Route du Bois des Gouttes in Chalonvillars and Evette-Salbert

Parking at the beginning of Rue du Salbert in Chalonvillars (see practical information section).

The route is marked by a blue triangle and a red and white rectangle on the section shared with the^GR®5. On a small section, the triangle will be green.

(S/E) Cross the canal and take the^GR®5path opposite, which climbs towards the forest. It is marked by a red and white rectangle and indicated by a sign.

(1) After climbing 150 m, at the crossroads, leave the^GR®5and turn left, following the blue triangle markings. The path leaves the forest, crosses meadows, runs alongside old farm buildings and joins Rue de Chalonvillars (D8).
Please note: this road is the main road from Châlonvillars to Evette, so there may be traffic.

(2) Turn right when you reach the road. Use the pedestrian crossing behind the safety barrier.
The trail is marked with a green triangle.
Continue along the road for 200 metres and turn left onto Rue des Chennerées. On your left is the Douce stream, which is close to its source. Further on, the path leaves the forest and joins the main road.

(3) Follow the road to the left towards Evette-Salbert. At the next crossroads, continue along the road. The route is marked with a blue triangle. It also joins the "Marcel Lallemand" hike, marked with a red ring.

(4) At this crossroads, turn left (signposted Rue de la Forêt) and follow the blue triangle markings. The road turns into a path called Les Gouttes du Temps (goutte means spring or stream).
Very pretty countryside with beautiful views of the Vosges and, on the right, the village of Frahier. Continue straight ahead on this path until you reach the Rougeot farm. Follow the road to the left until you reach the N19.

(5) Cross the N19 carefully. Visibility is excellent, but be extra vigilant as there is an overtaking zone and vehicles travel fast. Follow the small road opposite. Pass two telephone masts. At the next crossroads, follow the road to the left.

(6) Turn right onto the forest track with a barrier.

(7) At the next crossroads, turn left onto the path near the hunters' lodge. The path climbs southwards into the forest. It is very well marked with a blue triangle. At the top, turn left onto the path and descend towards Châlonvillars to join the^GR®5, marked with a red and white rectangle, at the edge of the forest.

(8) Pass by the reservoir and arrive at Rue de l'Église in Châlonvillars. Walk alongside the church, following the^GR®5markings. Please note that the route on the IGN map is not up to date. Admire the work (for shoeing horses and oxen) just below the church. Immediately afterwards, turn left into Rue Traversière and then right. Admire the wash house and continue along Rue Principale.

(9) Opposite Rue du Breuil, look for the Croix au Couperet. Continue along Rue Principale until you reach a crossroads with traffic lights (D19). Cross at the pedestrian crossing and continue opposite on Rue du Salbert to return to the starting point (S/E).

Parking is available just before the canal, on Rue du Salbert in Chalonvillars.

Former Haute Saône Canal:

The canal was intended to link the Rhône-Rhine Canal to the Haute Saône.
The canal's declaration of public utility, signed by the Minister of Public Works C. de Freycinet, dates from 1879. Construction work began in 1883.
A^ninth attempt to fill the canal from the Champagney Basin took place in 1933. Due to enormous water losses, it was decided to abandon the project.
The details of the canal's construction are described in Pierre Klinger's book.

The canal also feeds the Rhône-Rhine Canal.
The Belfort Canal takes water from the Champagney Basin via the Haute Saône Canal. Part of it runs underground and emerges near Meroux to feed the Rhône-Rhine Canal in the leat at Montreux-Château.

Church of Châlonvillars
The church was built in 1897. It is dedicated to Saint Radegonde.

Châlonvillars
Châlonvillars was part of the principality of Lure Abbey. During the Thirty Years' War, the village was destroyed. Under Louis XIV, the inhabitants became subjects of the Abbot of Lure and the King of France.
In 1790, Châlonvillars was attached to the canton of Héricourt.
Places to visit: the church, the wash house built in 1843.
Also worth seeing is a cross known as "la croix au couperet" (the guillotine cross), which dates from the 15th century and bears the sign IIII, thought to be the remains of INRI, and a guillotine engraved on the foot of the cross during the Revolution.