École-Valentin walks

A peaceful family route near Besançon. Discover a restored caborde (stone shelter) and a wide viewpoint with an orientation table.

Want to go for a walk in the countryside while staying in town? Yes, it's possible!

A walk around Mont de Pouilley-les-Vignes along the botanical trail, then the fitness trail through paths winding between beautiful moss-covered rocks, dotted with snowdrops and daffodils in spring. At both ends: a viewpoint overlooking the church spires of the surrounding villages and the Haute-Saône; the fortifications built after the defeat of 1870.

According to Besançon tradition, the Sun King, Louis XIV, sat under a lime tree during the capture of Besançon by his troops: "the king's lime tree". But "Les Tilleroyes" is undoubtedly an old variant of tilleraie, a forest of lime trees. I don't know if you'll still find any lime trees, but there will be plenty of shade and coolness for city dwellers looking for a breath of fresh air just a stone's throw from the city.

Walk in the Chailluz Forest and climb up to the Dame Blanche viewpoint.

From Châtillon church, you will climb to a wild viewpoint on the rocks of the Dame Blanche, encountering the ruins of an old caborde (stone shelter) along the way. Then, along a beautiful line of cornices overlooking the Ognon valley, you will reach the Fort de la Dame Blanche viewpoint over the Vosges mountains, following in the footsteps of the disturbing woman who haunts these places after dark. From the old fortifications, you will descend towards Châtillon along peaceful forest paths.

A pleasant walk in the shade of the trees in the Chailluz forest, passing by the Fontaine des Acacias (a forest water source carved into the side of a sinkhole). An easy route through the coniferous woodland.

From the secluded Fontaine aux Soldats, you’ll climb towards a wild viewpoint overlooking the rocks of the Dame Blanche, passing the ruins of an old mountain hut along the way, following in the footsteps of that eerie woman who haunts these places after dark. You’ll then descend towards a powder magazine and the Fort de Châtillon via peaceful forest paths.

An easy walk in the countryside. Mainly on roads or pavements.

This is a lovely walk that starts in the Franois woods, where you will find pretty wooden buildings belonging to the nursery school on either side of the path. Then, via a small path through the forest, you will reach the equestrian centre. You will follow the Pirey ridge path, with a view of the "shooting range". You will cross Mont de Pouilley, with its military ruins, its old aviary and its view of the village. Then return to the starting point in Serre.

Via the Rosemont ledges, offering views over the Besançon hills topped by the massive, distant silhouette of Mont Poupet, you will climb up to the winegrowers’ huts of the Combe de l’Œillet, these dry-stone constructions built without mortar where winegrowers stored their tools and sought shelter from storms. You will descend back into the valley via these scree slopes, formed by the natural weathering of the cliffs and the piles of stones left by our ancestors who cultivated the terraced hills of the Besançon region. Then, one final effort to climb the Roche d’Or and return via the Chemin de l’Œillet and its houses nestled in the greenery of our city, which knows how to embrace its rural side.

For a change from the crowds in Chailluz Forest, this is a peaceful little walk on the outskirts of Besançon, best done in dry weather.

There are plenty of fountains in Besançon! Some more imposing than others, some more interesting, some steeped in history. Rather than admiring one by chance or even walking past it with complete indifference, why not go on a hunt for the 20 fountains? An urban and cultural stroll that will help you discover Besançon in a fun way.

Hike in the Besançon area, allowing you to climb up to Fort de Bregille with a superb view of the city and the citadel.

See Practical Information. Besançon, France's first green city, surrounded by wooded hills, is a city in the countryside. This route, from the Malcombe sports complex to Fort de Planoise, will convince you. You will climb picturesque and peaceful paths to two belvederes and cabordes, dry stone huts that bear witness to a time when vineyards stretched across our hillsides.

The forts of Beauregard and Bregille offer a special walk for residents of Besançon seeking greenery and sweeping views of the capital of Franche-Comté and its hills. They offer superb views of our Citadel. Then, just a stone's throw from the bustling city, you will find yourself on quiet paths, accompanied by the scent of boxwood.

The citadel, a masterpiece by Vauban, overlooks the old town, which is enclosed in a circular bend in the river (the Boucle), from a height of over 100 metres. Its ramparts offer spectacular panoramic views. You will climb up along the ramparts and casemates, then descend the other side towards the entrance to the city, the Porte Rivotte and the toll house. Then, walking along the riverbank, you will discover the towers and bastions that protect the city, ending at the Gare d'Eau, the old goods port.

From the countryside to the city: crossing the dry grasslands, shaped by human hands for centuries, you’ll climb up to Fort de Chaudanne and its views over the old town, crowned by its protective citadel. You’ll descend the wooded hillside along a lovely path to follow the peaceful river, stopping for a moment by the bubbling waters of the old dam at the foot of the ramparts.

A short climb up one of Besançon's seven hills: Chaudanne, with its unspoilt natural beauty, its dry grasslands shaped by nature and man, its fort and its views of the Citadel, the old town and the southern Doubs valley.

Hike to discover several viewpoints on the outskirts of Besançon.

An urban hike to discover the hills of Besançon. Natural factors such as soil, climate and altitude, combined with the action of water, have shaped the hills of Chaudanne and Rosemont, which are remarkable natural areas. Let yourself be seduced by the beauty of unspoilt nature, proving that our provincial Besançon has managed to remain a city in the countryside.

Just a stone's throw from Besançon city centre, this hike will allow you to discover the capital of Franche-Comté from several different viewpoints. You will also discover the Citadel built by Vauban and several other forts and architectural features that made up the city's fortification system.

Hike to discover Fort de Chaudanne with its panoramic view of Besançon and the citadel and the small paths surrounding the site.