From Chancia to Montcusel in a loop

The route starts in Chancia at a place called La Cize (Chemin de Nezan).

(S/E) Heading downhill, take the Chemin de Nezan.

(1) At the small roundabout, carry on straight ahead along Rue de Bellevue until you reach the end. Turn right, then left onto Rue du Jura (RD60E2) , taking care to watch out for traffic.

(2) Just before the Pont de Chancia, at a memorial stone bearing a commemorative plaque, turn left onto Rue de la Pierre Martin. You’ll soon find yourself on a track suitable for vehicles; follow this for a short while, ignoring the various turn-offs. Pass the Moulin sous la Côte and you’ll come to a Fork in the road: take the left-hand fork.

(3) At the end of this section, take the path on the left: this climbs steadily uphill until, after a short while, it reaches the plateau (please note: the route does not appear on IGN or OSM base maps). At the two junctions you come to, ignore the paths coming from the right and, a little further on, you’ll reach a third junction.

(4) Turn left onto a path that climbs gently for a short while, until you reach a paragliding launch site: enjoy the view from this open spot.

(5) Continue along the path. Shortly after coming across a path on the right, look out for the start of another path on the left, which you should take: this fairly short path leads to a lovely viewpoint. Take care on the approach, and particularly around the overhang.

(6) After admiring the view, retrace your steps and continue left along the path you left earlier. A little further on, Montcusel Church comes into view: at the end of the path, turn left down the street.

(7) Once you reach the village’s main street, follow it to the left for a few metres and, very soon, near the old communal oven, turn right onto Rue du Pataye. After leaving the village of Montcusel, follow a path on the left (no signposting). Ignore a fork on the right, then, at the^{second fork}, carry on straight ahead for about a hundred metres: please note that the route shown on the IGN base map is sometimes incorrect in this area. Look out for and take a path leading to a lovely viewpoint situated a few metres below: take care where you walk, particularly near the edge of the cliff.

(8) Retrace your steps back to the previous fork. Follow the path on the left, which leads uphill. Further on, ignore the fork coming from the right. On a slope that is at times quite steep on the ascent, the path leads to a^second fork. Take the path on the left and, shortly afterwards, continue to the left until you reach a^third fork.

(9) You’ll soon come to a path that slopes downwards. After a short while, join a track and follow it to the left until you reach a hairpin bend. Enjoy the lovely view near a transmission mast.

(10) Navigate the hairpin bend and continue north-west until you reach the junction marked by signposts.

(11) Follow the path on the left towards Chancia. Further down, cross a tarmac road to reach, even further down, another track. Follow this to the left and, shortly afterwards, return to the hamlet known as La Cize (S/E).

The starting point can be viewed on Google Maps: click here.

Good walking boots and walking poles are recommended.

Please take your rubbish away with you; nature struggles to break it down.

Here is a description of the difficulties you may encounter along each section (the route is not uniform):
- green: a fairly straightforward walk with no significant elevation changes or difficulties.
- Blue: slopes and/or elevation changes are more pronounced on a well-marked route.
- Orange: routes presenting some technical difficulties and/or poor route conditions (markings or visibility of the path).

From (S/E) to (3): green difficulty.
The start of the route takes place in an urban setting, then follows a good path running parallel to the River Bienne (some access points are possible in places, but please respect private property).
No signposts or markings.

From (3) to (4): blue difficulty.
A clearly visible path with a few steep sections is followed for a considerable distance.
There are no signposts or markings.

From (4) to (7): green difficulty
A wide, vehicle-accessible track is followed without difficulty along this section.
Take care when approaching the point (6), where caution is advised.
Yellow markings.

From (7) to (8): blue difficulty.
Shortly after leaving the village, follow a good path on the left. Take care around the viewpoint, particularly on the approach to it, and especially at the edge of the cliff.
Only the section just outside the village follows a marked route. If you have any doubts about the direction, you’ll find some route markers for this section below (as the IGN directions are incorrect in places): click here.

From (8) to (9): blue difficulty
Follow a clearly visible path. There are a few steep sections in places.
No signposting present.

From (9) to (10): blue difficulty.
The route continues along a path with a gentle downward gradient. Once you reach the track, the walk is straightforward.
Yellow signposting from the track below.

From (10) to (11): green difficulty.
Follow a very easy path.
Yellow markings plus a few signposts.

From (11) to (S/E): blue difficulty.
A good, relatively wide path is followed before joining an easy track further down which leads back to the starting point.
Yellow markings + a few signposts.

Commemorative plaque at Chancia: its content is as follows:
"Commune decorated with the 1939-1945 War Cross with bronze star".
"Commune whose population, united in a spirit of resistance, gave shelter during the years of occupation to many compatriots and those who refused to participate in the S.T.O. In April 1944, this attitude attracted reprisals from a ruthless enemy who ransacked more than half the village, burning 19 buildings, executing one inhabitant and wounding another."
"^60th anniversary of the liberation of the Jura."