Arguel walks

On 26 September 1943, between 7.36am and 8.24am, 16 members of the Guy Mocquet and Marius Vallet resistance groups were shot at the citadel. Later, the German officer in charge of the operation reported the end of the shootings in these terms: " None of them agreed to be blindfolded. They all died bravely, shouting 'Long live France!'" Hike in tribute to the memorial stone located at one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Besançon area.

From the village of Arguel, dominated by a jagged rocky outcrop, you will descend into the valley, following the small gorges of La Pisseur, its three waterfalls and its miniature ravine. You will pass beneath the Bout du Monde waterfall and along an ancient Roman road and a ledge path to discover a superb viewpoint over the Doubs valley. You will climb up the sunny Mercureaux valley towards Saint-Pierre, not to Paradise, but towards Fort Rolland and the ruins of the feudal castle.

Overlooking the village of Arguel, the ruins of a feudal fortress stand on a rocky outcrop. This short walk through pastures and beautiful forests offers superb views of the valley and, if you are discreet, you may spot a few deer or chamois.

Twelve short kilometres to the end of the world: a great destination that won't tire you out. You will discover the old village of Beure, a waterfall, an old wash house, a charming little church and its cemetery, and several viewpoints over the Doubs valley. Perhaps you will also have time to spare a thought for the young men who died under Nazi bullets, whose memory is perpetuated by the memorial at Rocher de Valmy.

A lovely short but varied loop. After the Cascade du Bout du Monde waterfall and a detour to the old wash house, the trail climbs steeply through rocky, green surroundings to the Cascade de la Pisseur waterfall. You can still see traces of the old iron-wheeled carts here, before enjoying superb views of the mountains and the Doubs valley.

A Roman and medieval path leads from the Bout du Monde to the heights of the Doubs and Mercureaux valleys, allowing you to pass discreetly under the ruins of the castle, stronghold of the infamous Sir Jacques d'Arguel, the racketeer, and quickly placing you under the protection of our polychrome saints of Franche-Comté.

A short, challenging hike for busy city dwellers who want to explore the wild corners of our mountains around Besançon. However, it is rich in the Baume Martin (from the Gaulish "balma", meaning a rock shelter), the superb cornices of the Bois de Peu overlooking the Doubs valley, the Gorges and waterfalls of the Pisseur and the Cascade du Bout du Monde.

This is a short hike on the outskirts of Besançon, but it offers the Cascade du Bout du Monde waterfall, an ancient Roman road, superb views of the Doubs valley, the Bois de Peu and its wooded valleys with slender trees and wild rocky crevices that cut into the cliffs. Not bad at all!

A short hike on the outskirts of Besançon, but rich in the small gorges of the Pisseur, the Bout du Monde waterfall, an ancient Roman road and a superb viewpoint over the Doubs valley. Please note! Despite its short length, it is challenging and requires sure-footedness.

This route allows you to discover Notre-Dame de la Libération with its panoramic view, the Chapelle des Buis and Les Mercureaux, all while walking through the woods.

Fans of alpine races who chant the Sambre et Meuse song as they run, move along. If, on the other hand, you like to make long speeches to one of our good old Montbéliard cows encountered along the way and find them very witty, if you like to trudge along our Cambrousard trails, then enjoy the charm of this peaceful walk along the Mercureaux stream where, it is said, a temple dedicated to the god Mercury stood in ancient times.

A short walk through the Comté region on the estate of the Lords of Arguel, where their fortified castle once stood on a jagged ridge, and a visit to the old wash house.

A short, easy walk to explore the villages of Pugey and Arguel via the ridges.

A short, challenging walk to climb up to the Combe des Œillets vineyard huts, these dry-stone structures built without mortar, where winegrowers stored their tools, took shelter during storms and sometimes slept when working late. Return via the Rosemont viewpoint overlooking the upper Doubs valley and the Jura mountains.

Present on the hills of Besançon since the 16th century, these dry stone constructions without mortar are a reminder of a time when vineyards stretched across the hillsides. A niche, a bench, a fireplace, they allowed the winegrower to store his tools, shelter in case of a storm and perhaps sleep there for a night, as the city gates closed every evening at 10:45 p.m. until 1875. Along the way, you will discover no fewer than five belvederes and the forts of Rosemont and Planoise.

An urban hike, you might say, but one which, as you climb Rosemont and La Roche d’Or, will offer you a wealth of nature just a stone’s throw from the old town and the new town, with its steep cliff-top paths, the beautifully named Combe de l'Oeillet, its old cabordes, and its scree slopes formed by the natural weathering of the cliffs and the piles of stones left by our forebears, who cultivated our Besançon hillsides in terraces.

This short but intense hike will take you to a series of historical sites, including the military fort at Pugey, the ruins of Arguel Feudal Castle and the Valmy Monument, a memorial to the members of the Guy Mocquet resistance group who were shot at the citadel, as well as natural sites such as Malpertuis Cave, the Arguel Castle viewpoint, the viewpoint towards the Chère cave, the surprising Roche Trouée in the Martelin woods and finally the Valmy Monument viewpoint, which overlooks Besançon and the entire valley, from the Vosges to Burgundy.

This easy circular route through woods and meadows will take you from the outskirts of Fontain to Notre Dame de la Libération, its crypt and its magnificent view of Besançon, the first plateau and the first peaks of the Jura. You will also discover the chapel of Notre Dame des Buis and a gentle return via the wild Mercureaux valley.

A short but richly rewarding walk: the Rocher de Valmy and the memorial stele, a tribute to the 16 resistance fighters shot at the Citadel, located on a rocky outcrop (406m) overlooking the valley where the Doubs river forms one of its most charming meanders; the Martelin viewpoint over Avanne and the Côte de Planoise; the Roche Trouée, a gateway to the valley; and finally, the old royal road with more beautiful views of the neighbouring mountains.

This gentle stroll to the Rocher de Valmy, a key site in the Franche-Comté Resistance, offers views of the lower valley where the Doubs river forms one of its most charming meanders. Then, between pastures and beautiful forests, you will discover the Belvédère Martelin overlooking Avanne and the Côte de Planoise, the Roche Trouée, a wild gateway opening onto the valley, and finally, the ruins of Fort de Pugey, the Grotte de Malpertuis and the massive, distant silhouette of Mont Poupet.

Starting from the church in Avanne, you will walk along the river, climb up to the cabordes, old dry stone winegrowers' huts, then on to Fort de Planoise or Fort Moncey, built in 1877, the first defensive rampart of the city of Besançon. You will pass numerous batteries and fortifications at a military pace, then stop at the superb viewpoints, one overlooking Besançon and its hills, the second to the south, overlooking the Doubs valley and the Jura mountains.

See Practical Information. Besançon, France's first green city, surrounded by wooded hills, is a city in the countryside. This route, from the Malcombe sports complex to Fort de Planoise, will convince you. You will climb picturesque and peaceful paths to two belvederes and cabordes, dry stone huts that bear witness to a time when vineyards stretched across our hillsides.

Via the Rosemont ledges, offering views over the Besançon hills topped by the massive, distant silhouette of Mont Poupet, you will climb up to the winegrowers’ huts of the Combe de l’Œillet, these dry-stone constructions built without mortar where winegrowers stored their tools and sought shelter from storms. You will descend back into the valley via these scree slopes, formed by the natural weathering of the cliffs and the piles of stones left by our ancestors who cultivated the terraced hills of the Besançon region. Then, one final effort to climb the Roche d’Or and return via the Chemin de l’Œillet and its houses nestled in the greenery of our city, which knows how to embrace its rural side.

This forest walk is ideal for an autumn morning, when you can surprise a few peaceful chamois in secret clearings and discover the superb Grand Méandre viewpoint over the Loue valley and the keep of the feudal castle of Chenecey, emerging from the forest. Return via the Chalet d'Arguel and pastures that will sharpen your sense of direction.

A forest walk, ideal for an autumn morning, where you might spot a few peaceful chamois in the depths of secret glades and discover, emerging from the forest setting, the superb Grand Méandre viewpoint over the Loue valley and the keep of the feudal castle of Chenecey.

Hike to discover Fort de Chaudanne with its panoramic view of Besançon and the citadel and the small paths surrounding the site.

Hike to discover several viewpoints on the outskirts of Besançon.

An urban hike to discover the hills of Besançon. Natural factors such as soil, climate and altitude, combined with the action of water, have shaped the hills of Chaudanne and Rosemont, which are remarkable natural areas. Let yourself be seduced by the beauty of unspoilt nature, proving that our provincial Besançon has managed to remain a city in the countryside.

A short climb up one of Besançon's seven hills: Chaudanne, with its unspoilt natural beauty, its dry grasslands shaped by nature and man, its fort and its views of the Citadel, the old town and the southern Doubs valley.

From the countryside to the city: crossing the dry grasslands, shaped by human hands for centuries, you’ll climb up to Fort de Chaudanne and its views over the old town, crowned by its protective citadel. You’ll descend the wooded hillside along a lovely path to follow the peaceful river, stopping for a moment by the bubbling waters of the old dam at the foot of the ramparts.

Just a stone's throw from Besançon city centre, this hike will allow you to discover the capital of Franche-Comté from several different viewpoints. You will also discover the Citadel built by Vauban and several other forts and architectural features that made up the city's fortification system.

Starting from the small chapel overlooking the Citadel and the Besançon circular route, you will follow a stream through the cool little valley of Les Mercureaux where, it is said, a temple dedicated to the god Mercury stood in ancient times. Then you will return at a more brisk pace along the old Roman road to Fort des Buis, stopping at the many viewpoints over the Doubs valley.

A lion, small and large virgins. No! You are not in an arena, despite the Roman past of our Vesontio, but on the heights of the Chapelle des Buis with its splendid views of the Citadel overlooking the city of Besançon. You will then reach the charming little valley of Les Mercureaux via a ridge path winding through the box trees.

From the chapel, with views over the city of Besançon and the Citadel, you’ll walk through the hills accompanied by the pleasant scent of boxwood. Then, you’ll follow the narrow gorge of the Mercureaux stream as you climb towards the viewpoint over the Val d’Arguel, where you can imagine the feudal castle that once stood there, sadly now destroyed.

From the small chapel overlooking the Citadel and the Besançon circular route, you’ll follow the ditches of the old fort—which looks like a haunted forest—to reach the Bout du Monde and its waterfall. Along the way, an ancient Roman road, several viewpoints over the Mercureaux Valley and the Doubs Valley and its hills: the Côte de Planoise, Chaudanne, the Citadel, Bregille and the old feudal keep of Montfaucon.

The citadel, a masterpiece by Vauban, overlooks the old town, which is enclosed in a circular bend in the river (the Boucle), from a height of over 100 metres. Its ramparts offer spectacular panoramic views. You will climb up along the ramparts and casemates, then descend the other side towards the entrance to the city, the Porte Rivotte and the toll house. Then, walking along the riverbank, you will discover the towers and bastions that protect the city, ending at the Gare d'Eau, the old goods port.

Head towards the Chapelle des Buis and Notre-Dame de la Libération viewpoints overlooking the city of Besançon and its citadel via a ridge path scented with boxwood, running alongside the walls of an old abandoned fort and the charming little Mercureaux valley.

In just five kilometres, you will discover Notre-Dame de la Libération, overlooking Besançon from its altitude of 500 metres, built in gratitude for the city's preservation during the last war. Then you will cross the Monts des Buis, climbing towards wilder viewpoints over the Doubs valley.

Du splendide belvédère de Notre-Dame de la Libération, sur la boucle surmontée de sa Citadelle et sur les monts jurassiens, vous poursuivrez par la voie romaine vers la Grotte-Ermitage de Saint-Léonard et reviendrez à la chapelle par les Monts des Buis.

This hike starts at Notre-Dame de la Libération, built in 1945, and offers a varied route combining heritage, panoramic views and forest trails. From the very first steps, you can see the old town of Besançon dominated by its citadel, before opening up to the countryside and the Jura mountains. With its steep paths, rocky ridges and wilder sections, this short circuit is no Sunday stroll, but a real hike just a stone's throw from the city centre.

From the Liberation Monument, built in 1945, and its crypt dedicated to the memory of war victims, you can enjoy beautiful views of the city topped by its Citadel on one side and, on a clear day, the Vosges mountains on the other and the Jura ridges. Then, as you walk along the beautiful ridgelines, you will discover views of the valley below and above, with the pretty line of the Besançon mountains: Bregille, Mont Saint-Étienne and its Citadel, Chaudanne and Rosemont.

In 1940, the Archbishop of Besançon, Mgr Dubourg, vowed to erect a statue to the Virgin Mary if the city was not destroyed. From this splendid viewpoint overlooking the loop topped by its Citadel, you can continue on your pilgrimage to the Grotte-Ermitage de Saint-Léonard and Notre-Dame-des-Buis, before returning with a spring in your step via the foothills of the Citadel and the Forts des Buis, stopping off at the many viewpoints over the city and other more rugged spots overlooking the Doubs and Mercureaux valleys.

This hike offers magnificent views of the Doubs valley and its contrasting hills: warlike with the ruins of the feudal castle of Montferrand, peaceful with the protective Virgin of Notre-Dame du Mont. You will walk along a beautiful, rocky ridge, punctuated by numerous viewpoints over the valley.

There are plenty of fountains in Besançon! Some more imposing than others, some more interesting, some steeped in history. Rather than admiring one by chance or even walking past it with complete indifference, why not go on a hunt for the 20 fountains? An urban and cultural stroll that will help you discover Besançon in a fun way.

Built in the 19th century in the heart of nature, Fort de Brégille overlooks Besançon and offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the old town topped by its citadel and, in the background, the Besançon hills of Chaudanne and Rosemont. After a short detour to the Grand Désert, a vast expanse of scree, you enter the Monts de Bregille forest for a visit to the Renard cave and the Clémentigney viewpoint overlooking the upper Doubs valley and the ruins of the feudal castle of Montfaucon.

Hike in the Besançon area, allowing you to climb up to Fort de Bregille with a superb view of the city and the citadel.

The forts of Beauregard and Bregille offer a special walk for residents of Besançon seeking greenery and sweeping views of the capital of Franche-Comté and its hills. They offer superb views of our Citadel. Then, just a stone's throw from the bustling city, you will find yourself on quiet paths, accompanied by the scent of boxwood.

According to Besançon tradition, the Sun King, Louis XIV, sat under a lime tree during the capture of Besançon by his troops: "the king's lime tree". But "Les Tilleroyes" is undoubtedly an old variant of tilleraie, a forest of lime trees. I don't know if you'll still find any lime trees, but there will be plenty of shade and coolness for city dwellers looking for a breath of fresh air just a stone's throw from the city.

A short climb to warm up your legs and discover two villages and exceptional views over the Doubs and Loue valleys, the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Mont, overlooking the valley, the Château de Thoraise above the river, the feudal castle of Montferrand and its medieval keep overlooking the meanders and, on the horizon, Besançon. Then a more leisurely return via the towpath, along the banks of the Doubs in the protective shade of the ruins.

A walk through woods and countryside to discover the little valley tucked away between the two hills of Moulin Caillet and, climbing the beautifully named Chemin de l’Essart du Loup, the Monument de Vorges, in memory of the poor, long-forgotten soldiers of 1870. Return to Busy with lovely views of the keep at Montferrand and the Besançon hills.

"To the south, there was no need for walls of wood or stone: the seigneurial tower spread its mismatched wings at the top of a steep cliff at the foot of which flows the Loue. The tranquil river continues to lap at the rocky escarpment, drawing the same green loops on the earth as it has done since time immemorial," writes Carole Martinez in her book Du domaine des murmures. Come and listen to the murmur of the Loue in the shadow of the ancient castle.

You will walk peacefully along the river towards Chenecey, with its old church and picturesque 18th-century turreted house, then climb up to the hidden ruins of the 9th-century feudal castle of Charencey, which dominates the village and the Loue valley. Finally, you will end your walk at the Grand Méandre viewpoint overlooking the valley and the castle keep, where you may even spot some chamois.

A short walk through the woods will allow you to discover a limestone landscape dotted with caves, chasms, sinkholes and sharp limestone pavements. Over thousands of years, water has chemically eroded the rock to create this surprising landscape. Cool temperatures are guaranteed, even in hot weather.