Belfort - Fesches-le-Châtel

Start the hike at Belfort Ville train station.

No signposts

(S) With your back to the station, take Rue Adolphe Thiers opposite. Continue straight ahead until you cross the Savoureuse.

(1) Cross the bridge, pass the intersection and then turn left onto Rue du Général Sarrail. At the car park on the right, admire the Belfort citadel and Bartholdi's Lion from below. Immediately after the car park, turn right towards these monuments. After the toilets, take the stairs opposite that lead to the citadel and the lion.

Green Ring trail markers

(2) Turn right. Pass through several tunnels while enjoying the views of the city. Cross an intersection with the GR®5 variant.

White and red markings for the GR®5 variant

(3) Descend to the right, enjoying the views of the Fort des Basses Perches. At Rue de la Paix, continue straight ahead, then keep right on Rue des Glacis until you reach Avenue d'Altkirch.

(4) Cross via the pedestrian crossing on the right, then go up to the left before taking a footpath on the right. At the end, go up Rue des Perches opposite. Pass under the motorway, go to the bend and follow the signs to the right towards Fort des Basses Perches.

(5) When you reach the gate, follow the path on the right and pass a viewpoint. After the fort, leave the path on the left and descend, enjoying the panoramic views of the Belfort area. You will come to a crossroads at the bottom of the descent.

(6) Leave the Anneau Jaune marked trail on your right and turn left along the railway line.

(7) At the bridge, cross to the other side of the railway and follow the departmental road on the left. Then turn right at a right angle to enter the woods. Leave the path on the right with the "recommended route" sign. After a few bends, you will reach the ruins of Fort de Bosmont.

(8) Go completely to the left. Leave the Anneau Vert trail on the left, then a trail on the right before continuing straight ahead and reaching a crossroads.

(9) Go straight ahead. Then pass a path on the left to reach a bend. Turn right, then pass three forks to reach a well located at elevation 403.

(10) Keep going straight ahead, turn right, then pass a crossroads before turning left. Pass the paths on the right and left and continue straight ahead. Some areas may be muddy. The path then leaves the forest and crosses a plain before reaching a road.

(11) Cross it and head towards Meroux. At the houses, continue along the path before turning onto the street furthest to the right (Rue de Vezelois) at the end. Continue until you reach Rue de Belfort.

(12) Go straight ahead onto Rue du 15 Juillet 1972 (D25). Stay on this street, pass a cross, the fuel depot, then the railway line before reaching its terminus.

(13) Turn left onto Rue de la Liberté. At the end, follow the greenway on the left and continue to the Belfort-Montbéliard TGV station.

(14) At the station roundabout, continue along the greenway. Do the same at the next roundabout before reaching a third roundabout.

(15) Turn left, then cross the path on the right before taking the path opposite, which becomes a track. Pass the access to an antenna on the left and continue along the road. Pass a path on the right and continue to the next bridge.

(16) Go under the bridge and follow the road. At the end, at the corner of the school, turn left onto Rue de Varonne and continue to the roundabout.

(17) Take the second exit onto Rue des Écoles. At the town hall, turn right, then keep left until you reach the Corp de Garde fountain and wash house.

(18) Turn right onto Rue Basse and continue to the right-hand bend.

No signposts

Take this bend to leave the GR®. After the wash house, turn left onto Rue Bernardot and continue to the wash house of the same name.

(19) Continue and take the cul-de-sac on the left.

Discovery trail

Immediately turn left onto the discovery trail. Ignore the path that descends to the left and cross the dry lawn of Bourogne to enjoy a view of the town.

(20) Continue along the trail until you reach an arboretum.

(21) Go straight ahead. Then leave a path on the right, then another fork before turning left and reaching the banks of the Bourbeuse.

White and red markings for the GR®5 variant

(22) Turn right, pass a picnic table, ignore a path on the right and leave a footbridge. Then follow the greenway along the Rhône-Rhine Canal to a lock.

(23) Cross the road and continue along the greenway to the bridge.

(24) Turn right, then turn completely left to follow the D209 with extreme caution. At the end, at the Protestant temple, turn left and reach the "Salengro" bus stop in Fesches-le-Châtel (E).

Please note that the section of road between (24) and (E) is busy and unpaved, even though the GR®5 trail passes through it.

This stage can be completed independently of the others as a day trip. To do so, park at the town hall in Fesches-le-Châtel. Then take the F line from the "Fesches" stop towards Montbéliard. Get off at the terminus, then take the X line towards Belfort. Get off at Belfort Ville station. Then follow the suggested route to the end point (E). To return to your car, continue along the same road past the "Salengro" bus stop for about 2 km to the town hall car park.

Allow €1 to take a photo at the Lion de Bartholdi/Belfort (2).

Refreshments available in Belfort (S).

Toilets available in Belfort

Benches/tables available at (5), (8), (20) and (22).

-Visit Belfort (S): see Bartholdi's Lion and the Citadel of Belfort in particular (2).

-(5) Fort des Basses Perches.

-(8) Fort de Bosmont.

-Between (18) and (19): the three wash house fountains of Bourogne.

-(20) Bourogne dry grassland and its viewpoint.

-(21) Arboretum.

-Various panoramic views along the route.