The Fort of Planoise

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.

Details

80330
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 265 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 259 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 486 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 235 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Car park in the centre of Avanne, Rue de l'Abreuvoir, on the left side of the church. Walk down Grande Rue, leaving the church behind you. You will walk along the Doubs for 2 kilometres on this small, relatively quiet tarmac road. Take care nonetheless. No signposts.

(1) Immediately after the Port-Douvot water treatment plant, at the signpost, turn left onto the path towards Fort de Planoise. Yellow markings. Halfway up the slope, at the next signpost, continue climbing to the left in the same direction. You will soon reach a tarmac road, which you follow to the left for 300 metres. At the next signpost, climb to the right along the path that goes up the hillside. You will soon see some ruins on your left.

(2) Immediately after the first one, take the small staircase that climbs to the left and weave your way through the ruins. You will come to another path at a right angle, which you climb on the left, then another even wider path, still going to the left. After a metal barrier, you will find the tarmac road at the signpost. Climb to the right to Fort de Planoise. You will pass between two walls. Opposite you is another signpost; turn right towards the esplanade. At the semi-circular car park, take the small path that will lead you to a splendid viewpoint over the Besançon mountains. Return to the entrance of the fort, walk along its right-hand side and go around it via the path on the left that runs alongside the moats.

(3) You will pass a boundary stone and arrive at the rear of the fort. Head slightly to the right to reach a small meadow and continue towards the picnic table. Head towards a metal barrier. You will then follow the signs for Point de vue sur Avanne. Cross the fortifications again via a beautiful stone path, continuing straight ahead until you reach the paragliding launch area.

(4) After enjoying the magnificent view of the Doubs valley and the Jura mountains, turn your back on the viewpoint and head right towards a small concrete bench. Continue for 300 metres along the ridge path that passes above the fortification and overlooks a trench path, which you should also be able to cross. Look for a path that branches off perpendicularly to the left at the large, clearly visible fortifications. Ignore the path on the right, which is blocked by a metal post, and take the stone path that led us to the jump area. Cross it and continue straight ahead along a casemate.

(5) Climb the small hill, descend it and continue straight ahead along the small descending path. At a sign bearing the number 13, ignore the path on the right and continue descending for another 150 metres.

(6) At the fork, take the left-hand path which descends diagonally down the hillside to Avanne, ignoring the paths descending to the right. You will reach Rue du Pressoir, then turn left into Rue de l'Église, passing in front of the town hall and quickly reaching the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 238 m - Avanne. Towards the banks of the - Doubs (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 2.24 - alt. 237 m - Wastewater treatment plant
  3. 2 : km 2.98 - alt. 377 m - Cabordes
  4. 3 : km 3.87 - alt. 460 m - Marker - Fort de Planoise (Besançon)
  5. 4 : km 4.43 - alt. 485 m - Paragliding area
  6. 5 : km 4.8 - alt. 472 m - Small hill
  7. 6 : km 4.99 - alt. 431 m - Fork in the road
  8. S/E : km 6.3 - alt. 238 m - Avanne. Near - Canal du Rhône au Rhin

Notes

The route includes unsecured viewpoints. The start of the walk runs alongside a fairly quiet country road, but caution is advised nonetheless. The paths are rocky and slippery. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
JulieM
JulieM

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with a nice climb at the beginning. We were lucky enough to see paragliders taking off at the top.

Machine-translated

croc-trotteuse
croc-trotteuse
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Well-marked trail, great views, a bit challenging going uphill, walking poles recommended!

Machine-translated

Wall-E
Wall-E

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike through the forest for two-thirds of the route. The path is rarely used, as grass and brambles have taken over in some parts of the climb. The descent is rocky, so sturdy footwear is essential.
The viewpoints and the fort site are worth seeing

Machine-translated

GISORANDO
GISORANDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike with a nice climb from Port Douvot, but you can go at your own pace, no problem.
Beautiful views of Le Rosemont and Avanne.
Highly recommended

Machine-translated

villers25
villers25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely hike with beautiful views, passing by
fort de Planoise will appeal to young and old alike

Machine-translated

Morganestravel
Morganestravel
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very quiet hike with beautiful views of Besançon and Avannes. Some paths are very stony, so it's best to wear sturdy footwear!
You may be lucky enough to see paragliders taking off

Machine-translated

Morgane_bx
Morgane_bx

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Do it with my 5-year-old son! It's fun and there's plenty to keep the children occupied, starting with the paragliding landing area, then the climb with the ruins, the panoramic views at the top and the descent through the beautiful forest, which is enough to amaze them all on its own. Be aware that it's a bit of a steep climb on this side, so children need to be used to hiking a little.
The explanations are excellent and the route follows the paths well.

Machine-translated

valerielaurent
valerielaurent

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The climb up to the fort was very easy with the explanations...the view is magnificent, as are the fortifications. However, on the way back, we couldn't find the marked path and, after the view of Avanne, we took the path marked in blue on the ground, which is the trail path. We crossed a magnificent forest. However, the path has a lot of stones, but you just have to be careful. Following the blue markings on the ground, we returned to 100 metres from the church.

Machine-translated

janmarie
janmarie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely short hike with pretty trails and two magnificent viewpoints.
Good description of the route if you pay close attention to the directions.

Machine-translated

Egraffeux
Egraffeux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk, with two interesting viewpoints and a wonderful opportunity to discover the fortifications and cabordes.

Machine-translated

GILFOV
GILFOV

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant walk around the Planoise fort, with some beautiful views. Unfortunately, the return journey along the road is less interesting. It would be preferable if there were a path along the terraces to avoid this road.
Thank you for this hiking suggestion.

Machine-translated

schatot
schatot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Two beautiful views of the Doubs Valley.
Very good description of the route.
To avoid missing the fork at point 6: small sign on a tree marked: 17.
Thank you.

Machine-translated

fadette
fadette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We discovered places we would never have visited otherwise.
We missed the way back, so we returned via Port Douvot... in the rain
A very good day

Machine-translated

COSME Robert
COSME Robert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This hike allowed us to discover the cabordes of Planoise. We were already familiar with those of Rosemont Chaudanne, Pirey, and Montboucons. This was an added bonus to the outing. We had already hiked several times in this area, but we had always accessed it via Avanne, La Fayette, and La Malcombe.
As we were in a group, we chose to park in the car park of the Avanne football pitches. Thank you for this walk.

Machine-translated

Lydie J.
Lydie J.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We just missed the way back and had to make a detour to find the car, but we enjoyed this beautiful route.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.