Consolation-Maisonnettes walks

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

From the car park at the Monastère de Consolation, explore the Cirque and the Val de Consolation, with its many springs (Dessoubre, Lançot, Tabourot and Noire), via the viewpoints at La Roche du Prêtre, Chauve Roche and La Roche Sainte-Catherine, and its balcony-style paths winding through rocky outcrops, offering breathtaking views.

A walk around the Cirque de Consolation offering varied scenery and sections that will give you a thrill. Superb panoramic views and water features along the route.

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.

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

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.

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.

In the heart of the Watchmaking Region, a walk around the source of the Dessoubre and the Notre-Dame de Consolation monastery

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Set off to explore this magnificent forest, which is wild in places and, in some sections, unmarked. From the FFI Memorial and the magnificent wooden sculpture trail to the Grotte de la Glacière du Roi – not to be confused with the Grotte de la Glacière in Chaux-les-Passavant. Not forgetting the Dessoubre Valley and the Moulin de Belvoir.

(!) 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.

A walk starting from the village of Pierrefontaine-les-Varans towards the Second World War memorial, where sculptures are on display along the route. The walk continues towards the lovely little village of Le Saucet and its beautiful chapel. The route now descends into the Dessoubre and Reverotte valleys, passing through the hamlet of Gigot. Head back up the Reverotte valley, following the river and its waterfalls, to the village where you started.

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

La Roche Barchey, "the pierced rock" in Celtic, where witches of yesteryear celebrated their demonic cult, offers a vast panorama of the Val de Vennes and the Haut-Doubs from its height of 988 metres. You will then descend through the beautiful fir forests of La Joux towards the more Catholic Sainte-Radegonde, who, it is said, fought an evil ghoul, perhaps descended from the rock, on the night of a sabbath, on the site where her chapel was built.

From the foot of a medieval calvary, head towards the Belvédère des Genevois in the small, remote valley of Martinvaux, passing through beautiful pine forests with slender trees. Then descend to the Source de la Reverotte and follow it to the Puits de la Doye and the Grotte de la Baume.

The Reverotte, a tributary of the Dessoubre, is full of charm along its twelve kilometres. You will discover some of its features as you descend from La Sommette towards its mossy and rocky banks.

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.

Circular around Mont Vouillot via Chez Fraichot, Le Mausenet, Les Fins and Les Teurés.

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.

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.

The Saut du Doubs is a major tourist attraction in the region. This hike will allow you to discover it and also enjoy the surrounding landscapes, continuing on to the Chatelot dam.

This hike allows you to discover the Saut du Doubs and walk around Lake Moron on both the Swiss and French sides, crossing the border at the ford.

First, visit the viewpoint overlooking the Doubs basins. Cross into Switzerland via the footbridge, then head towards Les Brenets. Climb up to the Jurgensen Tower, where you will be rewarded with a magnificent 360° panorama of the region. On the way back, take a short detour to Calvin's Head, where you will see its spectacular hole. If you visit it, be careful, it is dangerous! A superb hike in a magnificent setting.

The walk starts on the French side but you’ll mainly be walking on the Swiss side. This walk will take you to some magnificent viewpoints. You’ll climb up to the Tête de Calvin, a magnificent viewpoint (unsecured), then head towards Les Brenets where you’ll cross the border on foot (don’t forget your documents), then on to the Marais des Goudebas (listed in the federal inventory) and finally to explore the Jurgensen Tower. It stands on a rocky outcrop at a place called Le Châtelard, in the municipality of Les Brenets. This observation tower offers sweeping panoramic views over Lake Les Brenets and the Doubs valley, whilst also housing a funerary monument. Then head for the Recrettes and Escarpineau viewing points, saving the best for last: the Saut du Doubs, first on the Swiss side and then on the French side.

This walk is a marvellous way to explore the beautiful Saut du Doubs.

You will walk through the beautiful forests of Mont Châtelard, interspersed with high, wild cliffs reflected in the green waters of Lac de Moron, an artificial lake created by the Châtelot dam. Then, descending into the gorge, you will walk along its steep banks, guided by the murmur of the waterfall towards the unmissable Saut du Doubs.

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.

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.

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.

Forest walk through the woods of La Joux, La Joux Dessous and La Joux Dessus, along well-marked paths and a road alternating between gravel and tarmac.