Circular walk around Boussières via the Pierre de Vorges and the Caillet mill

Park in the car park at the Salle des Fêtes.

(S/E) Walk down Rue des Richets on the right and take the gravel path on the left, between the two large houses. Continue and cross the small square.

Cross the main road (Rue du Centre) and take Rue de l’Église opposite. Walk uphill and through the housing estate. Ignore the side streets and head towards the edge of the woods.

(1) Enter the fitness trail and head straight ahead. Carry on and pass a piece of fitness equipment (an inclined plank) by turning right.

(2) Head up to the left along the edge of the high forest and the clear-cut area where the trees are slowly regrowing. You’ll soon see the valley opening up before you.

Go down the small slope and turn left onto the strategic path towards the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Mont. Once at the chapel, enjoy the panoramic view over the Doubs valley, Besançon and its western outskirts.

(3) Retrace your steps, pass the path you came up on and continue to a fork in the road. Ignore the white and red markings of^{the GR®®} and turn right onto the path that climbs gently. You’ll arrive at the battery site, the highest point in the area. You can still see the square-shaped opening in the rock from which the Prussians bombarded Besançon during the 1870 war. This is why the path winding up from the canal is called the Chemin Stratégique.

(4) Begin the descent, taking care where you step to avoid any nasty surprises on the stony ground. Keep heading in the same direction until you reach the stream.

(5) You are now at a place known as La Pierre de Vorges. Head up to the right along the stream on the stony path. In spring, the scent wafting from the undergrowth is unmistakable: it’s wild garlic. There is an abundance of it on both the right and left, appearing as leaves, buds or flowers depending on the season. Continue in this way, skirting the meadows and then the house, until you reach the Caillet mill at the junction with the D104.

(6) Turn right onto the departmental road and follow it all the way through the village. Go round the roundabout on the left and carry on until you reach a ‘Stop’ sign in front of a bakery.

(7) Turn right. After about 50 metres, turn left onto Rue des Richets. Follow this road up to return to your car park (A/D).

There is a bakery in the village at the junction with the road to Vorges.
Local grocery shop and adjoining bar serving light meals.
A restaurant next to the bar, open for lunch every weekday.
Accommodation available at the Lodges of the Orée du Bois

Boussières Church and its porch, listed as historic monuments.
Panoramic view from the chapel.
At (6), you can head towards Vorges to see the ruins of the gypsum mine entrances.