Route de découverte de Maîche

The hike starts at the carpool car park next to the Intermarché supermarket in Maîche.

(S/E) Leave the car park and turn left onto Impasse des Alpes to reach the roundabout on the right. Take the left exit and continue straight ahead at the next roundabout.

(1) At the next roundabout, go straight ahead and reach the circular junction. Leave the return path on your left, then turn right onto Rue de la Gare. Walk down this street, then at the end, first turn left then right to take Rue de Goule and follow it to Rue du Mont.

(2) Go down this street on the left. At the end, turn right and then immediately left to reach Rue du Général de Gaulle.

(3) Walk up this street, turning left. Pass a crossroads, walk past the town hall and you will reach Saint-Pierre Church. At the church, turn right and walk between the building and Château Montalembert to reach the entrance to the château and an information panel about it and the church. However, the château is private property, so you will have to admire it from the church entrance.

(4) Turn back and take the first left onto Rue Petit Granvelle. Pass by the Hôtel de Granvelle. Again, admire it from the street as it is private property. At the crossroads, stay alongside the grounds of Château de Montalembert. Then turn left, pass a large car park on your left and continue to Rue de Guyot.

(5) Turn right and continue to the end of the street, which becomes Rue Charles Simon. At the end, turn left and you will reach the entrance to Château de Mérode. The château is also private, so you will have to admire it from the street.

(6) Walk down this street to an oratory at the end. Then turn left onto Rue de la Batheuse. After a car park on the right, turn right onto the next street. Leave the entrance to Château du Désert on your left for later.

(7) Continue up the path into the woods. Once on the D435, turn right to walk alongside the cemetery and reach a memorial stone at the end of it.

(8) Return to Château du Désert.

(7) Enter through the main entrance, walk past the château and cross the park, continuing straight ahead until you reach Avenue du Maréchal Leclerc. Turn right and immediately follow the path to the left onto Chemin de la Chapelle. At the crossroads, turn left to begin the climb to the Chapelle des Anges. The climb can be quite steep for younger children. Continue uphill twice to reach the top of the hill. Once at the top, keep left to reach the chapel and its viewpoint.

(9) Continue on the path opposite, which joins a botanical trail, which you should take on the right. Pass a crossroads and return to the road you took on the way there. Then turn right until you reach the roundabout.

(1) Return to the starting point by retracing your steps (S/E).

-The walk is mainly urban, except for the section on the Coteau Saint-Michel, which follows actual hiking trails. You will therefore need to wear suitable footwear.

-An easy, family-friendly walk overall, but the climb to the Chapelle des Anges may be difficult for younger children.

-Cross just after (1).

-Former Maîche railway station.

-Town hall.

-Saint-Pierre Church (4).

-Oratory between the (6) and the (7).

-Château du Désert and its grounds (7).

-Natural heritage of Coteau Saint-Michel, Chapelle des Anges and viewpoint at (9).

-Information panels provide cultural and tourist information about the Maîche region: at Saint-Pierre Church (4), between (6) and (7), at Château du Désert (9) and Chapelle des Anges (9), as well as between (9) and (1).