Belmont (Jura) walks

Second stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. The first 12 kilometres of this route are sheltered by the Chaux forest. Pay close attention to the signposts so you don't get lost! As you leave the edge of the woods, you will discover an architectural gem: the village of Arc-et-Senans, home to the Royal Saltworks, which will take you on a journey through the history of salt in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

The Échappée Jurassienne is an invitation to discover, step by step, the striking diversity of the Jura Mountains. This 15-day itinerary links the west to the east, from the plains to the mountains, crossing the unspoilt landscapes of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, far from the borders and close to the essentials. From the peaceful canals of Dole, the trail winds its way through the most iconic sites of the Jura: the Cirque de Baume, lakes, remote valleys, viewpoints and deep forests, before ending majestically in Saint-Claude, a town nestled in the heart of the mountains. Over the course of these 311 km, this itinerary becomes much more than a hike: it is a true distillation of the most exceptional things the Jura has to offer. The richness of the landscapes, the contrasts in altitude and the authenticity of the villages you encounter allow everyone to surpass themselves, immerse themselves fully in the wild beauty and reconnect with the essentials.

First stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. This stage starts off relatively easily. Leaving Dole station, you walk through the narrow streets of the town centre of Dole, birthplace of Louis Pasteur, nicknamed "Little Venice" because it is crossed by the River Doubs, which gives it all its charm.Then, inthe second part of the route, you will find some cool shade in the Chaux forest before reaching the village of Vieille-Loye, built in the heart of a cleared clearing, once part of thesecond largest deciduous forest in France.

Third stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. From the Royal Saltworks in Arc-et-Senans to the Grande Saline in Salins-les-Bains, you will discover a unique sporting and cultural trail between the Doubs and Jura mountains, following in the footsteps of the great salt trade, with a stop in the village of Port-Lesney.

From the remains of the Old Bridge of Port-Lesney, you will climb up beautiful forest paths winding through box trees to the viewpoint overlooking the village topped by Mont Poupet. From this cool, mossy forest, you will emerge into the sunny vineyards, greeting the Saline d'Arc-et-Senans from afar, before returning, devoutly, to the Hermitage of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette perched on the cliff above the valley.

Fifth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. This stage allows you to discover the remote valleys, particularly that of Planches-Près-Arbois, and to understand the geological phenomenon, with views from the Belvédère de la Roche du Feu. You will then descend to the bottom of the valley to reach the village of Planches-Près-Arbois and its tufa waterfall. Next, you will head towards the wine-growing village of Pupillin, the "World Capital of Ploussard", where you can explore its viewpoint, 19th-century church, Saint-Léger oratory and beautiful fountains.

Sixth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. This rugged stage starts in Pupillin and crosses forests and vineyards to Poligny, a former fortified town and religious capital of the Dukes of Burgundy. Poligny, looking to the future thanks to the Comté cheese industry, is home to the Maison du Comté and the headquarters of the Comité Interprofessionnel de Gestion du Comté. After a climb to the Croix du Dan, offering superb views of Poligny and the Culée de Vaux, the hike continues through the pastures and villages of the first plateau, where Montbéliard cows graze, before arriving in Miéry.

Shaped by limestone erosion, the Reculée des Planches has a relief characteristic of the Jura karstic plateau. At the foot of the vertically rising cliffs, you'll discover the cascades and cascatelles of the Cuisance. At a leisurely pace, through bright, cool forests, you'll climb up to the ledges where no fewer than five lookouts, not forgetting the ruins of a feudal castle, offer superb views over the whole of the reculée.

Fourth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. Right from the start of this stage, things get serious with a demanding route punctuated by steep ascents and descents in the limestone massif of Revermont. Then, through undergrowth, pastures and picturesque viewpoints, the second part of the route reveals itself to be full of charm and tranquillity, offering a perfect transition before reaching Montigny-les-Arsures, a superb wine-growing village where the vineyards come into view. A few more kilometres will take you to Arbois, the capital of Jura wines. Louis Pasteur had his family home here, which is still open to visitors. This colourful town is full of Jura wine tasting cellars and great places to eat for food lovers.

Seventh stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. After passing through the charming wine-growing villages of the Jura, such as Frontenay with its 12th-century castle and Menétru-le-Vignoble, you will discover Château-Chalon, a jewel of the Échappée Jurassienne. Listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", this village is the birthplace of Vin Jaune and offers magnificent views. Leaving Château-Chalon, you will descend into the remote village of Blois-sur-Seille, where you will discover a picturesque village with yellow stones and a peaceful river. Explore this charming village, admire its vernacular heritage (bridges, farms, shepherds' huts, mission crosses, oratory, fountains, etc.) and enjoy the Olympian calm. Don't miss the central square with its fountain featuring a statue of Joan of Arc, its horseshoe-making machine and its unique milk cable car.

This hike, following in the footsteps of Marquis Claude François Dorothée de Jouffroy d'Abbans, naval architect and designer of the steamboat, will take you between the Loue and Doubs rivers, from oratories to churches, in the heart of our devout Comtois countryside, leaving you time to meditate on the twilight paths of our wooded mountains.

A peaceful walk in the Lison valley with its sandstone cliffs and three viewpoints. You will discover two typical Comtois villages, Echay and Cussey sur Lison, and its remote hamlet.

Natural site with four viewpoints over the Jura Mountains and the Cussey valley, a corniche and dry grasslands. Places of interest: the Cussey fountain and wash house, Echay, a typical village in the Lison valley.

Hike around Château-Chalon

Perched on the cliffs of Revermont, Château-Chalon, dear to the heart of writer Bernard Clavel, watches over the Jura vineyards. This village offers magnificent views of the vineyards and nearby valleys, and you will enjoy strolling among the old houses. Return via a Roman road and the Tuquière viewpoint with its cabordes (stone shelters).

A stroll along the ridge separating the Loue Valley and that of the river Doubs and then along the banks of the Doubs with a panoramic view of the Château de Montferrand ruins.

Eighth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. This iconic stage gets off to a great start. From the bottom of the Blois-sur-Seille valley, you will climb back up to the plateau to reach the small village of Granges-sur-Baume, which overlooks the most beautiful valley in the Jura. From the Belvédère de Granges-sur-Baume, you will have a bird's eye view of the Baume-les-Messieurs valley and, after a steep descent, you will arrive in one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France".Dominated by vertiginous cliffs, Baume-les-Messieurs, home to a 9th-century Cluniac abbey, nestles in the middle of three secluded valleys typical of the Jura landscape.As you follow the Dard river upstream, you will discover one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Jura, the tufa waterfall of Baume-les-Messieurs, and, a little further on, the spectacular Baume caves.After another climb up to the plateau via the Crançot ladders and a walk through the Perrigny forest, you will end this stage not far from Lons-le-Saunier.

This hike offers magnificent views of the Doubs valley and its contrasting hills: warrior-like with the ruins of the feudal castle of Montferrand, peaceful with the protective Virgin of Notre-Dame du Mont, and will lead you through bucolic me anders towards the beautifully named Notre-Dame de l'Assomption des Champs, protecting you from demonic medieval gargoyles.

"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.