The Cirque de Baume-les-Messieurs

Discover one of the most beautiful natural sites and one of the prettiest villages in the Franche-Comté.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 474 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 474 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 520 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 304 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(1) Set out from the car park at Abbaye de Baume. Walk down into the village, turn right and cross the small stone bridge over the Seille. Then turn left and walk down Rue des Moulins for 50m.

(2) Take the path to the right up to Echelles de Sermu (GR59, red and white waymarks). The slope is steep and rocky and there is a risk you can slip in some parts, so be careful, especially in wet weather.

(3) At the viewpoint, you will have a real reward for your effort, as there is a magnificent panorama. Take the GR59 to the left along the cliffs towards the cirque until you reach Sermu. Some passages can be quite muddy in wet weather.

(4) In Sermu, turn right onto the D70E2 and follow the road until you reach Sur Roche. There are beautiful views from the cliffs.

(5) At Sur Roche, carefully make your way down the steps on the left towards Cascade des Tufs and the caves (Echelle de Crançot).

(6) At the beautiful site of Reculée de Baume-les-Messieurs, you can enjoy a picnic or eat in a café.

Return along the same path to get back to point (5) and walk left along the D70E2 for about 200m.

(7) Take the path that forks off to left and follow the GR59 through the woods. Follow the signs (which are not always obvious) and ignore any paths off to the left or right. After a sharp bend to the left, head towards Croix de Suchot.

(8) At the viewpoint of Croix de Suchot, there is another stunning panorama. Leave back along the same path, ignoring the turning off to the right that you took earlier and carry straight on to the D70, which you then take to your left for about 50m.

(9) Leave the road and take the path on your left down into the forest towards Baume-
les-Messieurs. The slope is quite steep and some passages are tricky especially in rainy weather.

(10) You will come out above Abbaye de Baume, walk around to the left or right to get back to the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 308 m - Abbaye de Baume car park
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 309 m - Start of the Echelles de Sermu trail
  3. 2 : km 0.95 - alt. 485 m - Echelles de Sermu lookout point - Belvédère de Sermu
  4. 3 : km 2.27 - alt. 504 m - Sermu, D70E2
  5. 4 : km 3.51 - alt. 507 m - Belvédère de Crançot
  6. 5 : km 3.63 - alt. 506 m - Belvédère des Roches de Baume
  7. 6 : km 4.33 - alt. 373 m - Dard (torrent) - Affluent de la Seille
  8. 7 : km 4.47 - alt. 377 m - Cascades des Tufs - Cascades de Tuf sur le Dard
  9. 8 : km 5.37 - alt. 505 m - Leave the road, take the GR59 to the left
  10. 9 : km 8.95 - alt. 485 m - Suchot cross and belvedere - Croix de Suchot
  11. 10 : km 9.59 - alt. 491 m - D70, left
  12. 11 : km 10.47 - alt. 345 m - Baume Abbey - Église Abbatiale Saint-Pierre
  13. S/E : km 10.72 - alt. 308 m - Abbaye de Baume car park

Practical information

Walking boots are highly recommended if not essential.

This route passes through a sensitive area where specific rules may apply:

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 164 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 2093194

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very beautiful hike that takes you around the Baumes les Messieurs cirque.
The yellow markings are a bit old and there are no GR markings.
Fortunately, there are signs.
It's a shame that the tufa formations are dry, but hey, it's still summer.

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lesiol
lesiol

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hike completed on 16 August in very hot weather.
We enjoyed the shaded areas and the magnificent views. It was a shame to see the waterfalls completely dry.

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Dumas Didier
Dumas Didier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This route is very pleasant, with no real difficulties except for the 100-metre climb almost at the start and towards the cave (which is very nice to visit and not very expensive).
The route varies slightly at the start because an access path is closed due to the risk of a wall collapsing. You have to go directly over the bridge, i.e. along the road, before turning off to go uphill.
There are some beautiful views on this route, ideal for a picnic.

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elisabethhartmann
elisabethhartmann

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Good description of the route
Not a drop of water, the waterfall is dry, so you can avoid the steep slopes by staying at the top, which is very pleasant in the forest. However, you still need to be very careful, even in dry weather.
Did this on Saturday 9 August, already a very hot day.
Magnificent landscape.

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patrice.navarro38
patrice.navarro38

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

The departure point is no longer via the small bridge, as access is closed. Follow the road and cross the bridge. Then rejoin the route, which climbs rapidly into the woods. Be careful, as the climb is quite steep and slippery! Avoid with young children. There are few places on the plateau with views of the valley floor. The path was closed off with a rope at the first farm; you will need to climb over it. Then it is a road all the way to the Roches viewpoint. The descent into the cirque is straightforward, with a few slippery sections.

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Yoko25
Yoko25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike that has it all: climbing, viewpoints, well-maintained forest paths, history, waterfalls ... this last time, we were surprised by the thunderstorms that were so close and threatening. It is possible to shorten the walk by going directly from point 5 to point 8 and then, if time permits, take the car on the way back to the waterfall at points 6 and 7.

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thlg
thlg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Top-class walk with reasonable effort, magnificent views, nature and old stones

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Fabienne 71
Fabienne 71

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk. We had one doubt at point 3: we didn't dare go through the metal gate used by the cows and got a bit "lost" when we reached private land and came out through their gate, which was fortunately open. The rest of the route is perfect.

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ChBouda
ChBouda

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Start early if you want to park easily in the village.
Quite a steep climb at the start, so take great care.
Nice walk with a variety of paths and viewpoints.

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LoloC54
LoloC54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a lovely walk that takes in almost all the views of Baume. A real feast for the eyes. Beware, however, of the narrow, slippery passages in wet weather.

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Daniel CROXO
Daniel CROXO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The circuit, with its many attractions, is magnificent.
We were a little disappointed: there was no water at the Tufs waterfall (we had to make do with the photos) and the cave could not be visited from 12 noon to 2 pm. But we made up for it with a very interesting guided tour of Baume-les-Messieurs abbey at the end of the hike.

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vbpartage
vbpartage

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hiked today. Magnificent views and close proximity to the abbey, grotto and waterfall.
Be careful though, after the rain the day before yesterday, the ground is still very, very greasy. The climb is doable, we did it at around 8am, but it's not signposted. The descents in greasy terrain (without poles) are suicidal, especially the last descent down the side of a cliff on steep, slippery ground (we passed by the road). Clearly a difficult walk in this weather, but that in no way detracts from its interest.

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Anne NLG
Anne NLG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An absolutely sublime walk, both the route outside the cirque and the inner loop. The waterfall is incredibly beautiful.
There weren't too many people for such a well-known site.
We did the route in two parts, one day for the outer cirque, one day for the village, the abbey, the grotto and the waterfall.

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Deltounus
Deltounus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk in an exceptional setting. There are more and more people at the waterfall, but not many elsewhere. The start is a little rough but doable with good shoes. It is advisable to follow the route as the descent can become acrobatic in wet weather.
The village through which the torrent flows is beautiful, and there are a few shops offering food and drink. A site not to be missed if you're passing through the area. Thanks for sharing.

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Fanfan94
Fanfan94

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk, especially the first part (climb to the first cornice, view of Baumes les Messieurs).
We did it in dry weather, but we strongly advise against it if the ground is wet (the paths are sometimes very narrow and close to steep slopes).very steep steps down to the bottom of the cirque (cave not visited, magnificent tuff waterfall in early April).

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