Fondremand is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, 25 km south of Vesoul and 30 km north of Besançon.
In the heart of a territory with a sometimes harsh climate and a hilly landscape but favorable to agriculture, and also crossed by many rivers that could contribute to the development of a craft activity (mills), Fondremand is already inhabited during the Gallo-Roman period.
But it was in the Middle Ages that Fondremand became a renowned fief, first dependent on the county of Burgundy and then falling under the lords of Neuchâtel.
Located on the edge of a plateau, Fondremand then has a castle and ramparts whose bases date back to the eleventh century. This castle, although redesigned, remains today the nerve center of the village, which has only about 200 inhabitants but whose old habitation has been preserved.
The "small town of character" label has become an attractive and lively tourist site in the center of a small, verdant area.
We will obviously start a stop at Fondremand by visiting the castle, classified building, still private property. The dungeon is the oldest part of it, dating back to the 14th century. It is quadrangular in shape, and comprises on the ground floor as well as on the first floor two vaulted rooms. One of them has retained its original openings (murderous... and latrines). On the third floor, a museum with objects of everyday life (agricultural and craft) from the period 1850-1950 was built. Also worth seeing is a 15th and 16th century turret next to the donjon, a kitchen with a monumental fireplace on the ground floor of a building built at the beginning of the 16th century. The stables, however, are more recent (nineteenth). Guided tours on appointments all year round, guided tours at fixed times in July (5 pm) and September (7 pm). Information on +33 7 50 93 47 52.
The walk can be continued through the old part of the village, dotted with houses built from the 15th to the 18th century, often decorated with turrets, gargoyles or dovecotes. The church of the Nativity-of-Notre Dame, a listed church built in the 12th century, was rebuilt several times: its gothic sanctuary dates from the 12th century, its reconstructed façade from the 16th century, and its nave Ceiling of the 18th century. Tombstones and statues dating from the 15th to the 18th century are housed inside.
In another style, the mill and its oil mill are worth a visit. The whole has been rehabilitated (building and mechanism). Its history is linked to that of the castle. From now on, the millers have rediscovered ancestral working methods to produce integral wheat flour and walnut oil. The visit (free or commented) includes the mill, its mechanisms and the oil mill. Price of the guided tour: 2 and 4 euros. Information on +33 (0) 3 84 78 92 26 or +33 6 74 35 98 50.
Finally, a 19th century pavilion that houses the resurgence of the Romaine source at the foot of the castle, also serving as a wash house.
Note that a hiking tour proposes the discovery of the heritage of Fondremand. It is 3.2 km long. Information on +33 (0) 3 84 91 84 98.
Many other routes have been thought out and marked for walkers or mountain bikers. Some take an old road to Santiago. Information on +33 3 84 91 84 98.
Finally, in this region, fishing enthusiasts are satisfied. Information on the most suitable sites and regulations at +33 3 84 91 84 98.
In the middle of July, during several days, the Arts and Crafts Days of Fondremand bring together craftsmen (pottery, wooden toys, blown glass), folk groups, street entertainment, sound and light show... More than 20 000 people Have been pressing for 40 years for the event. Information on +33 (0) 3 84 78 23 35.
The first weekend of September, patronal festival.
