Circular walk from Boussières to Busy via Notre-Dame du Mont

Park in the car park at the Boussières village hall.

(S/E) Walk down Rue des Ichets to join the D104. Cross the road and head towards Besançon on the D105, turning right at the Fork in the road. Walk through the village and past the sawmill. You’ll reach the junction by the recycling centre.

(1) Take the path leading to it. Go past it and carry on straight ahead into the woods. When you reach a small car park, turn right onto the^GR®59, marked in red and white. Once you reach the wider track, turn right.

(2) At the signpost, keep to the^GR® on the left and head for the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Mont. Enjoy the panoramic view over Besançon and walk along the retaining wall on the right. Continue through the forest until you reach a junction.

(3) Head down to the left onto the strategic path. Follow it all the way down, ignoring any side paths. You’ll reach the edge of the canal.

(4) Take the grassy towpath on the left, following the canal. Cross the canal via the steps overlooking the tunnel and go round the barge turning basin to reach the cycle route.

(5) Turn right onto the cycle route between the River Doubs and the canal. Pass the derelict industrial site of the old factory and cross the canal via the bridge. You’ll come back to the junction you passed earlier.

(4) As soon as you come off the bridge, follow the cycle route to your left. Enjoy the view of the ruins of the feudal castle of Montferrand. Ride alongside the meadows until you reach the junction with the track leading to Moulinot.

(6) Leave the cycle route by turning right and heading up towards Busy. Pass through the hamlet of Moulinot and continue uphill to join the D478 (Route de Larnod).

(7) Turn right and cycle through the whole village. At a right-hand bend on the descent, you’ll come to the Voie Romaine junction.

(8) Take it straight ahead. Carry on following the pastures and ignore the various side paths. Pass the farm inn and the guesthouse and continue to the right.

(9) At the junction in front of the farm, leave the Voie Romaine and head down to the right towards the village of Vorges-les-Pins. At the entrance to the village, turn left at the junction and head towards the church.

(10) Take the D104 (Grande Rue) on the left and head towards Boussières. At the start of the large hairpin bend to the right, take the small path on the right which emerges on the other side of the bend. Continue to the right along this road until you reach the junction with the D105. In front of the bakery, turn right and walk for about fifty metres.

(11) Turn left onto Rue des Richets and head for the starting car park (S/E).

Local bakery and grocery shop in Boussières.
A bar adjoining the grocery shop serving light snacks.
A restaurant open every weekday lunchtime next to the other two shops.
Accommodation available at the Lodges of the Wood (see website to book).

(3) Strategic Path: so named since the War of 1870, when the Prussians used it to bring up artillery to bombard Besançon.
Panoramic view of Besançon and the Doubs valley from the chapel.
Ruins of Montferrand as seen from the banks of the Doubs.
The church and porch at Boussières are listed as historic monuments.