Circular Boussières to the Abbans signpost and return via the Essart du Loup

Park in the car park by the village hall.

(S/E) Head down Rue des Richets to the right and walk past the bakery. Then continue to the right along Route de Quingey until you reach the bottom of the village, at the large right-hand bend.

(1) Cross over and take Rue des Résistants; a little further on, veer to the right. At the next junction, turn right onto Rue du Vigney, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®59}. Walk across the whole plain, then turn left towards the hill and walk 200 metres.

(2) Take Chemin de Blâme on the right, heading up the path. Continue across the meadows and then into the forest along the main path, which soon becomes a stony track. Ignore all the side paths, and after a short descent, you’ll reach the Ruisseau de Pré de Vé.

(3) Ford the stream and follow the bank on your left. Walk uphill, cross the bridge and continue along the opposite bank.

(4) When you reach the confluence of two streams, cross to the right and find a path that runs along the bank, rising gently. Continue uphill until you reach the D107.

(5) Turn left towards the village of Abbans-Dessus. Take care. Along the road, make the most of the gaps in the vegetation to enjoy the view over the Doubs valley. Admire the castle and carry on until you reach the junction with the Chemin de la Grande Fin.

(6) At the corner by the cemetery, turn left and then go straight on along Rue du Signal. Carry on uphill and, at the top, walk past the antennas and take the track ahead of you into the woods. Just before that, a fairly well-defined path through the bushes leads you to a small pasture offering a superb panoramic view of the Chouzelot viaduct, the Loue valley and Mont Poupet. Further along the ridge, you’ll come out onto a wide forest track.

(7) Turn right and head downhill to the tarmac road, where you’ll reach the Chouzelot or Montgardot monument on the Roman road.

(8) Turn left and then continue to the right, leaving the^GR®59behind. When the slope levels out, the path turns sharply to the right.

(9) Leave it and take the dirt track on the left. Carry on through the pastures and, further on, alongside the bushes, you’ll find a stony path that soon begins a long descent. When you come within sight of the departmental road, look out for the entrance to the old gypsum mines.

(10) At the junction with the D104, turn left; take care when crossing the Moulin Caillet site. Head uphill, leave the woods and pass the property on your right.

(11) Shortly after the wall of the property, a path branches off to the right. Follow it and cross the valley, heading to the left. Pass the steep slope.

(12) A gravel path comes up ahead. This is the fitness trail. You can either walk alongside it or follow it. At a piece of fitness equipment, the fitness trail branches off and heads down to the left. Follow it to quickly reach a junction with two roads.

(13) At the entrance to the housing estate, go straight on along Chemin de Planche Ronde. Walk back down through the village.

(14) When you reach the church, and after admiring it from various angles, cross the road carefully (Rue du Centre). Walk between the two buildings on the square next to the restaurant, bar and grocery shop. Take the alley opposite and turn right onto Rue des Richets to return to your car park (S/E).

Bakery in Boussières.
Local grocery shop and adjoining bar serving light snacks.
Restaurant open for lunch every day.

A stroll through the old alleyways around Abbans Castle. Viewpoint opposite the school.
Viewpoint at Le Signal and, a little further on to the right, where you’ll find small paths leading to the pastures, offering views of the viaduct over the Loue and Mont Poupet.
Before rejoining the D104, a view of the old gypsum mines.
The church and porch at Boussières are listed as historic monuments.