Pérouse Circular

Park in the car park at the Place de la Mairie and the church in Pérouse.
The walk is signposted with a ‘Green Ring’.

(S/E) Turn right, walking alongside the church. After a few metres, turn right onto a lovely path called Chemin Lagasse, which leads onto Rue des Marronniers. Turn right, cross Rue des Sapins and continue along Rue des Marronniers. You will reach a four-way junction.

(1) Turn right into a small street which becomes a path. Cross the Ruisseau du Trovaire and start climbing up alongside the meadow. Halfway up the slope, admire the pretty carved stone bench. Continue climbing and enter a lovely woodland. You will then come to a T-junction.

(2) Take the path on the left, continuing along a wider track until you reach a gate blocking the track.

(3) Turn left before the gate and carry on until you reach the fortifications.

(4) A sign points to a combat shelter. Take the time to walk there and back to visit the gun battery emplacements and, further on, the combat shelter: two information panels provide some very interesting details.
Follow the path on the left which climbs into the forest. Walk alongside pastures classified as a sensitive natural area: the orchid meadow. Join the path in front of the tennis courts, turn right and enter the forest to return to the crossroads before the barrier. Turn left onto the path leading uphill just before the barrier.
Turn right a few metres further on.

::5: You’ll reach the ruins of ancient fortifications, similar to those seen earlier.
Follow the signposted path, which curves to the right further on and leads onto a wide track.

(6) Turn slightly right, walk along the edge of a field and you’ll reach a remarkable tree, a gnarled oak.

(7) Continue along the path, turn left at the three-way junction to leave the forest, cross the D31 road and continue straight ahead on the path that runs alongside the military base. You’ll reach a crossroads just before the track.

(8) Turn right. Be careful not to go past the barrier; instead, follow the signpost carefully to avoid taking this track. Continue along the path, passing two tracks on your right, then arrive at a junction with another track just before the edge of the woodland.

(9) Turn right onto this path, taking care to follow the signposts closely as the map does not show all the paths. Continue winding your way through the Bois des Perches, using the signposts to guide you. You will then reach the edge of the forest after taking a sharp left turn.

(10) Leave the forest and walk past the first houses along Rue du Tilleul. Take the hairpin bend into Rue des Cèdres. When you reach the Ruisseau du Trovaire, turn right for a short round trip to admire a beautiful arboretum. Continue along Rue des Saules, then turn right onto Rue de l’École to reach the town hall car park (S/E).

(S/E) To reach the car park near the town hall and the church. Address: Place de la Mairie 90160
If you’re coming from Chévremont, turn left onto a small street 50 metres before the D419. Take care not to miss it – it’s hard to spot for an uninformed driver, and the D419 is really dangerous.
You can also travel by suburban bus: Optymo network, lines 24, 33, 34 and 35. You can pay by text message. For further details, see the website
This walk has been signposted by volunteers on the initiative of the municipality of Pérouse.

(S/E) Pérouse Church: rebuilt around 1756, it is dedicated to Saint Matthew.

(4) Fortifications at Chèvremont: as the information board explains, these fortifications were used to conceal the artillery guns. Each position is designed to accommodate a cannon. It fires over the wall, which protects it from enemy fire. On either side of the cannon emplacement there is a shelter for the soldiers. At the foot of the wall there are two areas for storing gunpowder or ammunition.
There are numerous battery emplacements all along the defence line to the east of Belfort.

Between (4) and (3) Orchid Meadow: 18 species of orchid have been recorded at this former military site. They flower in May.

Between (6) and (7), do not hesitate to take a short 10-metre detour to admire the view of the Swiss Jura.

(7) The oak: admire this remarkable tree – a large oak with a prominent bump halfway up its trunk: an oak burl, which is a growth on the tree resulting from an insect bite or injury. The wood is used in cabinet-making.