From Ravin du Pré Noir to Saut du Chevalier from Ornans

The start is at the La Plante car park, Rue de la Plante (Voie Granvelle), at the stairs and lift providing access to the town centre (another option is the Sainte Marie college car park).

(S/E) With your back to the road, go up Voie Granvelle on the right and cross at the bridge.

(1) Take the street on the right, then turn left, following the signs to the castle. Continue straight ahead to leave the town via the path through the woods.

(2) At the intersection, take the path on the right to reach Rue du Château. Cross it carefully and take the path opposite leading to the Château.

(3) Take the street on the right, then right again to reach the Château viewpoint with a first view of Ornans. At the viewpoint, retrace your steps slightly, then turn right to continue around the Château.

(3) Back at the crossroads, continue along Rue Saint-Georges. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Rue des Fermes, towards Bois-sur-le-Grand. Leave the street on the left, taking the path leading to the woods.

(4) At the signpost, take the path on the left to reach a new viewpoint over Ornans. At the viewpoint, retrace your steps slightly to rejoin the path you took and continue left along the pretty path overlooking the cliffs.

(5) At the intersection, turn left to reach a car park on the edge of the D67.

(6) At the car park, there are two options:
- if the river level allows, head to the Puits de la Brême via a distinctive round stone bridge, taking care when crossing the road,
- or head directly to Gouille aux Chèvres.

To reach the Puits de la Brême:cross the D67 with great caution on the left side of the safety barrier and take the small path down to the Brême, cross the Brême via the unique round stone bridge. Take the path on the right to reach the Puits de la Brême.

(7) Retrace your steps to return to the car park.

(6) To continue without going via Puits de la Brème, walk along the D67 for 300 metres, keeping to the right –take care.

(8) Leave the D67 by taking the path on the right and follow the signs.

(9) At the signpost and according to the recommendations, there are two options:
- For inexperienced hikers and/or if the Brême is in flood, take the path slightly to the left to reach a small car park on the Tacot road. Continue along this road to reach the (12).
- For experienced hikers and if the river level allows it, take the path on the right (suggested route). It joins the riverbank and follows it along the Pré Noir ravine. Make sure you reach the riverbank using the facilities available (ramps and handrails). This place was painted many times by Gustave Courbet, who loved it. The path runs along the edge of the river and some sections may no longer be accessible depending on the river level. Other sections are equipped with ladders (2 metres), cables or handholds. It may sometimes be necessary to use your hands.

(10) Continue along this path, which can be accessed through a passage in the middle of barbed wire. A gouille is a hole in the water in a river.

(11) Once you reach the Gouille, return the way you came until you reach the signpost.

(10) Take the stairs on the right to reach the old Tacot road. The climb is relatively steep.

(12) Take the Tacot road on the right (towards Plaisir Fontaine), now the GR®145 or Voie Verte. This section is slightly uphill but is a real highway for hikers. Cross the D280 to reach the tunnel.

(13) At the tunnel, you have two options:
- Take this well-maintained, lit tunnel and continue along the greenway until you reach the signpost (14).
- Or, explore the tunnel for a few metres, return to the tunnel entrance and take the small path on the right (looking at the entrance) at the information signs. This uphill path is not marked. After 50 metres, turn right at the intersection to reach a viewpoint, return to the intersection and turn right again onto the path, then take the trail overlooking the greenway. The trail runs parallel to and above the Tacot railway line. At the barbed wire fence, take the path on the right to reach and cross the Tacot railway line.

(14) Take the GR®145 variant on the right (south). Walk for about 150 metres.

(15) Turn right onto a path that descends gently at first, then more steeply, to reach the Grotte du Plaisir Fontaine. You will be overlooking the fish farm, which you can reach by taking the path on the right just before the cave.

(16) Once at the cave, turn around and head back to the very first intersection.

(15) Turn right onto the beautiful path at the edge of the woods, then right again to enter the woods. At the signpost, head towards Rocher du Tourbillon. From Rocher du Tourbillon, there is a superb view of the Brème valley, which we will be walking through.

(17) Turn back 200 metres, and at the intersection, take the path on the right to quickly reach the D280. Continue to the right, descending this road for 400 metres until you reach the hairpin bend. Take care when walking along this road, even if there is little traffic.

(18) At the end of this bend, go through the safety barrier and take the slightly uphill path on the left. Continue along this path, which now descends towards Bonnevaux-du-Bas. At the next hairpin bend, either:
- take the small path on the left (not shown on IGN maps) to go directly to the cemetery of the old priory
- continue along the path to rejoin the D280 and cross Bonnevaux-du-Bas. Just before crossing the Brême, take the path on the left (GR® variant) which runs alongside the river to reach the cemetery of the old priory.

(19) Continue along this path, which this time crosses the Brême. Leave the GR® variant on your right, which leads directly to Ornans, and continue into the valley, where the colours are magnificent in autumn. Cross the river a second time, then a third time before entering the woods. The path now climbs steeply but steadily for a good kilometre.

(20) There are two options at the intersection:
- Turn right immediately, at an acute angle.
- As shown on the map, take the second path on the right, an unpaved trail, to get a view of the Défois waterfall. Be careful, as the trail is on the side of a cliff and is no longer maintained. Some sections are narrow , and it is no longer possible to get close to the waterfall. Once at the viewpoint, retrace your steps to find the path.

(21) Retrace your steps.

(20) Take the first path on the left and descend. You will come out onto a small road. Follow it to the right until you reach the Saut du Chevalier viewpoint.

(22) Continue along the road for 150 metres and take the path on the left down to Ornans. The path leads to a small road (Chemin des Martinets), continue down this road until you reach the intersection with Chemin du Mont.

(23) Turn right onto the path, which has a steep incline.

(24) Leave Chemin du Mont on the left and take a beautiful uphill path. Continue along this path to reach Notre-Dame du Mont.

(25) There are several viewpoints over Ornans. Pass in front of the statue of Notre-Dame du Mont and continue along the path to reach a final viewpoint over Ornans with La Roche des Pins.

(26) Take the path on the right and reach La Roche des Pins.

(27) Retrace your steps (200 metres).

(26) At the bend, take the small, barely visible path on the right that descends steeply to Ornans. This path quickly turns into a trail that leads to a road.

(28) Turn left (Chemin des Essarts Cendrin) to reach the Plante car park (S/E).

There are several possible picnic spots:

• Rocher du Tourbillon (17) with its superb view. 14.4 km from the start.
• The old priory (19), where there are two tables available. In case of bad weather, shelter may be available at the lodge (to the right of the path): 16.2 km from the start.
• At the Saut du Chevalier viewpoint (22), there is a table available: 19.5 km from the start.

Thanks to tonnoguh for his route, Le ravin du Puits Noir and Le Belvédère du Tourbillon, which inspired me from (10) to (15).

Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne, Cléron.

For the more adventurous, a quick tour of the town:

• At the Plante car park, join and take Ruelle Gagnemaille, cross Rue Pierre Vernier and take the small alley opposite, which offers a view of the Loue and the large bridge.
• Return to Rue Pierre Vernier, take the street on the left, walk along the square, then take the street on the left to cross the Grand Pont. On the left is the museum and birthplace of Gustave Courbet.
• Turn right onto Rue Saint-Laurent. After 100 metres, a small alleyway on the right leads to the other bank of the Loue. Continue along Rue Saint-Laurent to go around Saint-Laurent Church.
• Take Rue Saint-Laurent in the other direction and, at the documentation centre, cross the Loue again via the footbridge. Go around Place Gustave Courbet on the left.
• Continue along Rue Pierre Vernier until you reach the Tourist Office. Just before the office, take the street on the left to reach the square and the Saint-Vernier car park.
• To the left of the car park, take the stairs (or lift) to return to the La Plante car park. Return to the starting point.