Country:
City:
Park in Essertenne, Rue de Cecey, in the car park on the small square between the Ruisseau d'Échalonge and the recycling bins.
(S/E) Go up Rue de Cecey (D476) on the left and cross the stream. At the first crossroads, take the D36 on the right towards Poyans. Just after the intersection, on the right, is the Church of Saint Julien with its bells outside. Continue along the D36. Cross the bridge on the D70 and you will immediately reach a crossroads near a silo.
(1) Turn right towards Les Forges d'Échalonge.
(2) Leave the small road and walk along the woods on the left. You will soon reach Les Anciennes Forges. Turn right to walk along the Échalonge pond and rejoin the road.
(3) Turn left. Follow the dual carriageway to the edge of the Bois d'Apremont, where you will see a high-voltage pylon.
(4) Turn left and take the path entering the woods on the right. Continue along this path, then turn right at a 90° angle. Continue along this pleasant path until you reach an intersection with a sign (41) on a tree on the left and another sign (on the right with a green circle on a white background) indicating the trail: Entre Saône et Forêt. Take the path on the right. You will reach the edge of the dual carriageway and a large crossroads.
(5) Take it to the left to stay in the woods. After a few hundred metres, you will come to a crossroads.
(6) Turn right at a 90° angle, following the trail signs (still a green circle on a white background), then leave the woods. Walk along the edge of the woods at a place called La Coupe d'Apremont. You will come to the edge of the dual carriageway again.
(7) Turn left to follow it. Shortly afterwards, you will reach a small path leading to the tunnel under this road.
(8) Take it to the right, then turn left and immediately right into Rue de Poyans. Cross the railway line and continue to the intersection with Rue de Dijon.
(9) Turn left onto this street to reach the centre of the village of Mantoche. Carefully cross Rue de Gray (D269) to continue opposite, on Rue du Château. Pass in front of Saint-Martin Church, then walk along the left side of Mantoche Castle. Continue to the right bank of the Saône.
(10) Go down the right bank of the river, enjoying the beautiful view of the château. Go up Rue de la Fontaine until you reach the intersection with Rue d'Apremont (D269).
(11) Turn left here and enjoy the beautiful views of the old buildings as you reach the crossroads with Rue du Barrage.
(12) Go down to the left and you will soon reach the right bank of the Saône. Continue along the riverbank, take the Apremont diversion canal to the bridge, cross it to reach the Voie Bleue linking Gray to Pontailler-sur-Saône. Turn left to reach the Apremont Dam, using the footbridge for pedestrians and bicycles.
(13) Continue to the right, on the right bank of the Saône, and take the path along the riverbank. Along the way, gaps between the trees allow you to reach the riverbank and rest in the shade. Continue down along the river until you reach the Apremont bridge over the Saône. At the bridge, climb slightly to cross the D269 with caution . You can also take one of the tunnels under the road, but watch your head. Follow the path along the river for about a hundred metres, then turn right. You will then reach a Y-shaped crossroads.
(14) Here you have two options:
- in hot weather, continue straight ahead to rejoin the D269, follow it for 600 metres and, just after the Apremont diversion canal bridge, take the path on the left to follow it under the shelter of the trees until you reach the Grand Gué crossroads.
- otherwise, take the road on the left, which is the route shown on the map, and follow a long stretch of path along the edge of the fields to rejoin the banks of the Saône.
(15) Take the path on the left to walk along the edge of the pond and the Saône. Cross the hamlet of Grang Gué, take the footbridge, then find the Voie Bleue at the Grand Gué crossroads.
(16) Turn left to walk along the right bank of the Saône again. Walk past the houses on the banks of the Saône in the hamlet of La Maison Rouge.
(17) Continue straight ahead to continue down the right bank of the river, where the towpath becomes a footpath. After a right-hand bend, you will reach a crossroads.
(18) Leave the towpath on the right to reach and cross the old railway line.
(19) Turn right and cross the Ruisseau d'Échalonge stream. Take the wide path along the edge of the forest and fields to reach the D36 road at Maison Rouge.
(20) Take it on the left, which is also Rue de la Gare. Cross the Cecey neighbourhood to easily find the Essertenne car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
