Bretonvillers walks

(!) Read Practical Information. A balanced route between countryside and forests to discover the Dessoubre from the heights of Bretonvillers. Then, returning to the valley via paths winding between fir trees and rocks, you will walk along the river, stopping at the old mill.

With its industrious past forgotten for almost a century, nature has reclaimed this bucolic and almost wild valley, where the few houses are hidden in the greenery, embarrassed to be there. You will walk along the river, passing an old mill, then climb through cool, deep fir forests to the Roche du Miroir, which overlooks the old priory.

This route will take you on a journey of discovery through the Dessoubre valley, where you will be enchanted by the landscapes and religious heritage. This route covers a large part of circular 43 and is marked in yellow and blue.

From the top of the Roche du Miroir, at the viewing point, you can admire the Dessoubre valley, which is overlooked in places by high cliffs, home to chamois and peregrine falcons then, along a charming path winding and weaving between superbly carved rocks, you will cross sunny meadows to reach the Montbéliardot arboretum and its sculptures. Return via La Vie au Loup, skirting the edge of the cliffs with a panoramic view of the entire plateau.

After a magnificent view of the Dessoubre valley, you will discover the surprising Creux de Hauteroche gorge carved into the rocky cliffs to reach the viewpoint over Rosureux. Return through the fir forests and the surprising rock shelter of Sous la Goutte.

Three highlights of this hike: the superb view from Le Chaufaud over the valley and mountains surrounding the Dessoubre; the Belvédère viewpoint over Rosureux nestled at the bottom of the valley and the surprising Creux de Hauteroche gorge; the return via the sunny meadows with a panoramic view of the neighbouring mountains, ending at the ancient 18th-century wooden cross at the Chapelle Saint-Claude chapel.

You will descend along the aptly named Pissoux, through a mossy valley. From the top of a wild and jagged promontory, then from the Roche du Miroir, to the more civilised viewpoint, you will discover the Dessoubre, overlooked by high cliffs, home to chamois and peregrine falcons. Along a charming path winding and weaving between superbly carved rocks, you will cross sunny meadows to reach the Montbéliardot botanical trail, running alongside an old pile of stone gathered from fields.

Discover the Reculée du Pissoux and its stream, the Dessoubre Valley and its river, passing by the Moulin de Girardot. A lovely climb up to the Roche du Miroir, which offers a panoramic view, then a walk through the village of Plaimbois-du-Miroir and back via the Montbeliardot Arboretum and its sculptures. A hike through wild, lush countryside.

From Bonnétage church, you will quickly climb up to the viewpoint on the plateau and, in the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Alps. You will cross pastures lined with murgers, charming dry stone walls, and fir forests typical of the Haut-Doubs, walk along deep sinkholes, descend into the hollow of the peat bog and finally, from a rocky ridge, overlook the vast Etang du Moulin lake.

A wild, 350-metre-deep valley, the Cirque de Consolation, framed by magnificent cliffs, is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. You can discover it from two viewpoints, Chauve Roche at the bottom of the valley and Sainte-Catherine downstream and the old seminary. After a visit to the old priory of Laval, you will climb back up to the plateau, along the aptly named Pissoux, through a superb wild and mossy valley.

Circular route starting from Mont-de-Laval, passing by the Roche du Prêtre and looping through the Cirque de Consolation.

Starting from the charming little village of Vaucluse, Val Clos, this hike offers superb views of the Dessoubre valley, starting with the Baron's viewpoint, then the Cul de Vau valley and finally Vaucluse and its former priory, not to mention the various balconies overlooking the valley that you will pass along the way.

The Dessoubre valley, where many water mills once sang, has now regained its wild freshness. Starting from Saint-Julien-lès-Russey, you will descend towards the Ribeau and Château valleys and their jagged rocks along beautiful, cool, shaded paths to discover a rich and generous natural environment.

Discover a peat bog, beautiful coniferous forests, a cave and a lavogne. Lovely views of the Haut-Doubs with its Montbéliard cattle and beautiful Comtois dogs.

A walk around the Cirque de Consolation with a thrilling variety of views and valleys. Beautiful panoramic views and bodies of water on way.

A viewpoint, memorial, waterfalls and wood carvings line this woodland trail, which reaches an altitude of 949 metres.

A walk to ‘recharge your batteries’ in the cool air during heatwaves.

From the 860-metre-high Peu hill, you can enjoy a 270° panorama of the surrounding and distant mountains, and see 27 bell towers in the Doubs department. Nestled in lush greenery, the Grotte des Bougeottes is also steeped in history. It served as a refuge during the troubled times of the Ten Years' War and the Revolution.

A moderately difficult hike offering panoramic views of the Doubs countryside.

From the charming old church of Mont-de-Vougney, head down towards the Dessoubre, not forgetting to pay your respects to the old Saint-Claude in his stone niche. Once an industrial hub, today it has regained a wild and authentic freshness. As you follow the river, you will discover its cliffs, waterfalls and the Combe Foulot cirque. Then climb back up to the plateau through sunny pastures overlooking the valley.

Among the must-see spots in Franche-Comté are the Saut du Doubs, as well as the Cirque de Consolation, a few dozen kilometres away. Numerous waterfalls flow into this funnel-shaped valley, at the bottom of which stands a church. Various hiking trails are also available. This hike allows you to walk around the entire area via a ridge path not shown on IGN maps, discovering all the secrets of the cirque along the way.

In 1747, Pierre arrived in the village and settled in a nearby cave on the edge of the cliff, where he lived for 45 years, making tinder from oak agaric mushrooms and carving Christs and Virgins from lime wood for the inhabitants. Discover this viewpoint over the wild Reverotte valley and our cool fir forests. An ideal walk for a beautiful summer afternoon.

Start with a view of the Alps on a clear day, then the Belherbe plateau and the Lomont wind turbines. Visit Frambouhans Church to see a polychrome wooden statue of Saint Sebastian and a 16th-century Pietà. Cool off at the Grotte du Glaçon and finish with a visit to the strange circular Gallo-Roman drinking trough, the lavogne, which is unique in Franche-Comté.

After visiting the source, you will climb to the Dard viewpoint, located at an altitude of 600 metres above Sancey-le-Grand, overlooking the valley with the Château de Belvoir and the Lomont mountain range crowned by fifteen wind turbines in the background. Then, from this magnificent rocky amphitheatre, a sunny valley will lead you to the wild cliffs of the Cul de Voye.

A short hike through the Grand Bois forest in the commune of Le Russey. Here you will see one of the largest fir trees and farms with the typical tuyé (or tué), a kind of large chimney for smoking meat.

A short hike suitable for families. After a period of rain, there are beautiful small waterfalls, but some sections of the stream must be forded. Beautiful view of the Hermitage as well. In hot and humid weather, watch out for ticks.

From the picturesque village of Bizot, with its farms, courthouse and 16th-century church, the route takes you up a superb steep ridge path to the ruins of Réaumont Castle. You return via the peat bogs, skirting piles of stones gathered from fields and the Étang des Belles Seignes lake.

Jeanne-Antide Thouret, born in Sancey on 27 November 1765, was a determined and committed woman who devoted her life to the most disadvantaged, notably by founding a charity in Besançon to help the poor by providing lodges and meals; this charity is still active today and is known as the “Fourneau économique boutique Jeanne-Antide”. She did the same in Naples. Inspired by the Daughters of Charity, her community works to provide education, care and support for the most vulnerable... Beatified in 1926 and canonised in 1934 by Pope Pius XI, she left behind a lasting and eternal legacy of solidarity... To mark the bicentenary of her death (in 1826), a trail has been dedicated to her, guiding us in her footsteps back to her early days in the Sancey valley.

"In the shade" is a misnomer for this route, which takes you along beautiful sunny forest paths, bordering pastures and woods, to the fortified castle of Belvoir, overlooking the Val de Sancey. Don't forget to visit the old village, centred around its 14th-century market halls, but beware of the irreverent Madge-Fâ as you pass underneath. Finally, you will descend into the valley via the Chemin de la Vie à la Mort (Path of Life and Death), no doubt invigorated by this country walk.

Hike between Sancey-le-Long and Belvoir, two towns in the Franche-Comté region with lots of character and superb panoramic views of the valley and Lomont.

From Rosières, the gateway between the Pays de Montbéliard and the Pays Horloger, you will descend towards the steep-sided Barbèche valley to reach the former Champ du Moulin inn, which has been converted into a pottery workshop. Then, climbing back up towards Péseux, you will enjoy wide open spaces as you discover the Lomont valley and its villages, then Montchevriez with its 180° panorama.

Discover ‘Bévoi’, its 14th-century market halls, and its castle, which dominates the Val de Sancey with all its feudal severity, watching you warily as you pass beneath the irreverent Mâdge-Fâ, poised to unleash a few fragrant projectiles. Then, a circular route through the dry grasslands, accompanied by sheep and goats, will lead you to the Sainte-Anne Chapel and its viewpoint, before returning via the charming little wild valley, dominated by the massive and impressive silhouette of the Hautes Roches.

From Valoreille, a superb balcony overlooking the Dessoubre valley, you will descend towards the river through peaceful pastures with unobstructed views of the neighbouring mountains. Then, from the typical village of Vauclusotte and its covered wash house fountain, you will climb through beautiful forests to the Montaigu viewpoint, the Lomont wind turbines, the Montbéliard region and the Ballon d'Alsace, before finally cooling off at the Saint-Ligier fountain, dating from 1721 and topped by its bishop.