Montenois: History, landscapes and activities

Montenois combines a distinctive location on a plateau with historic buildings, archaeological traces and various outdoor activities. When planning your stay, it is worth exploring these different aspects of the town: the landscape explains its distinctive location, while its architectural and local history spans several centuries. There are also different ways to spend time outdoors, from walks to games and courses.

Landscape and local history

Montenois lies on a plateau promontory facing east, rising to 400 metres. For defensive reasons, the settlement was established in its present location at the edge of the plateau. The landscape and settlement history are closely connected here: the location is not just a geographical feature, but also part of the traditional explanation of where Montenois originated.

Buildings and historic traces

The Church of Saint George stands at the top of a steep slope and was built in the 18th century. Other historic buildings include the fountain and washhouse near Rue d’Arcey, built in 1855. The town hall and school were built by the architect Vertet in 1866–1867. These dates provide a timeline for different buildings in the town: the 18th-century church was followed by the washhouse and, shortly afterwards, the town hall and school.

Local economic history is also linked to a specific date. On 3 April 1891, a dairy cooperative was founded in Montenois, where it operated until the Second World War. It is therefore part of the history of the town’s former economic life.

Another chapter leads to En Corcelles. Excavations near a spring uncovered about thirty early medieval graves there. The necropolis appears to have been used in the second half of the 7th century by a Germanic population, probably Alemannic. Finds included a Scramasax, buckles, necklace beads and belt plates. The number of graves, the cautious dating and the objects make En Corcelles an important part of Montenois’ recorded early history.

The war memorial in Montenois, erected in 1922 and listing 24 victims of the fighting, is also part of the town’s historical remembrance. It offers another point of reference in modern history, alongside the much older necropolis and the buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Outdoor activities

Evad’Parc in Montenois offers several different types of games. Swingolf is an outdoor activity; footgolf is played on a specially designed course. Disc golf combines flying discs with metal baskets as targets. Greenfoot, in turn, is a version of mini golf played with a football. So, alongside traditional golf clubs, flying discs and a football are at the heart of the various activities. If you are planning time outdoors, you can choose between these options according to the type of game.

Acroland Montenois adds ten high-ropes courses, an 18-hole mini-golf course and a nature trail to the range of activities.

Rescued llamas, a wallaby, alpacas, peacocks, sheep, goats and domestic poultry live on a 22-hectare site. Visitors can encounter the animals in their care while walking in nature. The site is free and open to the public. A walk with animal encounters is therefore quite different from the games and courses: here, the natural setting and the animals take centre stage.

Borne des Quatre Fins and route planning

The Borne des Quatre Fins is a boundary stone where the municipalities of Beutal, Longevelle-sur-le-Doubs, Lougres and Montenois meet. A picnic area is available. The stone can be reached via a drivable path marked with stylised boundary stones. Both the boundary marker itself and the route markings are part of this destination.

When planning your route, it is important to distinguish between the two sections of the path: the circular walk at the Borne is marked, but its extension to the spring is not. If you plan to take this extension, bear the difference in mind when navigating.

Discover more destinations: Cubry, Loray, Bonnay, Clerval, Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne, Charquemont, Rennes-Sur-Loue, Goumois.

For the broader travel overview: Doubs.