Bonnétage walks

From Bonnétage church, you will quickly climb up to the viewpoint on the plateau and, in the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Alps. You will cross pastures lined with murgers, charming dry stone walls, and fir forests typical of the Haut-Doubs, walk along deep sinkholes, descend into the hollow of the peat bog and finally, from a rocky ridge, overlook the vast Etang du Moulin lake.

Discover a peat bog, beautiful coniferous forests, a cave and a lavogne. Lovely views of the Haut-Doubs with its Montbéliard cattle and beautiful Comtois dogs.

The Dessoubre valley, where many water mills once sang, has now regained its wild freshness. Starting from Saint-Julien-lès-Russey, you will descend towards the Ribeau and Château valleys and their jagged rocks along beautiful, cool, shaded paths to discover a rich and generous natural environment.

Start with a view of the Alps on a clear day, then the Belherbe plateau and the Lomont wind turbines. Visit Frambouhans Church to see a polychrome wooden statue of Saint Sebastian and a 16th-century Pietà. Cool off at the Grotte du Glaçon and finish with a visit to the strange circular Gallo-Roman drinking trough, the lavogne, which is unique in Franche-Comté.

After a magnificent view of the Dessoubre valley, you will discover the surprising Creux de Hauteroche gorge carved into the rocky cliffs to reach the viewpoint over Rosureux. Return through the fir forests and the surprising rock shelter of Sous la Goutte.

This route will take you on a journey of discovery through the Dessoubre valley, where you will be enchanted by the landscapes and religious heritage. This route covers a large part of circular 43 and is marked in yellow and blue.

From the top of the Roche du Miroir, at the viewing point, you can admire the Dessoubre valley, which is overlooked in places by high cliffs, home to chamois and peregrine falcons then, along a charming path winding and weaving between superbly carved rocks, you will cross sunny meadows to reach the Montbéliardot arboretum and its sculptures. Return via La Vie au Loup, skirting the edge of the cliffs with a panoramic view of the entire plateau.

A short hike through the Grand Bois forest in the commune of Le Russey. Here you will see one of the largest fir trees and farms with the typical tuyé (or tué), a kind of large chimney for smoking meat.

Discover the Reculée du Pissoux and its stream, the Dessoubre Valley and its river, passing by the Moulin de Girardot. A lovely climb up to the Roche du Miroir, which offers a panoramic view, then a walk through the village of Plaimbois-du-Miroir and back via the Montbeliardot Arboretum and its sculptures. A hike through wild, lush countryside.

You will descend along the aptly named Pissoux, through a mossy valley. From the top of a wild and jagged promontory, then from the Roche du Miroir, to the more civilised viewpoint, you will discover the Dessoubre, overlooked by high cliffs, home to chamois and peregrine falcons. Along a charming path winding and weaving between superbly carved rocks, you will cross sunny meadows to reach the Montbéliardot botanical trail, running alongside an old pile of stone gathered from fields.

(!) Read Practical Information. A balanced route between countryside and forests to discover the Dessoubre from the heights of Bretonvillers. Then, returning to the valley via paths winding between fir trees and rocks, you will walk along the river, stopping at the old mill.

From the charming old church of Mont-de-Vougney, head down towards the Dessoubre, not forgetting to pay your respects to the old Saint-Claude in his stone niche. Once an industrial hub, today it has regained a wild and authentic freshness. As you follow the river, you will discover its cliffs, waterfalls and the Combe Foulot cirque. Then climb back up to the plateau through sunny pastures overlooking the valley.

Three highlights of this hike: the superb view from Le Chaufaud over the valley and mountains surrounding the Dessoubre; the Belvédère viewpoint over Rosureux nestled at the bottom of the valley and the surprising Creux de Hauteroche gorge; the return via the sunny meadows with a panoramic view of the neighbouring mountains, ending at the ancient 18th-century wooden cross at the Chapelle Saint-Claude chapel.

A wild, 350-metre-deep valley, the Cirque de Consolation, framed by magnificent cliffs, is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. You can discover it from two viewpoints, Chauve Roche at the bottom of the valley and Sainte-Catherine downstream and the old seminary. After a visit to the old priory of Laval, you will climb back up to the plateau, along the aptly named Pissoux, through a superb wild and mossy valley.

Circular route starting from Mont-de-Laval, passing by the Roche du Prêtre and looping through the Cirque de Consolation.

With its industrious past forgotten for almost a century, nature has reclaimed this bucolic and almost wild valley, where the few houses are hidden in the greenery, embarrassed to be there. You will walk along the river, passing an old mill, then climb through cool, deep fir forests to the Roche du Miroir, which overlooks the old priory.

Starting from the charming little village of Vaucluse, Val Clos, this hike offers superb views of the Dessoubre valley, starting with the Baron's viewpoint, then the Cul de Vau valley and finally Vaucluse and its former priory, not to mention the various balconies overlooking the valley that you will pass along the way.

From the picturesque village of Bizot, with its farms, courthouse and 16th-century church, the route takes you up a superb steep ridge path to the ruins of Réaumont Castle. You return via the peat bogs, skirting piles of stones gathered from fields and the Étang des Belles Seignes lake.

A short hike suitable for families. After a period of rain, there are beautiful small waterfalls, but some sections of the stream must be forded. Beautiful view of the Hermitage as well. In hot and humid weather, watch out for ticks.

A walk around the Cirque de Consolation with a thrilling variety of views and valleys. Beautiful panoramic views and bodies of water on way.

A walk to ‘recharge your batteries’ in the cool air during heatwaves.

Among the must-see spots in Franche-Comté are the Saut du Doubs, as well as the Cirque de Consolation, a few dozen kilometres away. Numerous waterfalls flow into this funnel-shaped valley, at the bottom of which stands a church. Various hiking trails are also available. This hike allows you to walk around the entire area via a ridge path not shown on IGN maps, discovering all the secrets of the cirque along the way.

A picnic area with tables overlooks the Dessoubre valley at an altitude of nearly 750 metres. Old farms dating back to the 1960s cling to the mountainside. A wild valley where, perhaps, our Comtois Gauls performed their druidic rituals in sacred clearings. A natural rock known as the Devil's Castle overlooks the Waroly waterfall. Finally, caves carved out over centuries.

Starting from Maîche, pass through Les Bréseux to see, in particular, its Comtois-style church with magnificent modern stained glass windows, then on to Rochet du Bourbet, a viewpoint over the Dessoubre valley and picnic area. Return via the QuatreGrottes de Waroly, the Waroly waterfalls and the hamlet of La Lizerne. Several interesting viewpoints: Rochet du Bourbet, on the way down to the Château de l'Ermitage, then on the way back up to the hamlet of La Lizerne, among others.

From Montalembert Castle, built by the Guyot de Malseigne family from 1574 onwards, you will climb to various viewpoints: the Notre-Dame des Anges Chapel at the top of the beautiful Saint-Simon hill; then the Roche de Ruan via paths lined with majestic fir trees, forming a guard of honour; the pastures of Mont Miroir and its concert of cowbells with its view of Lomont and the Saint-Hyppolite valley; and finally, the Mont Joie viewpoint overlooking the city and Saint-Pierre Church.

This short circular route allows you to visit the small town of Maîche, located in the Pays Horloger (Watchmaking Country). This short walk allows you to see much of the town's heritage, such as the Church of Saint-Pierre, the Château du Désert and its park, and the Chapelle des Anges. The route also passes in front of the châteaux of Montalembert and Mérode, which are private properties. Finally, the hike ends with a botanical trail that winds its way through the Côteau Saint-Michel.

The Doubs river flows through 35 kilometres of deep, winding gorges from Villers-le-Lac to Goumois. You will only cover a few of them, from Lac de Moron, bordered by high cliffs forming a semicircle, to the Grotte du Grenier, where even human constructions cannot detract from the riches of the wild natural environment.

Depart from Le Pissoux, descend to the Grotte de Grenier above the Doubs and cross the river on stepping stones, allowing you to cross dry-shod downstream from the Châtelot dam, followed by the magnificent marked trail on the right bank of the Doubs (Lac du Moron) on the Swiss side. At the Saut du Doubs, head back and forth to the Tête de Calvin to see the meanders of the Doubs basins stretching from Viller-le-Lac to the Saut du Doubs from above, then cross the Doubs via the footbridge upstream of the Saut du Doubs, pass by the viewpoints overlooking the Saut du Doubs and climb directly up through the forest to Le Pissoux, via the Belvédère du Châtelard overlooking Lac de Moron.

A superb hike around Lake Moron, culminating in the Saut du Doubs and its 27-metre waterfall.

From Valoreille, a superb balcony overlooking the Dessoubre valley, you will descend towards the river through peaceful pastures with unobstructed views of the neighbouring mountains. Then, from the typical village of Vauclusotte and its covered wash house fountain, you will climb through beautiful forests to the Montaigu viewpoint, the Lomont wind turbines, the Montbéliard region and the Ballon d'Alsace, before finally cooling off at the Saint-Ligier fountain, dating from 1721 and topped by its bishop.