Washhouses and fountains in the Montbozon region

Especially in the course of the 19th century, washhouses were built all over France, and you can still find them in numerous villages today. The Montbozon region has some particularly notable specimens, and today's tour brings together some of the best known. The official starting point of the round is the hikers' and cyclists' car park on the Voie Verte in Fontenois-lès-Montbozon (Grande Rue). The first kilometers run almost dead straight on the former railway line, the Montbozon-Vesoul section was closed in 1973 and today cyclists enjoy it. In Dampierre-sur-Linotte, the route branches off the cycle track and you come across the first two wash houses, the Lavoir Saint-Maimboeuf forms a pretty ensemble with the bridge of the same name and a Lourdes grotto. Back at the junction, the most pleasant part of the hike begins: first it goes up a gravel path to Trevey (there seems to be a wash house in the small village, but I didn't find it), then the path runs for a long time over the fields and through extensive forest areas. After a while, the paths turn back into gravel paths and finally asphalt, when the TGV route is reached after a good 10km - from here the rest of the route is mostly on asphalt, which makes the hike surprisingly exhausting😖 Shortly after crossing the railway line, you reach Bouhans-lès-Montbozon, where you can marvel at a stately round wash house. Through the forest to Thiénans, there you will find a very classic, simple washhouse on the outskirts of town, the floor of which was paved with gravestones from the nearby church... A beautiful path overlooking the Ognon river leads from here to Montbozon with its monumental swan fountain near the castle. Montbozon has a lot of old buildings, some of which are unfortunately in need of renovation, the small "Cité de caractère" unfortunately looks a bit like a structurally weak area... After Montbozon it goes again over the TGV route, the well-known railway cycle path then leads to Fontenois-lès-Montbozon. The local Fontaine du Center is one of the highlights of the tour, a true monument of washhouse culture😄 The long town has several wash houses to offer - the tour leads past the Lavoir de Riotte before you end up back at the starting point after a last stretch of bike path. Conclusion: washhouses are not uncommon in France, but on this tour you will come across some very special specimens. Mostly described in detail and enriched with small "laundry gossip" stories, the result is a very interesting tour - the very high asphalt content unfortunately has to be swallowed on such a cultural tour...