Châteauvieux-les-Fossés walks

From this small fortified village, located on the old salt road overlooking the valley, you will descend towards Vergetolle, a charming little valley of contrasting light and shade. Then, the landscape becomes wilder as you head towards the Source Bleue and discover, nestled at the end of the valley, the Tuffière waterfall, resembling the mouth of a giant forest creature, ready to devour you.

From this small fortified village, located on the old salt road and overlooking the valley, you will climb towards its rival, Châteauneuf, crowning Vuillafans with its ragged walls, crossing beautiful forests, always accompanied by the Roche du Soleil and the Roche de Hauteppiere, watching majestically and peacefully over the upper Loue valley.

Set off to discover two small valleys of contrasting light and shade. Then, as the landscape becomes wilder, you will come to the Source Bleue and, nestled in the greenery, the Tuffière, resembling the mouth of a giant forest creature, ready to devour you, ending at the Cascade du Raffenot at the bottom of a typical valley of the Loue.

You will walk alongside the babbling Vergetolle stream in this small valley of contrasting light and shade. Then, as the landscape becomes wilder, you will reach the Source Bleue potholes, before finally discovering, hidden at the end of the valley, the impressive Tuffière waterfall, resembling a stone monster ready to devour you. Enjoy a peaceful return through the forest along the ledges, with several viewpoints over the valley.

Vuillafans and its old houses leaning over the river, crowned by the crumbling walls of its old castle. Lods, its fortified house, its communal mill on the Loue in the protective shadow of the Roche de Hautepierre. You will pass under the replanted vineyards, a reminder of what our valleys might have looked like before the destruction of the vineyards by phylloxera, and return, after a steep climb, via the Échevannes plateau. All this is interspersed with multiple views of the upper Loue valley.

Walk through the vineyards and along the Loue, passing through Lods, one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Starting from Vuillafans Church, a lovely circular route passing through Echevannes, waterfalls and Montgesoye with beautiful views.

Starting from Montgesoye, a lovely walk along the southern slopes, above the old vineyards of Vuillafans, offering beautiful views of the Loue valley and the villages below.

From Montgesoye, you’ll climb up a steep rocky ledge to the Thuyère viewpoint overlooking the Loue valley, from the Vuillafans hills all the way to Ornans. A pleasant forest path, overlooking the ledges, will lead you to the waterfall at the head of the Vau gorge and its petrifying streams. On the way back, you’ll stop at the Church of Saint-Gengoult, patron saint of the cuckolded, and its ancient tombs.

From the church of Saint-Gengoult, patron saint of cuckolds, our ever-faithful Comtois Lady Nature will lead you along the beautifully named Chemin des Prés to the waterfall at the end of the Vau valley and its petrifying streams. On the way back, along the pleasant forest path overlooking the cornices, you can stop at the Thuyère viewpoint in Montgesoye and admire the Loue valley, from the Vuillafans mountains to Ornans.

From Saint-Gengoult Church and its ancient tombs, you will climb to two viewpoints over Montgesoye, Ornans and the Loue Valley, passing through a charming little remote area, and return via the wild Cornebouche valley.

From the church in Montgesoye and its ancient tombs, you will climb up to a steep rocky ledge offering numerous viewpoints over the Loue Valley. From Vuillafans, a small, characterful Comtois town with old houses leaning over the river, crowned by the jagged walls of its old castle, you will return along the riverbanks, accompanied by the beauty of the rocks that frame the emerald green river.

You will discover the Church of Saint-Gengoult and its old tombs, then climb to two viewpoints over Montgesoye, Ornans and the Loue Valley as you walk through a charming little valley.

From a steep rocky ledge, with numerous views over the Loue valley and Châteauvieux-les-Fossés, you will cross the beautiful, airy Tangelet forest, sharpening your sense of direction as you climb back up to the sunny plateau. You will visit the church of La Barêche, lost in the middle of the fields, and finish at the charming Sainte-Gertrude Chapel with its superb view of the valley.

A long forest walk in the cool Bois sur Roches with its beautiful ledges and views of La Thuyère and La Verdottte, returning via the sunny Pont de Beuque valley.

Hike in the woods with a visit to the Peusse waterfalls in Ornans.

Accompanied by the murmur of our cool streams, which, if you know how to listen to them, will tell you many forgotten stories, discover the vegetation petrified by our limestone waters and the coolness of the secret caves nestled in the greenery as you climb along a small, wild ravine.

Starting from one of the most beautiful villages in France, after a challenging climb, you will be rewarded by the cornices of the Rochers du Capucin, which offer what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful views of the upper Loue valley with the Hautepierre rock. These will guide you along wooded and steep paths to the Moine de la Vallée and the sumptuous and wild gorges of Nouailles. The return journey, under the watchful gaze of the monk, takes you through blossoming orchards.

In a particularly remarkable setting, where the Loue has carved out a wide, deep gorge, this circular route passes through one of the “most beautiful villages in France”: Lods, nestled in the valley. Steep climbs take us, after a 510-metre ascent, to the Roche de Hautepierre and its sweeping panorama. From there, the route follows charming paths through unspoilt countryside. The descent is gentle. As a bonus, we discover the curious Roche de Sainte-Foy rock formation and the “village of character” of Mouthier-Hautepierre, which is also full of charm and boasts a rich architectural heritage.

Formerly known as Roche du Soleil ( Sun Rock), because it is here that the sun, rising above the horizon, casts its first rays and bids its last farewell as it sets, it is through the pale or red hue with which it colours the rock that it predicts to the inhabitants whether the next day will bring serenity or tears from the sky. Discover two characterful towns in the Comté region and this royal viewpoint over the Loue valley, the Jura mountains and Mont Blanc.

Starting from Lods, one of the most beautiful villages in France, a lovely hillside path will offer you magnificent views of the sun-drenched cliffs of La Roche de Hautepierre, Le Moine de la Vallée and the Gorges de Nouailles, and will take you to Mouthier, another charming little village in the Franche-Comté region with its medieval statues. Then comes a short, challenging climb to the Sucrue promontory, with its panoramic views over the lower reaches of the valley and the cliffs of the Haute Loue.

Starting from Lods, one of the most beautiful villages in France, a lovely hillside path offers sumptuous views of the sun-drenched cliffs of La Roche de Haute-Pierre, Le Moine de la Vallée and Les Gorges de Nouailles, leading you to Mouthier, another charming little village in the Comté region with its medieval statues.

The Rochers du Capucin cliff edge offers one of the most beautiful views of the upper Loue valley with the Roche de Hautepierre. It will guide you along wooded and steep paths to the Moine de la Vallée and the sumptuous and wild gorges of Nouailles.

Set off to explore the mountains of Franche-Comté, accompanied by the murmur of our cool streams which, if you know how to listen, will tell you many forgotten stories. Discover the vegetation petrified by our limestone waters and the coolness of secret caves nestled in the wild greenery.

From the former Visitandines convent, you will climb up to the unmissable site of the Vierge de la Roche du Mont and its view over the Loue valley and the village of Ornans. Then, following the Mambouc stream, you will return to the old town to walk along the river and its beautiful houses at the water's edge.

You will climb a picturesque path overlooking the Loue to the Roche Lahier viewpoint above the Upper Loue Valley. Then on to the vineyards of Loray and its remains of terraced crops, before descending through the fir forests of Onchaud to the Roche Bottine viewpoint on the cliffs of Ornans.

There is a short climb to Roche Bottine, which was also immortalised by Courbet in his painting "La Vallée de la Loue par temps d'orage, vers 1849" (The Loue Valley in Stormy Weather, circa 1849). Its unusual shape inspired its name. Along the way, you will discover the Roche Lahier viewpoint overlooking the upper Loue Valley towards Montgesoye.

There is a short climb to the Roche Bottine, immortalised by Courbet in his painting "La Vallée de la Loue par temps d'orage" (The Loue Valley in Stormy Weather). Its unusual shape, reminiscent of an old boot standing on the edge of a precipice, gave it its name. This viewpoint offers a 180° panorama of Ornans, the Vierge de la Roche du Mont, and the upper and lower reaches of the Loue Valley. Along the way, you will discover the Roche Lahier viewpoint, a natural viewpoint overlooking the upper reaches of the Loue Valley towards Montgesoye.

The Loue Valley, an inexhaustible source of hiking opportunities, offers the rugged, wild charm of its rocks, ending more peacefully at the Saut du Chevalier waterfall in the cool Brême Valley, so often painted by Courbet.

This route will allow you to discover the setting of our small Franche-Comté town from three viewpoints: Roche Fournièche, Rocher d'Ully and Châtelet.

Discover Ornans, a small town in Franche-Comté with plenty of character, via three viewpoints (Roche Fournièche, Rocher d'Ully and Rocher du Châtelet). Nicknamed "the little Venice of Franche-Comté", it will charm you with its houses on the Loue river and its bridges, which were a source of inspiration for the great Gustave Courbet.

This short but challenging walk will take you past the white rocks of the cliffs framing the ‘Petite Venise Comtoise’, offering four vantage points over the Loue Valley. It will lead you off the beaten track along the small, rugged cliffs of Mont d’Ully, helping to sharpen your sense of direction.

Hike north of Ornans with many points of interest and viewpoints. On the programme: the Château viewpoint, the Puits de la Brême, the Gouille aux Chèvres, the Grotte du Plaisir Fontaine, the Rocher du Tourbillon, the Saut du Chevalier, Notre-Dame du Mont. The hike can end with a visit to the town centre (§ Practical information). This is a very difficult hike due to its length and elevation gain. You need to be in good physical condition, as some sections are reserved for experienced hikers (ladders, passages requiring the use of your hands, etc.) with areas that are more or less wet and rocky. However, the route is varied and the views are magnificent. In autumn, this route offers a festival of colours.

A short, easy walk to stretch your legs after a visit to the Courbet Museum. It is a shortcut variant of the "La roche des pins" route available in Visorando.

You will climb from the small Franche-Comté town to the Fontaine aux Vipères, a major site on the Courbet Trail thanks to the famous 1855 painting "Le Château d'Ornans", where the gossips of Courbet's time used to gather. Then, from the castle overlooking Ornans, you will return along the cornices with their many viewpoints, via the charming little valley of La Roche des Pins.

This circuit will allow you to discover the setting of our small Franche-Comté town from three viewpoints: the Belvédère de Notre Dame du Mont, the Château d'Ornans and the Château du Grand, offering sweeping views of the Loue valley. This is a major site on the Courbet Trail, thanks to the famous 1855 painting Le Château d'Ornans, an oil on canvas kept at the Minneapolis Museum. You will discover the Fontaine aux Vipères (Viper Fountain), which still echoes with the gossip of our cancouaines (local women).

From the site of the former castle of Ornans, which overlooks the old town, the route climbs towards the pastures offering beautiful views of the upper Loue valley and Mont Poupet. The return journey takes you along cool, pleasant forest paths to La Roche du Grand, a viewpoint overlooking the lower Loue valley, then to the Fontaine aux Vipères, where you can still hear the gossip of our Franche-Comté "cancouaines" (local women).

Starting from Ornans Castle overlooking the old town, after a detour to the Fontaine des Vipères, a meeting place for gossips in Courbet's time, you will walk along the superb line of cornices indented with small recesses and dotted with numerous viewpoints overlooking the upper and lower Loue valley. A round trip that will not exhaust all the attractions of this walk.