Circular of the Miotte, Justices and Citadel forts in Belfort

Épide car park.

(S/E) When you leave the car park, turn right and walk up Avenue de la Miotte to the end. Then follow the path towards the tower of the same name and go down the metal staircase to reach the foot of the tower.

(1) Head south-east, leaving the closed Fort de la Miotte on your left, and continue straight on to the Porte du Vallon and its footbridge.

(2) Cross the Porte du Vallon via the covered footbridge above the Faubourg de Brisach, then climb up a forest path either via a staircase or a path that makes a wide circular loop to reach the foot of the Fort de la Justice fortifications. Walk along these fortifications in a south-westerly direction, then turn left to cross them and find yourself above them. Take an old footbridge to reach the terrace of the old dovecote (not indicated on site).

(3) From the terrace of the dovecote and its secure viewpoint, retrace your steps, cross the footbridge again and turn right, descending along a beautiful meadow in a south-westerly direction towards the footbridge on Avenue de la Laurencie.

(4) Cross this footbridge and, at the crossroads between Rue Bauer and Rue Aragon, leave the tarmac and climb slightly opposite the crossroads along a path through the small wood that passes above the national cemetery and the rampart overlooking the eastern car park of the citadel. Please note that although this path is quite wide, it overlooks the lower car park from a significant height without any protection for about 50 metres. Before turning south, the path overlooks the restored Char Martin and the eastern entrance to the citadel. Continue around the south of the Citadel of Belfort.
(5) From the southern corner of the citadel, walk along the balcony above the town, protected by vegetation. Take three underground sections and several staircases.

(6) Passage under the citadel and the Lion.

(7) Go to the end of the Lion car park and go down the large staircase on the left to take a footbridge and a metal staircase on the right, almost at the bottom of the staircase, without going down to the Place des Bourgeois. Another option is to go down the access road to the Lion car park and then go up a few metres on the large staircase opposite the Place des Bourgeois to take the metal footbridge.

Cross the upper part of the Porte de Brisach before taking a sloping path downhill, passing through the Porte de Brisach and crossing the castle moats. Pass in front of the community centre and cross Avenue de la Laurencie at the junction with Rue de l'As de Trèfle, which leads to the Friedrich barracks. Walk 150 metres up the left-hand side of Avenue de la Laurencie to the car park where you started (S/E).

Free parking at Épide at the intersection of Avenue de la Laurencie and Avenue de la Miotte.

Short hike accessible to most people with little elevation gain despite the occasional difficulty (underground passages, metal staircases and an unsafe section between (4) and (5).

Numerous pleasant viewpoints over Belfort, its old town, its historical heritage and its surroundings (Étang des Forges, the moats of the Citadel, the Salbert and Perches hills, the foothills of the Vosges on a clear day).

Use of several lit underground passages, protected footbridges and secure staircases, and an unsecured section between Rue Aragon and the corner of the fortifications at Char Martin.

Visits to the castle and the Lyon de Belfort terrace with direct access from this circular.

The Char Martin, located near the eastern entrance to the castle close to the route, is a replica of the one used by Lieutenant Martin, who lost his life during the liberation of Belfort (November 1944).