Around Pesmes, a town of character

When you arrive in Pesmes via the D475b, after the restaurant (Les Jardins Gourmands), cross the Ognon and take the first right. (Shaded car park Quai de la Fontaine on the banks of the Ognon).

(S/E) Join the CD475b road to Dole and turn left towards Dole. Stay on the right or left side of the road on the grass verge along the CD47b.
At the Ermitage crossroads, continue left on the CD475 b for about 300 metres, then turn right onto a white path that goes uphill.
Follow this path for about 600 metres, then at the crossroads, turn right towards the north-west.

(1) At the CD112, turn left towards the south-west and after about 30 metres, take the grassy path on the right.
Follow this path to the junction with Rue de Pesmes, then turn left towards Mutigney. Enter the village and stay on Rue de Pesmes.

(2) Walk to the wash house and back, then continue left along Rue de l'Église. At the fork, leave the church and town hall on your left and turn right, passing in front of the castle entrance. It is only partially visible from Rue du Château.

(3) Walk to the wash house and back, then leave the village of Mutigney via Rue des Forges.

(4) Go through the barrier and continue straight ahead towards the Pesmes forges.

(5) Cross the bridge and then, at the road, turn left towards the forges.

(6) Pass through the site, turn left onto the fitness trail and walk around the island.
Stay on the path that runs alongside the River Ognon. Take the Chemin des Forges towards Pesmes.

(7) At the crossroads with the Route de Broyes, turn right for a return trip to the wash house.
Return to Rue des Loups and continue towards Pesmes, turning right onto Rue de Coulances until you reach Porte Saint Hiliaire on Rue Saint Hilaire.

(8) Just before Porte St Hiliaire, turn left onto Chemin de Ronde and continue to Rue Jean Jaurès on the right.
If the rampart walk is no longer accessible, continue as you wish through the streets and trajes (narrow alleys) of Pesmes until you reach the church.

(9) After visiting the church, take Rue de Grandevielle to reach the rear of the castle.

(10) One of the castles of Pesmes. Follow the trail to reach the viewpoint. Continue through the narrow streets between the buildings that characterise the village of Pesmes, then take Rue du Donjon on the left to reach Ruelle de la Grapillotte.

(11) After visiting this fabulous site, walk back down Ruelle de la Grapillotte to Rue de la Vannoise, turn left to reach Rue du Général Poncet, which is on the right. In this street, turn right onto Quai de la Fontaine until you reach the car park (S/E).

We also recommend that you take the 1:25,000 IGN paper maps for this hike with you. (Ref 32230) as well as the description and map extract.

For your information: "A former strategic location on the road from Gray to Dole, Pesmes had a turbulent history, undergoing various occupations before finally becoming French in 1678. Nevertheless, the town has retained a rich heritage: the remains of the castle, the^13th- and^16th-century Saint-Hilaire church, and the gates. Along the charming Ognon River, the residences of notables and winegrowers' houses evoke the village's wine-growing past."

The wash houses and fountains of Mutigney
"They were built in^{the 18th} century. With their stone bosses and petrified fountains, they are similar to the works of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux for the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans.
One (known as La Platière) is located on Rue Saint-Souplet and the other on Rue du Château. They have been listed as historic monuments since 18 October 1979.

The Château de Mutigney is located on a terrace overlooking the Ognon plain. To the north, it comprises a main building flanked by two round towers and six chimneys, and on the south wall, an octagonal tower surrounding the staircase leading to the upper floors. Opposite this first building, to the south, is a second building flanked by two square towers, thus delimiting an inner courtyard.

The buildings that enclosed the courtyard on the other two sides, which were in a very poor state of repair, were removed during a recent restoration.
The site was defended by a surrounding wall, and the north side was protected by marshes.

The castle (facades, roofs and five chimneys) has been listed as a historic monument since 22 July 1971.

Les Forges de Pesmes is an industrial metallurgical establishment founded in 1660 by Claude de la Baume for the manufacture of weapons on the banks of the River Ognon, in the far south of the Haute-Saône department.

Church of Pesmes