Tavaux is a commune in the Jura department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, 7 km south-west of Dole.
Its territory of nearly 14 km² remains mostly rural and dedicated to agriculture, with 55% arable land to the west and south and some wooded areas.
On its central part and the north-east, the locality is urbanized and includes the historic village in the center, a working-class town created around a chemical plant of the Solvay group in 1930 in the north-east, a third residential district from the 1950s, the Mulotte, making the junction between the first two poles. Finally, to the south-east, the Dole-Besançon-Dijon regional airport extends a large part of its infrastructure.
That is to say that the face of Tavaux underwent a major change in the 20th century, a primitive village having been established since Antiquity at the junction of two Roman roads linking Besançon to Langres and Chalon-sur-Saône to Besancon.
In the Middle Ages and then under the Old Regime, the city remained modest but prosperous thanks to its agricultural land occupying a fertile plain, despite the conflicts that set the region ablaze (Wars of Religion, Thirty Years War).
Perpetuating the Comtoise tradition of the exploitation of saltworks, the factory established in 1930 specializing in the production of chemical derivatives of salt has transformed the town but also boosted demography and led to the development of numerous sports and leisure facilities..
This is why Tavaux, which has nearly 4000 inhabitants, deserves attention during a stay in the region.
Several heritage sites of interest can mark out a discovery tour of the small town.
In the historic town, the church of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais was built in the 17th century on the foundations of a primitive building, and sports a neo-classical style as evidenced by the tympanum and the pediment at the level from the porch. The church was enlarged twice in the 19th century, the bell tower rebuilt in 1852 dominating the whole, 44 meters high.
At the edge of the Mulotte district, to see next, the town hall of the town. It is a former grain dryer and fodder warehouse from the 19th century, witness to the agricultural vitality of that time. It was bought in 1929 by private individuals and transformed into a small, classically-shaped château, with accommodation on three levels, including a second floor under sloping attics and projecting pavilions. The corner stones are highlighted and we observe the decorations of the frames and a masonry frieze between the first and second floors, on the facade, referring to traditional Comtois decorations. The municipality bought the site which became town hall in 1960. Information on +33 3 84 71 95 00.
Finally, head to the Cité district, developed in parallel with the establishment of the Solvay factory in 1930. The plans inspired by the precepts of the town planner Ebenezer Howard (1850-1928) and the English "garden cities" of the 19th century. The axes of circulation are traced in a geometric way and green spaces mark out the whole, the pavilions and semi-detached houses presenting a charming architecture for the time but typed according to the socio-professional category of the occupants (workers, foremen, engineers…).
In the center is the Sainte-Anne church, inaugurated in 1939. Now listed in the Inventory, designed by Henri Vidal, its singular triangular facade decorated with a sculpted Christ surmounting the semicircular portal surrounded by arches is adjoined by a bell tower. The materials (limestone) are identical to those of the surrounding workers' housing. The building follows a basilica plan and inside, we notice the exposed fir wood frame, a fresco signed Gowenius in the choir representing the Assumption of Mary and stained glass windows offering a softened light. The organ comes from the collegiate church of Dole.
In terms of culture, the municipal media library (inherited from the works council of the factory) regularly offers events (meetings, readings, exhibitions). Contact on +33 3 84 81 10 33.
Athletes are very pampered. An outdoor swimming pool with two pools with fun equipment and solarium (inquire on +33 3 84 81 98 59), a skate track, another BMX track, a fitness trail, a bowling alley, tennis courts (to be reserved on +33 6 62 93 99 24) and number of football pitches.
Some of these facilities are integrated into the Vernaux park, between the communal forest and the Mulotte district. This green and wooded area dedicated to walking also includes an animal park, a botanical trail and playgrounds. Information on +33 3 84 71 95 00.
It is also impossible to miss the vast regional airport shared by Dole, Besançon and Dijon, the management of which is delegated to a private company.
Created before the Second World War to serve as a support runway for the Dijon air base, it became a real autonomous base due to the Occupation, then the Allies took it over. Its military vocation fades when France withdraws from NATO. The airport then equipped with a terminal and a new control tower then turned to civil and commercial traffic in the 1970s. The first regular lines were tested, but it was not until the beginning of the 21st century that the infrastructure is successful. Via regular flights to Corsica, the Maghreb and Portugal, the airport passes the milestone of 100,000 annual passengers before the health crisis of 2020. All information on +33 3 84 72 18 53.
Please note that on the website The Franche-Comté flying club is also based, which includes a flying school and offers "discovery" flights to admire the region from the heights... Information on +33 3 84 81 18 17.
If you remains on the ground, many hiking trails traced on and around Tavaux and Dole allow walkers or mountain bikers to enjoy unspoiled and green landscapes. Maps and information on +33 3 84 72 11 22.
