Velars-sur-Ouche

Velars-sur-Ouche
region	Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department	Côte-d'Or
Arrondissement	Dijon
Canton	Talent
Community association	Ouche et Montagne
Coordinates	47 ° 19 ′ N , 4 ° 54 ′ E Coordinates: 47 ° 19 ′ N , 4 ° 54 ′ E
height	254-586 m
surface	12.13 km 2
Residents	1,698 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	140 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	21370
INSEE code	21661
	; Mairie and Saint Blaise Church

Velars-sur-Ouche is a French commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Dijon arrondissement in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region with 1698 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017).

geography

Velars-sur-Ouche is about 10 kilometers west of Dijon . The Ouche and the Canal de Bourgogne flow through the village .

history

Since the 16th century, a large number of handicraft and industrial companies have been based in Velars: there was blacksmithing, paper production, glasswork, mills, brick production, oil mills, and mustard production. A bell foundry produced over 300 bells between 1907 and 1909, which made this bell foundry famous.

Two serious railway accidents occurred in Velars-sur-Ouche :

A train derailed at the Viaduc de la Combe des Biches in 1888. A large part of the viaduct was destroyed by the Germans in 1944 during the Second World War .
At the Viaduc de la Combe de Fain, which was also badly damaged during the German retreat in 1944, the night train from Paris to Marseille derailed on July 23, 1962 because it had driven through a curve in front of the bridge too quickly. A car fell off the bridge and was badly damaged. 39 people died and 46 others were injured.

Attractions

Notre Dame d'Etang chapel : Above the village is the Notre Dame d'Etang chapel, which is also the landmark of Velars-sur-Ouche. The chapel was built at the end of the 19th century on the spot where shepherds found a small statue of the Virgin Mary in 1435. The chapel is currently closed for renovation work. There are several pilgrimages to the chapel every year, on Mother's Day and on the first Sunday in July and September. The statue of the Virgin Mary on the chapel is 8 meters high and weighs about 10 tons.
Pingat Castle: from the 19th century
former Debost castle: the former castle is surrounded by a park and is located in Velars-sur-Ouche (behind the bakery)