Laval-Le-Prieuré between heritage and nature

Laval-Le-Prieuré can be explored through a range of themes when planning your trip: the history of Église Saint-Sulpice, the site’s former use as a mill and sawmill, dry-stone walls along the Mur-Mur(es) de pierres hiking trail, and nature watching on walks. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by considering which of these themes matters most to you. Sacred history, industrial heritage, structural functions and nature watching offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Church and protected heritage

Église Saint-Sulpice was founded around 1125 by Augustinian Canons Regular from the Abbey of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune in Valais, Switzerland. The founders’ origins give the church a specific historical connection. It has been listed as a Monument historique since 1926. The two dates represent different aspects: around 1125 marks its foundation, while 1926 marks its protected status. This distinguishes the history of the sacred building’s origins from its later legal recognition.

The historic Moulin Girardot

Moulin Girardot represents a different chapter: it was a grain mill and sawmill. The complex includes a mill site near Les Anvers and Plain du Moulin in Laval-Le-Prieuré. By decree of 3 August 2004, the sawmill area was listed as a Monument historique. The area covered includes the sawmill building, drying shed, loading quay and railway track, as well as fixed installations and machinery and the channel beneath the two buildings. The listing therefore covers several structural and technical components, not just the sawmill building. Unlike the history of the church, the focus here is on former commercial use and the precisely defined sawmill area.

Dry-stone walls along the hiking trail

The Mur-Mur(es) de pierres hiking trail passes dry-stone walls, including boundary walls and retaining walls with different functions. The terms make the distinction clear: a boundary wall marks a boundary, while a retaining wall provides support. This draws attention not only to stone as a building material, but also to the purpose of each wall. For choosing a theme, this offers a distinct approach alongside the church and former mill and sawmill complex: here, the focus is on the walls and their different functions.

Nature watching and the cave

On walks in Laval-Le-Prieuré, green woodpeckers and red kites can be spotted in the local Natura 2000 site. Bats are also among the nature-related features of nighttime walks. Grotte de Sainte-Catherine offers another connection to caves: speleologists regularly visit it as an introductory cave. At the entrance, you should behave quietly and discreetly because bats are found there. If you are planning a visit, check access and conditions beforehand. The Vallées du Dessoubre, de la Reverotte et du Doubs form a separate Natura 2000 site.

Discover more destinations: Baume-Les-Dames, Mancenans, Émagny, Recologne, Miserey-Salines, Rougemont, Montbenoît, Cubry

For the broader travel overview: Doubs.