Are you searching for your roots?
Genealogy tourism in the Pays de Montbéliard
Tourists from Canada and America are increasingly coming to the Tourist Office, or preferably emailing the Tourist Office before setting out on their trip. They are in search of their ‘family roots’ and are indulging in what is known as genealogy tourism.
Genealogy tourism is not only a significant economic lever (in general, it results in an average stay of 5 days, rental of a vehicle, purchase of souvenirs for family who were unable to travel, etc.), as well as an incredible unifying force.
We are grateful to our cousins on the other side of the Atlantic for showing us how we can work together. This includes tourism professionals, genealogists, historians of all kinds, Protestant parishes and inhabitants with the same surname as our visitors, etc. - and this despite the administrative ‘borders’ which today separate the seigneuries of the former Principality of Montbéliard.
Genealogy tourism also makes us realise that we must safeguard and showcase our heritage, including our village Protestant churches and the old graves in our cemeteries. What will we have to show to our distant cousins in the near future if we do not take care of the heritage which is our collective history?
Helping descendants in their research
Each year, the ‘Cercle d’Entraide Généalogique du Pays de Montbéliard’ (Genealogical Mutual Aid Group of the Pays de Montbéliard region) receives around a dozen requests from descendants of Montbéliard natives living mostly in America and Canada.
The Montbéliard Municipal Archives, the Lutheran Church of the Pays de Montbéliard Region and the Mennonite Church also receive requests.
Each year, the Tourist Office for the Pays de Montbéliard Region welcomes around a dozen descendants of Montbéliard natives for anything from a few hours to a week. Most of these visitors are American or Canadian.
How does the Tourist Office help descendants?
The Pays de Montbéliard Tourist Office uses its expertise with history and memories. It also:
- Relies on a solid network of ‘history detective’ partners, such as the Municipal Archives, the ‘Cercle d’Entraide Généalogique’, the ‘Société d’Emulation’ and the ‘Cercle Cartophile’ (Postcard Group), etc.
- Organises training for tour guides in order to increase awareness about personalised and targeted visits.
- Creates ‘bespoke’ guided tours, including a visit to the cemetery where perhaps some famous ancestors were buried.
- Works to make genealogical research a real pleasure to enjoy as a family on the quest to find the geographical origins of a family.
- Acts swiftly by quickly contacting its partners to meet specific requests (special opening of a village Protestant church, a place linked to an ancestor’s life or a meeting with the pastor, etc.).
- Makes reservations in hotels and restaurants, and books hire cars.
- Prepares a programme for visitors (market day for the purchase of local products, a special event linked to the local area and which would help for becoming immersed in the world of their ancestors, etc.).
- Advises on visits to a particular site related to the profession carried out by a family member (e.g. the ‘musée d’art et d’histoire’ (Museum of Art and History) and its collections related to the textile trades or the ‘musée de l’Aventure Peugeot’ (Peugeot Adventure Museum) for trades related to the manufacture of agricultural tools).
- Organises meetings with farmers in Montbéliard (for Mennonite Anabaptist farmers) and farm visits.
- Operates in such a way that the descendant of Montbéliard natives feels ‘at home’ for the duration of the stay.
- Informs the press for publicity in the local newspaper or on the radio, and then sends the articles which have been published.
- Seeks to maintain regular links with the descendants of Montbéliard natives.
- Seeks to convince local stakeholders to take action to help genealogy tourism (protection of cemeteries, networking, etc.).
In summary, the Tourist Office seeks to help ‘its’ genealogy tourists to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors in the most enjoyable way possible and in such a manner that they consider returning with other members of their family.
Your contact at the Tourist Office:
> Reception Service: accueil@paysdemontbeliard-tourisme.com
