Circular walk around Boussières via the Caillet Mill and Notre Dame du Mont

(S/E) From the car park at the Boussières village hall, take Rue des Richets on your right and follow the main road until you reach the bakery.

(1) Then take the Route de Vorges (D104). Walk through the village and continue through the woods until you reach the Moulin Caillet.

(2) Leave the road and take the path on your left that runs alongside the house. Follow the stream, first along the edge of the meadows and then through a long stretch of woodland.

(3) Suddenly, the view opens up. Paths join from your left and one from the right crosses the small wooden bridge. You are now at a place called La Pierre de Vorges. Continue along the main path, which leads out into the fields. You will reach the banks of the Doubs.

(4) From here to the village, follow the GR59 path, marked in red and white.

(5) At the junction with the EuroVelo route, turn left and continue along the river and then the canal. Do not cross the bridge but carry on straight ahead into the woods. Continue along this path, where the gradient will soon become steeper. After several hairpin bends, you’ll reach the ridge.

(6) Once you reach the flat section of the ridge path, follow the path to your right whilst enjoying the view over the valley.

(7) After a few hundred metres, you’ll reach the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Mont. Take in the view of the valley and the Montferrand-le-Château dam; to your right, you’ll see the ruins of the feudal castle with its keep overlooking the cliffs. You’ll also enjoy a lovely view of Besançon, Planoise, and the villages to the west of Greater Besançon. Head back down the wide path leading to the front of the chapel. Then turn right and you’ll reach the Thoraise recycling centre.

(8) At the junction, turn left onto the tarmac road. When you reach the first houses, continue to the right and walk down through the village to the church.

(9) You’ll reach the famous church at Boussières, which, along with its porch, is listed in the inventory of historic monuments. Head back up to the right along the road and turn left towards the chemist’s to return to your car park at the village hall (S/E).

Bakery in Boussières
Grocery shop and bar serving light meals and snacks.
Restaurant (new) – Daily specials available at lunchtime
Accommodation available for walkers at the Lodges of the Wood (see website) for two people wishing to stay for a few days.

At the bridge over the canal, you can cross it and continue for 200 metres to see where the canal cuts through the hill. The Monsieur Canal passes through the hill via a tunnel, the entrance to which is adorned with water jets.
Retrace your steps or take the towpath on the other side of the canal after climbing the stairs that lead over the tunnel.