VILLAGE OF SOULOSSE-SOUS-SAINT-ELOPHE

Description

Located in the Vair valley, north of Neufchâteau, the village of Soulosse-sous-Saint-Élophe leads to the discovery of a historical, Gallo-Roman and legendary heritage, with the figure of Saint-Élophe. In the heart of this village with the ancient name of Solimariaca, situated on an ancient Roman road, the discovery of the legend of this Christian martyr, beheaded in 362 by the Romans, takes place through various natural and heritage sites.

On the supposed site of Saint-Elophe's martyrdom, on the bank of the Vair, the Sainte-Épéothe chapel was built in the 15th century. It houses a remarkable bas-relief, dated 1614, an altarpiece of Saint-Elophe listed as a historical monument. Restored in 2018, this chapel was awarded the Heritage ribbons.

From this place of martyrdom, legend has it that the beheaded saint then climbed the hill, carrying his head under his arm, washing himself on the way in a fountain that sprang from the ground and which he struck with his stick, and that on reaching the top he gave a final sermon. A walk in his footsteps through the forest, across the hill, allows you to discover this fountain halfway up, then to reach the village of Saint-Elophe.

There, overlooking the Vair valley, is a gigantic statue of Saint-Elophe which stands next to the church. Built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 15th century, this Gothic and Romanesque church houses the relics of Saint-Elophe, as well as a recumbent statue on which an unusual phenomenon occurs every year: the sun is only reflected on it during the summer solstice.

In the heart of this village marked by the legend of this cephalophorous saint, there is also an archaeological museum, in which a rich collection of Celtic and Gallo-Roman remains found on the territory of the municipality is presented.

• Pets welcome
• Coach park