Explore the Raddon springs at Saint-Bresson

Coming from Saint-Bresson, take the Route des Forts and park 2.5 km further on, at the side of the RD136, opposite the ‘Les Jeannery’ sign.

(S/E) Turn into the cul-de-sac and cross the Raddon de Saint-Bresson. You’ll reach the Chapelle des Jeannery at the end on the left.

(1) Follow the road, which turns into a footpath and goes round the last house on the right. Head up into the woods, ignoring the first path on the right. You’ll reach the next junction, where the path crosses a forest track.

(2) Continue along the path opposite, which is rarely used by walkers, and arrive at the edge of a meadow. Head up to the right, off the beaten track into the fir forest, whilst skirting the meadow, and emerge opposite an EDF electricity pole. Follow the power line to the left as it crosses the meadow and joins a main track.

(3) Take this path straight ahead and you’ll reach the hamlet of Béviau. You can refresh yourself at the fountain opposite the house (water not tested), whilst respecting this private property, which is open to hikers.

(4) After Béviau, take the path on the left and head for the Étang du Frai. The spring currently listed by IGN is situated 600 m upstream from the pond.

(5) Carry on straight ahead until the next junction, with the meadow on your left. This area can be muddy in wet weather.

(6) Turn left onto the path that runs behind the Auberge de la Montagne. You’ll come out onto the road; continue straight ahead to the crossroads.

(7) Take the road on the right, then turn right again immediately at the next junction.

(8) Turn right towards the Étang de Ladamont, which feeds into a branch of the Raddon-de-Saint-Bresson.

(9) Turn round.

(8) Continue along the road to the right, crossing the stream flowing from the Étang de Ladamont. Carry on along the road to the hamlet of Les Béhauts and reach a farm shed 250 m further on (see note in the practical information).

(10) Turn left. The road quickly turns into a track leading out onto a meadow, after which it disappears. Carry on straight ahead, following the low wall on your right and then, further on, on your left. Climb over the electric fence at the far left end of the meadow. The fifty-metre stretch of path to reach the track below can be challenging as it is overgrown and brambles dominate (avoid wearing shorts).

(11) When you reach the track, turn left and head downhill to the next junction, ignoring a path that branches off to the right.

(12) Take the hairpin bend to the right and reach the road.

(13) Turn left onto it and return to the starting point by following the RD136 (S/E).

The Raddon de Saint-Bresson has its source in the area of the same name. The official source is located by the IGN and the Sandre to the north of Château Grenouille and flows through the Étang du Frai (5). However, on the map of the Canton of Faucogney, drawn up under the auspices of Prefect Hippolyte Dieu and dating from 1858, the source is clearly identified and situated at Mont-du-Tronc, to the north of the Étang de Ladamont.

At (2), for walkers who are wary of straying off the path, it is possible to reach the point (3) by heading up to the right along the forest track.

At (7), you can shorten the walk by taking the small road down towards Les Blondots (closed to heavy goods vehicles), which leads directly back to the starting point.

(8) On the way back, after crossing the stream, you’ll find another small stream crossing the road at the next left-hand bend. It is this stream that is fed by the spring marked on the 1858 map, cited below.

You may be tempted to take one of the paths on the left before the point (10) at Les Béhauts. Please note that these paths are not maintained and are difficult to access.

It will be easier to follow the route with a GPS, as some of the paths have disappeared from the landscape. Avoid wearing shorts and trainers, as there are brambles along the route.

There is a bakery and a bar in the centre of the village of Saint-Bresson.

The village of Saint-Bresson, with its church, chapel and châlot.
The ‘Mille Étangs’ area.
The Val-d’Ajol and its specialities of smoked meats (andouilles, gandoyau, etc.)