My beautiful village. Urcerey, an attractive lung within reach of Belfort

"Because it's Urcerey." When asked, "What would make Urcerey the most beautiful village in the department?", two residents of the commune gave the same answer at different intervals. An innocent response that reflects the general well-being of the inhabitants of this small town southwest of Belfort. In the heart of this particularly flowery setting, the absence of commerce does not prevent the arrival of new residents each year.

To appreciate Urcerey's beautiful geographical location, simply walk up Rue des Écureuils. After a few hundred meters, an elevated viewpoint allows you to observe the village from west to east, with the Vosges mountains on the horizon. Only the tall towers of the Résidences, visible in the distance, remind this isolated commune of its proximity to the departmental capital. Wedged between Haute-Saône and Bavilliers , Urcerey is located just over 5 kilometers from the center of Belfort.

Yet, it resembles in every way a charming little country village. The houses are spaced out, sometimes without the slightest fence. A locality where greenery plays an important role, maintained by a designated police officer and several rural guards. Behind the town hall, in the communal park, mint, gooseberries, sage, and even tomatoes grow discreetly. Residents are free to come and help themselves. For all its actions, the town has been awarded a flower in the Villes Fleuries classification . Discreetly, Mayor Marie-France Bonnans-Weber hopes to "win a second one."

The village's few modern pavilions don't disguise Urcerey's historical past. In addition to its washhouse, home to a dozen fish, you can find old black marker posts. Some buildings even feature the village's coat of arms, featuring a black bear. This is the case for Daniel's house. This former coachbuilder returned to his village after a stint in Valdoie. At the entrance to his pavilion, around his outdoor tap, he drew a black bear on a gold background.

A reference to the ancient Latin name of the municipality, ursi rus, which translates as "bear's domain." However, doubts remain about the original colors of the town's coat of arms. "There is controversy," the village mayor tells us, "between whether it should be black with a red tongue or gold with a smaller red tongue."

Despite the lack of commerce in the village, Urcerey retains its dynamism. Between the distribution of sweets at Christmas, Saint Nicholas Day, the meal for the elderly, or a party in the town park, the village maintains its liveliness with the help of its village association . A setting that seems to please according to the latest figures collected by INSEE. The town's population grew from 215 to 249 between 2015 and 2021. 0-14 year-olds now represent 20% of the inhabitants compared to 10% the previous decade, as do young working people aged 30 to 44, who have increased from 14 to 21%.

In addition to its residents, Urcerey welcomes a large number of visitors. The paths through its 47 hectares of forest bring hikers to its streets. Daniel tells us he regularly sees these day-trippers. They stop to photograph his storefront and his suspended bicycle, before continuing their journey through one of the most beautiful villages in the department.