Drugeon and Dragon

A very long time ago, a fibula adorned with two dragons was found beneath the feudal mound that once stood on the site of the current football pitch. This piece of jewellery bestowed strength and courage upon its owner. No book mentions it, but the occurrence of strange phenomena in the Drugeon Valley – and particularly in the village of La-Rivière-Drugeon – leaves no room for doubt: this object has not been lost.

Will you manage to unravel the mystery of the missing fibula?

The starting point for this walk is near the tennis courts and football pitches in the village of La-Rivière-Drugeon.
There you will find a starting sign where you can pick up the walk booklet. If there are no booklets left, you can collect one from La-Rivière-Drugeon Town Hall, the La-Rivière-Drugeon mini-market or the Frasne Tourist Information Centre. In this booklet, you’ll find mysterious characters who will help you in your quest for the fibula and provide you with valuable clues to help you find it. Eleven signposts will also guide you on your search and help you discover the built and natural heritage of this unusual village.

Follow the dragon-paw-shaped studs to find your way. They are scattered along the entire route and should enable you to find your way without any further directions.

Just in case, here are a few of them anyway.

(S/E) To begin, walk along the edge of the pond. At the far end of the pond, cross the road and head towards the old mill. Continue along this path until you reach a wooden footbridge on your right. Cross this footbridge and continue along the path until you reach the road. Then turn right and head back towards the pond. Walk alongside it, go up the path on the left and take the first left, then the first right.

(1) At this point, carry on straight ahead and head towards the field. Don’t worry about the property on the right. You won’t be walking on a private road if you keep to the left of it. Then follow the field fence until you reach the next junction. Turn left at this junction.

(2) When you reach the tarmac road, turn left. At the end of the street, cross the road and first turn right then left to reach the orchard. Once at the orchard, take the path on the left which runs alongside the housing estate.
At the end of the path, take the road opposite towards the river, but do not cross it.

(3) Walk alongside the River Drugeon on your left. Cross the Drugeon via the wooden footbridge, then continue to the left, keeping the river on your left.

(4) The next footbridge takes you across the Drugeon again. When you reach the mini-market, turn right. Cross the bridge and turn left straight away. Follow the Drugeon to the next footbridge. This leads to the vicar’s garden via a side gate. Head to the church. By this point, you should have all the clues you need to find the fibula. All you have to do is go and find it at the location indicated in the riddle. Go round the church on the left, follow the path between two houses, then continue to the right to reach the sports centre (S/E).

Good luck on your quest and have fun.

Please do remember to pick up a copy of the booklet before setting off on your walk. You’ll find them:

• at the starting point (Rue des Lilas)
• at La-Rivière-Drugeon Town Hall (8 Rue Charles le Téméraire)
• at the mini-market in La-Rivière-Drugeon (2 Rue du Bourg)
• at the Tourist Information Point in Frasne (3 Rue de la Gare)
• at the Frasne-Drugeon Community of Communes in Frasne (3 Rue de la Gare)

During the walk: don’t miss the vicar’s garden, near the old vicarage.
Nearby: why not treat yourself to a stroll along the Lac de l’Entonnoir de Bouverans, a 2.2 km signposted trail (located between Bouverans and Bonnevaux).