VILLERSEXEL

Near the Doubs department, Villersexel is situated in the south-east of Haute-Saône. It is an old borough dominating the Ognon and the Scey confluence, Villersexel is today a “Petite Cité Comtoise de Caractère”, situated on a hill, in a green spot. The “upper town”, formerly, a commercial area, developed around the city hall square. This later is surrounded by the church, covered by the traditional comtois style steeple, also the city hall, formerly a grain broker, and the castle, which was rebuilt in 1880, after the Battle of Villersexel in 1871. The old city walls were destroyed during the “Ten Years War” in the 17th century. Only the “the Palud Gate”, ornamented with the statues of the lords of Villersexel, remains. The ancient hospital, founded in the 18th century by the famous family De Grammont has miraculously been saved from the war. It is still possible to visit the splendid pharmacy, entirely furnished and highly decorated with ancient medical instruments, the ancient kitchen and the chapel. The “lower town” lying on the slope of the hill consisting in all of old pretty farms, with their curved porches, and gardens leading to the main street. The Ognon River is very appreciated by the canoeist, and anglers, and nature lovers. The Ognon Valley shelter a very rich Wildlife: Kingfishers, Herons, Warblers, but also, roe deers, foxes, badgers, and stags (it is possible to listen them in autumn).