Bellefontaine: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Bellefontaine combines local history with the protected La Pierrache nature area and marked trails. Its history includes the Church of Saint Blaise on Grande rue: the original church dates from the 11th century (1006) and was rebuilt in the 16th and 18th centuries. Its main construction phases took place in the 15th century and the second quarter of the 18th century. The bell tower with portal, the western portal of the nave, part of the eastern wall and the rib-vaulted choir have been preserved. The church is located below the road and can be reached via a descent.

History and culture

The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel is also one of the village's historic buildings. It was built in 1856 in connection with the cholera epidemic and renovated in 2006. The chapel is a votive chapel associated with an epidemic; it is considered neoclassical and was built at the initiative of the clergy. Bellefontaine also has around twenty roadside crosses dating from the period since the 16th century. The oldest is said to be the Croix de Jaillerey from 1552. The village's three fountains include the Fontaine Saint-Blaise and two visible fountains on Grande Rue.

Nature

The La Pierrache peat bog in the municipality of Bellefontaine is a protected nature area. At Étang de la Pierrache, a path leads around the pond, while information boards explain the local fauna and flora. Individual visits to the La Pierrache site are self-guided and limited to the outdoor areas.

Anyone planning a stay in Bellefontaine will want to rent a holiday apartment for this purpose.

Hiking and cycling

The two marked municipal hiking trails in Bellefontaine have little elevation gain, are suitable for family hikes and were officially opened to hikers in summer 2016. The blue circular trail starts at the church, is approximately 12 kilometres long and leads through Bois du Seigneur, over Pont de Pierre and Pont Jeanson sud through the forêt domaniale, and to Fontaine St Blaise.

A mountain biking route begins at the town hall within the municipality. The Pâquis des 6 Frères mountain biking route is route number 23 on the Épinal mountain biking map, is 11.9 kilometres long and has 81 metres of elevation gain.

Further destinations:Igney, Saulxures-Sur-Moselotte, Brouvelieures, Le Thillot, Rouvres-En-Xaintois, Gironcourt-Sur-Vraine, La Voivre, Rupt-Sur-Moselle

For the overarching travel overview: Vosges.