Châtillon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Vosges department, in the Grand Est region, 12 km east of Bourbonne-les-Bains.
Bordering the departments of Haute-Marne to the east and Haute-Saône to the south, its 9 km² territory remains very green, covered with forests (33% of its area), meadows (27%), arable land and agricultural areas (35%).
The village developed on a spur dominating the confluence of the Saône with the Apance river.
Southern gateway to Lorraine on the borders of Franche-Comté and Champagne, Châtillon has been a highly strategic site since the Middle Ages. With a fortified castle that the Count of Bar ceded to the King of France Philippe le Bel in 1301, the town was protected by a wall when the Hundred Years War began. The city became a provost until the 18th century. But it pays a heavy tribute to its geopolitical situation at the time... It was destroyed by Charles the Bold in 1476, then at war against the dukes of Bar and Lorraine, and affected again in 1484 during the conflict between the lord of Valangin in conflict with René II of Lorraine. During the Renaissance, the village came back to life and its center was endowed with an exceptional heritage: houses and mansions were built for the bourgeois, officers and craftsmen. Richelieu took Châtillon in 1635 during the Thirty Years War, but if the human losses were terrible, the heritage was saved. It remains today the first wealth of the village which is labeled "Small city of character". The historic center and the cultural and artisanal vitality of Châtillon, without forgetting its beautiful surrounding countryside, make it a "must see" during a stay in the region...
A discovery of the old village reveals a real dive into the Renaissance period (16th century), with a number of buildings having preserved their noble style even though some of them were, during past wars, transformed for some time into agricultural buildings..
We can also still observe the remains of the old fortifications, elements of ramparts and towers, doors, stairs which also give the site its picturesque aspect. Not to mention the turrets, signs and sculpted decorations recalling that a butcher was established here, a tanner there...
In the village itself, no less than eight residences are protected as historical monuments: the Hôtel de Lignéville (1554), Hôtel de Sandrecourt (1543), Hôtel du Gouverneur (second half of the 16th century), Hôtel du Faune (or Immeuble Drouin, second half of the 16th century), the Prévôté (or former Grenier à Sel, 15th and 16th centuries), the building known as the old hospital (first half of the 16th century), the large tower of the ramparts (12th and 16th centuries) with its vaulted rooms and its firing chamber, and finally a Crossroads cross (at the top of the Grande Rue).
Throughout the year, the Châtillon museum and the Saône Lorraine association offer guided tours of the city. Otherwise, leaflets are available to understand this rich building. Information on +33 7 81 88 93 08 or +33 3 29 07 91 78.
The "welcome point" for tourists and visitors is located at the former Salt Granary which includes a tea room.
A visit is then a must at the Châtillon museum housed in the former shoemaker's and shepherd's stalls. There are presented the trades of the village in the past, sketches evoking rural life, as well as a model of the city before its destruction in 1635.
A space is devoted to the local painter Jan Monchablon (1854-1904) whose the reputation gained in its time the United States and of which many works evoke the locality, its picturesque alleys like its bucolic countryside. Open from Easter to All Saints' Day and the rest of the year by reservation. The entrance also gives access to the Grosse Tour. Price: 2.50 euros. Information on +33 7 81 88 93 08.
Not to be missed either, in the village, "La maison du P'tit Louis" which presents various collections (notably Playmobil figurines) but also exhibitions by local artists, and finally offers the sale of decorative objects or "L'étable des arts" which mainly programs exhibitions of photos and contemporary art. Information on +33 6 80 18 89 10.
Many craftsmen, inns and a bookstore are also established in this village which, however, only has 110 permanent residents.
For walkers, in addition to the winegrowers' huts, in the rural surroundings of the village, you can observe the Corelle washhouse, on the course of the Apance, nicely restored, but also the 10 m high soft sandstone quarries which were exploited until the 19th century. They are located on the edge of the town, towards the Pont des Perche.
For larger hikes, towards Bourbonne, the Vosges or following the course of the Saône, for example, maps and information from the local branch of the tourist office, on +33 7 81 88 93 08.