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(S) Car park of the Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, Rue des Fontenottes. Reach the street and turn right. After 200 metres, after No. 18 and the signpost, climb the old, steep staircase that leads up to Fort Beauregard.
(1) At the top of the stairs, at the second signpost, turn left (towards the town centre via the Aiguille path) and walk for about 100 metres to the fort's moat. Return to the signpost and enjoy the beautiful view of the Citadel. At the signpost, climb up to the right, following the walls. Go through the small gate and at the top of the stairs, turn left for a view of the Citadel and the old town. Climb up to the esplanade for more beautiful views. Leave the fort via the central alleyway to reach the Chemin du Fort de Bregille, which you follow up the pavement on your left. At the intersection with Rue des Monts de Bregille du Haut, cross with great caution (no pedestrian crossing and poor visibility) and continue along Chemin du Fort de Bregille on the right.
(2) At No. 81 (at the junction with Chemin des Vareilles), continue uphill to the right for 200 metres to reach the rest area and viewpoint overlooking the old town. Return to No. 81 and, opposite the bend, turn left onto the charming little Gravirot stairway. You will reach Chemin du Fort de Bregille, which you should descend very carefully on the left (no pavement).
(3) After No. 16, climb left to Fort de Bregille via the long staircase. Continue along the path, accompanied by the pleasant scent of boxwood. You will reach a stone path which you climb for 10 metres and then immediately turn right at the signpost (towards Fort de Bregille). At the junction with a wider path, continue climbing up the path opposite (the steepest one). After a few bends, you will see another signpost. Turn right towards the fort.
(4) You will come out onto the esplanade of Fort de Bregille with a magnificent view of the Citadel, Saint-Jean Cathedral and the hills of Besançon. When you are facing the entrance to the fort, turn right to go around it, following the walls. At one corner, the path splits. Look for the signpost, which is slightly hidden by vegetation. Turn right towards the Grand Désert. You will soon have a beautiful view of the Citadel and the Doubs Valley. At the end of the ramparts, there is another signpost. Continue towards the Grand Désert (on your left). At the next signpost, turn right to cross it.
(5) At the small tarmac road, turn left, go past the barrier and the car park and go down the wider road. After the water tower, turn right onto the gravel path and continue straight on along the Grande Sommière for 400 metres, then descend on the left towards Boissy d'Anglas. At the signpost opposite the buildings, continue straight on. Continue right along the tarmac road (Rue Boissy d'Anglas) to quickly find a path that leads back into the woods.
(6) At the junction with a path coming down from the right, continue straight ahead. Thirty steps further on, there is a fork in the path; take the left fork. Thirty steps further on, there is another fork; take the stony path uphill on the right. There are few markings, except for a few yellow arrows painted on the stones of the path. You will come to a crossroads in the shape of an X, not far from a fence. Take one of the two branches in front of you; they rejoin further on.
(7) You will arrive at a large gravel area: the Clémentigney viewpoint overlooking the feudal castle of Montfaucon and the Doubs Valley. Head off to the right (facing the castle) along the path at the end, passing between two large stones. After 200 metres, take the small path that climbs the hill on the right. At the natural steps in the rocks, turn left. At the fork, fifty metres further on, take the right-hand path for about twenty steps to reach a crossroads and turn left.
The path splits again, but head right into the treeless area where you will see a wider gravel path on the left. (I believe you can also continue straight ahead on the small path that winds through the box trees. It probably joins the gravel path a little further on).
(8) You will soon come to a signpost. Head towards Prés de Vaux — Grotte du Renard on the left, and you will soon see a second signpost. Head left for about 20 metres to discover the Grotte du Renard (second path on the right). Do not venture beyond the part lit by daylight. Turn back to the previous signpost and descend on the left towards Prés de Vaux until you reach a small tarmac road. Take care on the first part of the descent, which is a little steep.
(9) At the next signpost, leave the tarmac road and take the dead-end road on the left, which quickly becomes a pretty path descending towards the valley (towards Prés de Vaux - Chapelle des Buis). You will rejoin the tarmac Chemin des Échenoz Saint-Paul at the Plainechaux reservoir, with a superb view of the Citadel.
(10) At the stop sign, turn right. Pass in front of the Maison de quartier and take the dead-end road that continues as a stone path with the evocative name of Chemin Fourchu, offering more beautiful views of the Citadel and the Cathedral. At the next signpost, continue straight ahead towards Fort Beauregard. Turn left onto Chemin des Ragots and you will soon see the church and its car park.
The route includes cliff paths and unsecured viewpoints. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
), but that doesn't take away from its charm.
Visorando member
Easy 
