Delle and the Mazarin Fountain in Fêche-l'Église

(S/E) From the Champ de Foire car park, walk past the post office along Rue Joachim, then follow the River Allaine to the right, without crossing the bridge.
From this point, you’ll find the Yellow Rings, which will guide you throughout the walk. In some places, they’ll be very helpful.
At^{the second} bridge, turn left onto the Grande Rue. It passes in front of the Town Hall and then runs alongside a square where the Maison des Cariatides is located. At the next major junction, turn right onto Rue de la Paix and follow it to the end.

(1) Just before you reach the road, take the path that branches off to the left into the woodland and rejoins the road about ten metres further on. (This route allows you to avoid walking alongside the busy road.) Cross the road and take the path opposite, which winds along the edge of the woodland. Pass under the EDF power line and continue to the right at the Fork in the road shortly afterwards. Walk past the farm.

(2) When you reach the road, turn left. At the next junction, turn left onto the path. Pass under the EDF power line. Continue along the stony path and follow it to the D36, passing under the N1019. Walk alongside the D36 on your right for about 100 metres and turn left onto the forest track.

(3) At the end of this track, at the turning area, continue left onto a farm track. This leads onto a forest road. Follow it to the right; it leads to the first houses in Fêche-l’Église. Take Rue des Vosges, Rue des Cantons and Rue de l’Abreuvoir in turn, then cross the D463 (Grande Rue). Walk about fifty metres to the left.

(4) Just past the town hall, head down to the right, passing the Fontaine Mazarin. Turn left onto Rue des Combes, then right onto Rue du Jura and Rue de Bellevue. Shortly after the cross, turn right into the forest; the path passes under a high-voltage power line, descends and follows the hillside.

(5) At the junction with a side track, leave the path that descends to the right and head up a sunken track to the ridge, passing under the EDF power line.

(6) Follow the D36 to the left for 400 m, then turn right onto the track leading back to Lebetain.
At the junction with a track (elevation 424), take the stony path on the left.
Shortly after the first house in Lebetain, head up the D26 to the right for 100 m, then take Rue du Château d’Eau by turning left.
Then head down to the right towards the village centre via Rue des Deux Fontaines. Cross La Batte (there’s a very beautiful fountain on the square on the left).

(7) At the crossroads, turn right onto Rue du Coteau Français for a few metres, then left onto Rue du Mont. The route continues along a small path leading onto the ‘Chemin de Douane’. This crosses the industrial estate and leads to Delle. Follow Rue Jean Moulin, Rue du Moulin and Rue de la^1re Armée Française, which will take you back to the start (S/E).

Starting point: Champ de Foire car park near the Halle des Cinq Fontaines – 1, Rue Jules Joachim 90100 Delle.

The route is marked with Yellow Rings.

Visorando was provided with information by Mr Chevalley, a volunteer member of Balisage90, based on brochures published by the Belfort Territorial Department.

Delle and its historical heritage:
The old medieval castle was demolished following the French conquest in 1673. However, the ramparts, towers and turrets still lend the town its charm. The old refreshment bar on the Grande Rue, dating from the 16th century, was well known during the Revolution as the Jacobins used to hold their banquets there. The Maison des Cariatides, dating from 1571, is a former grain market, within which a room was set aside for the administration of justice. On the exterior façade, you can admire the five caryatids (painted statues): a poor couple and a rich couple, flanking a woman representing equal justice for all.
The former Feltin House, now the Town Hall, the Maison des Remparts, the Maison à Tourelle and the horizontal organ at Saint-Léger Church are other notable features that further enhance the unique charm of the Territory’s second-largest town.

The Mazarin Fountain in Fêche-l’Église:
This fountain and washhouse dates from the 18th century. It was built for washing ore belonging to the fief of Mazarin, Lord of Delle. The spring that feeds it is the Fêche, a small stream that flows into the Feschotte at Badevel.

Gallo-Roman history:
Between Lebetain and Delle, a significant Gallo-Roman villa was discovered during excavations prior to the construction of the N1019 road. Its presence can be explained by the nearby passage of the Via Lentier and the resurgence of the Batte, which provided a constant supply of high-quality water.