Discover Toutenant

Toutenant: landscape and settlement pattern

Toutenant is located in the bocage landscape of the Bresse and has a very scattered settlement pattern with more than a dozen hamlets. The commune combines a regional landscape character with several historical and agricultural points of interest. For planning your trip, three main themes can be distinguished: the village’s architectural history, the historic salt road La Vie Gravée, and visits to farms. Local activities have different conditions, particularly regarding reservations and appointments.

Toutenant’s settlement architecture is considered characteristic of the Bresse; most outlying settlements and hamlets originated in the Middle Ages. This brings together a regional architectural character and a scattered settlement pattern that developed over a long period. The commune is therefore characterised not only by individual buildings, but also by the history of its hamlets.

Architectural history in the village

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary stands in the cemetery at the southern end of the village of Toutenant. It was replaced in 1869 by a new building in the Neo-Romanesque style, constructed according to the architect Narjoux’s plans and cost estimates dated 1867. The large Neo-Romanesque building was designed to accommodate more than 350 worshippers. The dates refer to different stages: 1867 marks the plans and cost estimates, and 1869 the new building. The church thus offers a tangible point of reference for Toutenant’s 19th-century architectural history.

The building housing the town hall and boys’ school in Toutenant was built in 1888. Together with the new church, it adds another dimension to the village’s history: alongside the religious building stands one associated with municipal and educational life. The two buildings thus bring together different functions and periods of construction within the village.

La Vie Gravée and its historic connection

Another historical trace is the salt road La Vie Gravée. It crosses the territory of the commune of Toutenant and follows the boundary between Sermesse and Toutenant. Historically, it connected the Verdunois with the saltworks of the Jura. Its route can therefore be understood both as a link between the Verdunois and the Jura and in terms of its specific relationship to the commune boundary. If you would like to follow the route on site, check in advance for current signage and access information.

Farm visits and production

At Ferme du Mezaneau, visits to the goat farm and free cheese tastings for groups are available year-round by prior reservation. Be sure to book before you arrive. The Élevage de volailles de Bresse Girardeau poultry farm offers visits by appointment, giving visitors an insight into the rearing of Bresse chickens. Check in advance for current appointment times and whether a visit is possible.

At Ferme du Mezaneau, the farm processes the milk from its dairy cows directly in the cheese dairy next to the farm. Ferme du Mézaneau also has a cheese dairy and a reception area for motorhomes. If you are planning a visit, check the arrangements for each visit in advance.

Discover more destinations: Digoin, Le Breuil, Cheilly-Lès-Maranges, Saint-Aubin-en-Charollais, Cluny, Saint-Didier-en-Brionnais, Palinges, Saint-Julien-De-Civry.

For the broader travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.