Historical center
Centre ancien de Vesoul
VESOUL
Land of painter Gérôme
A getaway to Vesoul
"You wanted to see Vesoul, and we saw Vesoul..." French singer Jacques Brel encourages us to come and visit this pretty town surrounded by beautiful scenery, where painter Jean-Léon Gérôme was born in 1824. You can expect a great combination of nature & heritage sites as you explore this town. Here are our recommendations for a successful getaway guaranteed.
The peaceful Vesoul-Vaivre lake
The day begins peacefully, surrounded by nature. At Vesoul-Vaivre lake, you'll see herons and ducks waking up for the day and you are free to enjoy the peace-and-quiet of the area as you see fit: mediation or a walk for those looking for a contemplative experience, running or cycling if you're feeling sporty. Or maybe you'd prefer to take to the waters and go canoeing on the calm waters of the lake?
View from the top
Notre-Dame de la Motte viewpoint
After getting to grips with Mother Nature, it's time to enjoy the views from the top of Notre-Dame de la Motte. A statue of the Virgin Mary watches over the locals of Vesoul, in a spirit of compassion.
But this place is especially worth the detour for the view of the town, as described in the famous song by French singer Jacques Brel who recommends going to see Vesoul. So if you're going to see this town, why not get a panoramic view of it from up here!
Bon appétit!
Culinary speciality
For lunch, we recommend going to the banks of the Saône nearby to taste a pochouse? This iconic dish is made using freshwater fish in a delicious stew, with eel, pike, tench and perch. Served with local Charcenne wine or Côteaux de Champlitte.
To the museum
Come and experience the world of painter Jean-Léon Gérôme
Come and explore the various areas of the Musée Georges Garret and admire the artworks of local painter and sculptor Jean-Léon Gérôme. When you find out that some of these images actually served as inspiration for the American film Gladiator and Star Wars, you'll be looking at them quite differently, won't you?
A walk after lunch
Beautiful buildings
Wander around the cobbled streets of the town centre and admire the beautiful buildings and private manors built between the 15th and 18th centuries.
Find out more
A bit of greenery
Explore an English-style garden
After admiring the buildings of the old town, it's time to appreciate the exotic varieties in the English-style garden. You'll love wandering past the waterfall, pergola, rose garden and lake.
English-style garden
Ideas of places to visit in the area
Travel back in time at the Château de Champlitte
We recommend visiting the superb Château de Champlitte, 60 km away from Vesoul. You can expect a fascinating journey into rural life at the beginning of the 19th century at this Musée d'Arts et Traditions Populaires, with replicas of traditional shops, workshops and farming homes.
Idea for a boat trip
A trip down the Saône
Hop aboard one of the cruise boats in Gray (1 hour from Vesoul) for a journey down the river. During your cruise, you'll find out all about the underground canal of Saint-Albin, 681 metres long and listed as a Historic Monument. It was opened for service in 1880, upon orders from Napoleon III to make it easier for boats to sail here.
You can make use of the new facilities for pedestrians and go for a walk here and even stop off for a picnic as a family or with friends.
See your visits on the map
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