Le Poirier

For a long time, a lone pear tree marked the boundary between the communes of Grancey-le-Château-Neuvelle and Villemervry. Visible from afar in the landscape of the plateau, this tree was a familiar landmark for local residents and travellers alike.

The winter storm of 1999 put an end to this emblematic presence. To preserve the memory of the site, a few years later the commune commissioned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone to carry out an artistic project as part of the Nouveaux Commanditaires programme.

Inaugurated in 2008, the monumental sculpture paid tribute to the ancient tree and recalled the former border between Burgundy and Champagne. Damaged by a violent storm in 2021, it is now being considered for possible reinstallation.

In the meantime, a young pear tree has been replanted by local residents. This symbolic gesture perpetuates the history of this unique place, where local memory, landscape and contemporary creation meet.