc des expositions
12-13 April: Parade vénitienne
20 April: the Foulées de la Motte, race of 5 375m in the center of the town with the
climb of La Motte
15 July to 12 September: summer season animated by the Tourist office, animations
from Monday to Friday. Program available at the Tourist office
July: Cox party: Beetle gathering (every 2 years at the lake)
July: night markets on Friday evenings at Place Edwige Feuillère (city centre) and Monday
evenings at the lake promenade
Early July: Harley Davidson gathering
28 July to 3 August: Petanque week (national meeting organised by the USV Pétanque) at
the Allées
16-17 August: triathlon (by the lake)
30 August: horse races at Coulevon
13-14 September: world championship of side-car
14-15 September: European days of heritage
8-10 October: Industry Festival at the Parc des expositions
October: Jacques Brel Festival, French song festival
14 September: 13th edition of « Courir pour des prunes » (“run for plums ») which allows
to run with family and friends while participating in a humanitarian operation. More than
1 500 people ran in 2013 for this event organised by Vesoul Marathon
Middle of October: semi-marathon of Vesoul
3rd week of October: animations for the Taste Week by the Tourist office, with a great
market of flavours
25 November: Saint Catherine Fair
Christmas: illuminations in the town
Year-round: several animations organised by the LPO (Bird Protection League) by the
lake or at the natural reserve of the Sabot de Frotey-lès-Vesoul
Every Sunday afternoon: dances
3rd Sunday of every month: second-hand shop on the place de la République
1st Sunday of every month: old vehicles gathering organised by the Club Nostalgie
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Architectural heritage
Limestone is the most commonly used material in the buildings of Vesoul. A beige and blue
limestone stands alongside a more ferruginous limestone, with redder tones.
These stones are used to create solid, sober houses which are none the less elegant for that.
Its history of having been destroyed several times before the 16th century has led Vesoul to
prefer solidity to fantasy. As if proof were needed, witness the Latin motto written over a
doorway "Moderata durant" (that which is moderate lasts). There is also a considerable
amount of wood in the buildings, most often in the backyards. From the 17th century, the
mullion windows give way to wide bay windows, letting more light into the interiors. These
houses are protected by sometimes very steep roofs, often decorated with varnished tiles.
Maison Cariage
Hôtel Thomassin
Hôtel Henrion de Magnoncourt
The church of St George was built on the site of an ancient chapel with origins going back to
the 11th century. It is a fascinating example of religious architecture from the beginning of
the 18th century in Haute-Saône. Based on the model of the market-church, very much in
vogue at the time, the internal vaults are all exactly the same height.
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Animations offered by the Tourist office of the Vesoul
area:
During summer, the Tourist office in Vesoul offers:
- guided tours of the old Vesoul, on Thursdays from 15 July to 15 September, at 4
pm. Meeting point Place Edwige Feuillère (4 euros/person),
- heritage Tuesdays at 4 pm,
- discovery Wednesdays in the local area, walks and discoveries in the Greater
Vesoul,
- nature Fridays,
- local Tuesdays, with a tour and local products tasting,
- themed guided tours in the old town,
- night tours on Friday evenings,
- a lot of walks and traditional and industrial discoveries throughout the summer.
All year-round:
- guided tours for groups, on demand, adapted in accordance to the public
(disabilities, children…),
- discovery rallies in the old town, in teams. Available in French, English or German.
Georges-Garret Museum
1 rue des Ursulines. Tél. 03 84 76 51 54
Founded in 1882 and set up in the middle of the old Vesoul since 1981, the local museum
exhibits fine arts and archaeology collections in a huge building from 1680 (Ursulines'
convent), which conserved its original architecture. It presents, on two floors, fine arts
(especially about the 19th century) and archaeological (from prehistory to Middle Ages)
collections.
The room Beauchamp of Georges Garret museum also welcomes some temporary
exhibitions.
Jean-Léon GEROME (1824-1904): Did you know that Vesoul is the birthplace of a
number of famous figures? In the field of art, Jean-Léon Gérôme, one of the leading painters
of the 19th century Academic movements, bequeathed the town a number of works, and the
Georges Garret museum has an interesting collection.
Open every day from 2 pm to 6 pm, except on Tuesdays and holidays. Free entry.
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Discovery of local towns
The area of Vesoul is composed of twenty picturesque towns where fountains, washhouses,
calvaries, castles and churches can be admired:
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Andelarre
Andelarrot
Calmoutier
Charmoille
Colombier
Comberjon,
Coulevon
Chariez
Echenoz-la-Méline
Frotey-lès-Vesoul
Montcey
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Colombier
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Mont-le-Vernois
Montigny-lès-Vesoul
Navenne
Noidans-lès-Vesoul
Pusey
Pusy-Epenoux
Quincey
Vaivre-et-Montoille
Villeparois
and many others…
Natural heritage
LA MOTTE (town centre):
La Motte hill overlooks the verdant Durgeon Valley which has seen Vesoul grow over the
centuries.
A chapel, Notre Dame de la Motte, was built in 1857 to give thanks for the 1854 cholera
epidemic sparing the town.
One of additions to the hilltop’s amenities is a bronze viewpoint diagram by painter and
sculptor Francis Panaget (1979).
The view from the top of the hill spans the Vesoul plains, Vosges, Jura and even the Alps.
ALLEYS AND THE ENGLISH GARDEN (town centre):
New walkways were built in 1792 and a public garden followed. The flowerbeds, rose
garden, pergola – and a number of rare white-mulberry, pheasant-berry, fringe and dove
trees – are stunning sights.
And your children will love the games in the play area.
The English Garden
LA COULEE VERTE:
Walk by the river Durgeon (for walkers and cyclists), starting in front of the swimming pool.
Connects the town centre to the east district of Vesoul.
LAKE OF VESOUL-VAIVRE (west of Vesoul):
The 93-hectare mirror in the distance is the Vesoul-Vaivre Lake. A 5-kilometre-long trail
there will take you through a bird sanctuary, the lake shores and play areas, and a large
outdoor complex (including a water park, and sailing base).
Vesoul also features a 21-kilometre-long hiking, biking or rollerblading nature trail.
NATURE RESERVE: SABOT DE FROTEY (east of Vesoul – RN 19, direction of Belfort):
Nature reserve (rich and varied plant life, fauna typical of limestone plateaux). Overlooking
the cliff and opposite La Motte, on the edge of the limestone hill, the rock has been
fashioned by rain, wind and ice into the shape of a shoe. Magnificent viewpoint. Signposted
walk, aerodrome, motocross circuit.
GROTTE DE SOLBORDE (cave) AT ECHENOZ-LA-MELINE:
The broad, grassy lane is lined on its left by a series of limestone rocks known collectively as
the “Oick of the 12 Apostles”; Pleasant walk (30 minute round trip) leading to the rock
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where the Méline rises. Parking area in the little village of les Cottets. Chapel with petrifying
waterfall below. As a result of the discovery in 1663 of a 16C Virgin, hidden during the
invasions, Solborde became a shrine of importance.
PLATEAU DE CITA (NAVENNE and ECHENOZ-LA-MELINE):
7.5 km walk (2.30 hours), yellow ring marking, starting from the « 4 sapins » car park at
Navenne.
Old prehistoric site. The Cita site, situated at the top of the plateau overlooking the Durgeon
valley is entirely enclosed by a protective dry stone wall. It appears that the occupants of the
camp once existing here lived in adobe or dry stone huts on the edge off the cliff or against
the fortifications.
LE FRAIS PUITS – LA FONT DE CHAMPDAMOY (SITE FOSSILE) AT QUINCEY:
The « Frais-Puits » is a sort of funnel extending under the earth through a siphon and miles
of underground galleries. In rainy weather it acts as an overflow, the water following the ‘dry
valley” and flowing into the Font of Champdamoy (in the hollow on the left). Via the
Colombine, the water can reach the lower parts of Vesoul. Mammoth and reindeer teeth
dating from the last glaciations have been found in this flooded underground system (one of
the largest in Europe).
LE CHEMIN VERT : (Villersexel road –D9):
27 km of paths for walkers and mountain bikers along the abandoned railway line. A
pleasant itinerary ending at Loulans-les-Forges.
ARBORETUMS AT NAVENNE, PUSY-EPENOUX and NOIDANS-LES-VESOUL:
Navenne: signposted nature trail – different tree species (information panels).
Departure: “les 4 sapins”
Noidans-lès-Vesoul: in an enjoyable clearing, by the mountain bike route n°17.
Access: in the direction of Gray and near the interchange Besançon-Gray, 1st on the left. 600
m farther on that road.
Pusy-Epenoux: Nature Discovery Area (on the road to Bougnon) with artificial lake
and picnic area.
The arboretum at Pusy-Epenoux
THE ROUTE OF COURLIS
Departure at Vaivre-Montoille, near the level crossing close to the night club.
4 km of laid out path for walkers, rollers and cyclists, linking the Chemin vert to the “Rives de
Saône” through a footbridge over the Saône after Chemilly.
Different routes are available from this path.
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Cultural life
With the Edwige Feuillère Theatre (700 places), the cultural season is quite diversified:
theatre, concerts, festivals, debate congresses, movies, circus, dance, music of the world…
With the Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie (International Festival of Asian
Movies), end of January-early February, 25 000 people, one of the most important cultural
events in Franche-Comté (80 movies coming from all Asia, from the Middle-East to the Far
East, countries split in 7 sections),
With a multiplex movie theatre, the Majestic Espace des Lumières, 12 rooms with the
new cinematographic technology, 3D included,
Several exhibition rooms and galleries allowing an intense annual programme.
With the municipal library (60 000 mediums!),
Pubs and cafes organising concerts during week-ends,
And dozens of cultural associations animating the town.
Vesoul completely plays its role of cultural prefecture town of the Haute-Saône.
The Edwige Feuillère Theatre
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Family tourism
The Tourist office of the Vesoul area develops a family tourism policy with all the
information on the website (www.ot-vesoul.fr) and through many brochures available in our
office:
- fun and cultural discoveries (at the museum, in the old town…),
- sport activities adapted to children
- swimming and walking in the area of Vesoul,
- playgrounds for toddlers,
- snacks in the area with discovery of farms,
- local accommodation and restaurants adapting their menus and offering furniture for
children.
And to make toddlers wait while parents read our brochures, a children corner is available in
our office, with toys, games and season colouring books.
The children corner at the Tourist office
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Gastronomy and local products
The Tourist office of the Vesoul offer a pamphlet with tips and recipes of our local chefs,
good addresses of shops with know-how, of our bakers-chocolate makers and the discovery
of our local products through few recipes…
LOCAL PRODUCTS:
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Cancoillotte cheese,
Comté cheese,
Gruyère AOC de Haute-Saône,
biscuits of Montbozon,
honeys,
eaux-de-vie,
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Griottines®,
rillettes of Franche-Comté,
Charcenne and Champlitte wines
many sweets and local specialities at ours bakers’.
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Accommodation - Restaurants
1 550 people can be housed,
more than 4 000 covers
hotels: 225 rooms from 0* to 3*,
6 guestrooms in the area of Vesoul including 1 classifed 4 Epis (capacity of 14 people),
outdoor accommodation: International Camping of the Lake *** with 160 places,
6 bungalows and 7 chalets of H.L.L (leisure light accommodation) type, classified “Tourisme
handicap” (all disabilities),
accommodation for groups with the Lake chalets (18 chalets of 4 people),
11 holiday cottages and tourism furnished flats 2 and 3 Epis,
1 “Point habitat jeunes”, capacity of 180 people,
50 gastronomic, traditional restaurants, cafeterias, brasseries, foreign food… throughout
all the area.
International camping of the Lake***
Castle of Epenoux (guest rooms)
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Restaurant Caveau du Grand-Puits
Leisure
Ludolac
water leisure: water park, swimming pools, sailing base, fishing,
rambling, cycle touring, roller skating and mountain biking in the area of Vesoul: many
routes,
air sports: air-club, parachuting, paragliding, hot-air balloon
unusual leisure: karting, Vélorail, skate-boarding,
Vélorail
and of course, horse riding, bowling, night clubs…
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the Tourist office of the Vesoul area
welcomes you
from October to May: on Monday 2 pm to 6 pm, from Tuesday to Friday 9 am
to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm,
on Saturday 9 am to 12 pm.
From June to September: from Monday to Friday 9 am to 12:30 pm and
13:30 pm to 6 pm,
on Saturday 9 am to 12:30 pm and 13:30 pm to 5 pm.
Closed on Sunday except in July and August from 10 am to 12:30 pm
Rue Gevrey – BP 90117 - 70002 VESOUL CEDEX
Tel. 03 84 97 10 85 – Fax. 03 84 97 10 84
E-mail. [email protected]
www.ot-vesoul.fr
Picture credits: Marc Paygnard, Jack Varlet and the Tourist office of the Vesoul area
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