Grotte de Solborde

The reculée de Solborde is located less than 3km from Vesoul, in the village of Echenoz-la-Méline.

The cave, which gives the site its nickname of "Trou", is connected to an underground water network. It shelters a spring which cascades down from it and then mixes with the stream of the Devil's Fountain to become the small river of the Méline.

In 1663, a statue of the Virgin Mary, hidden there for a long time, was found. Since her discovery, she has performed many miracles and has led to the construction of a chapel where there is evidence of her prodigies. For example, there is a model boat left by a certain C.F. Henry de Pussy, who left it there after his pilgrimage to Our Lady of Solborde. He had promised to go there if he returned safely from his sea voyage.

The King of Spain Charles II himself certified his power in 1666 in a charter engraved in a stone in the choir of the chapel:
"The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary having remained from time immemorial as hidden and unknown in a rock of Solborde, it has finally manifested itself for three years with brilliance and quantity of favors and grace that many people have received and having had recourse to after having experienced that all human help was useless for their relief in such a way that all inhabitants of many counties for have not only, both in general and in particular, been to pay respect to her or also an infinite number of the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland and Lorraine. Charter of the King of Spain Charles II to the inhabitants of Echenoz la Méline 15 February 1666".

In addition to its spiritual interest, the site also has an important geological potential; the reculée of Solborde gathers the cave, the waterfall and a set of limestone blocks called the Rock of the Twelve Apostles which would guard the site.