Épenouse walks

An easy walk, ideal for children, starting from the centre of the village of Épenouse.

A walk mainly through woodland between the villages of Épenouse and Vercel. On the agenda: cave, waterfall, wash house and church.

Louis Pergaud, teacher and writer, author of "La guerre des boutons" (The War of the Buttons), winner of the 1910 Goncourt Prize for his novel "De Goupil à Margot" (From Goupil to Margot), in which he observes nature in minute detail and recounts all this animal life in his novels. He fell on 8 April 1915 at the foot of Les Eparges, in Marchéville-en-Woëvre, in the Meuse. This route allows you to hike through the places that inspired Louis Pergaud.

From the Glacière Cave, where ice is becoming increasingly rare in these warmer times, you will descend towards the Gorges de l'Audeux to reach the Abbaye de la Grâce Dieu, a peaceful abbey in the heart of this wooded valley, once beautifully named the "Valley of Owls". Finally, you will climb back up to the ledges and their viewpoints over the valley.

A short, varied and shaded route to discover the ancient Hiboux valley, the old Cistercian abbey and the magnificent Audeux waterfall.

From Aïssey, a village in the Comté region destroyed during the fighting in June 1940, you will climb in the footsteps of the carts of yesteryear to the strange Calvaire de Rochandeux and its viewpoint over the Val de Saint-Juan. You will return, following in the footsteps of other soldiers, this time more ancient, by walking along the old Roman road.

The Reverotte, a tributary of the Dessoubre, is full of charm along its twelve kilometres. You will discover some of its features as you descend from La Sommette towards its mossy and rocky banks.

La Roche Barchey, "the pierced rock" in Celtic, where witches of yesteryear celebrated their demonic cult, offers a vast panorama of the Val de Vennes and the Haut-Doubs from its height of 988 metres. You will then descend through the beautiful fir forests of La Joux towards the more Catholic Sainte-Radegonde, who, it is said, fought an evil ghoul, perhaps descended from the rock, on the night of a sabbath, on the site where her chapel was built.

From the foot of a medieval calvary, head towards the Belvédère des Genevois in the small, remote valley of Martinvaux, passing through beautiful pine forests with slender trees. Then descend to the Source de la Reverotte and follow it to the Puits de la Doye and the Grotte de la Baume.

A viewpoint, memorial, waterfalls and wood carvings line this woodland trail, which reaches an altitude of 949 metres.

In 1747, Pierre arrived in the village and settled in a nearby cave on the edge of the cliff, where he lived for 45 years, making tinder from oak agaric mushrooms and carving Christs and Virgins from lime wood for the inhabitants. Discover this viewpoint over the wild Reverotte valley and our cool fir forests. An ideal walk for a beautiful summer afternoon.

An easy walk with little elevation gain, starting and ending on the road and otherwise through the woods. Viewpoint developed from the Château de Cicon. This is a walking trail, but it can also be done by mountain bike or on horseback (preferably in dry, hard terrain). The route is easy.

You will walk along the riverbank towards the ridges, passing the Narines du Diable (Devil's Nostrils), created from the tears of a good fairy who was imprisoned here, and discover the ancient thermal baths where the beautiful people of the Belle Époque came to recharge their batteries. You will then return along a path lined with old mossy piles of stones gathered from fields, in a green setting that invites you to linger and contemplate.

Set off to explore the Barchet Pond and its peat bog. This vast wetland is a remarkable reservoir of biodiversity. Its soil, permanently saturated with stagnant water, deprives the microorganisms responsible for decomposing organic matter of the oxygen they need for their metabolism. The plant litter mineralises slowly and partially. It then accumulates gradually, forming a poorly decomposed or undecomposed deposit: peat.

This is the best way to discover the picturesque landscapes of the peaceful Cusancin valley. Take in the view of the village of Val de Cusance from the belvedere on the outskirts of Montivernage. We recommend returning via the chapel and the springs to discover the deep blue of the Source Bleue. It's just a short detour to ring the bell at the Saint-Ermenfroi Chapel.

A moderately difficult hike offering panoramic views of the Doubs countryside.

From the 860-metre-high Peu hill, you can enjoy a 270° panorama of the surrounding and distant mountains, and see 27 bell towers in the Doubs department. Nestled in lush greenery, the Grotte des Bougeottes is also steeped in history. It served as a refuge during the troubled times of the Ten Years' War and the Revolution.

From the ridges and along the river, discover the Val du Cusancin, which starts at the foot of the Saint-Ermenfroi Chapel. Formed by two resurgences, it offers visitors shades of blue and green. As you climb higher, you will enjoy views of the valley from two rocky promontories.

A peaceful walk in our Comtois countryside to discover the riches of two villages on the first step of the plateau: the remains of an ancient castle that allow us to dream of the lost beauty of our once fortified villages and the often overlooked treasures of their churches.

From Bretigney with its many fountains, you will climb towards La Roche de Rechevet, a viewpoint over the Doubs valley and the Vosges mountains, then follow a magnificent ridge line with wild crevices and breathtaking views over the valley. After passing under the ruins of the old feudal castle, you will return to the village through sunny meadows.

Hike around Vanclans from the church. This is a walk through woods and meadows. The first open section is between Vanclans and Etray. Take care when crossing the departmental road. The route then continues along a rocky ridge in the woods above Vanclans. The walk passes by the FFI monument in Vanclans with its Liberation cross before descending back to Vanclans.

From Dammartin, a Templar commandery until 1373, you will cross a beautiful pine forest, giving our Comtois countryside a slightly Landes-like appearance, to spot a few herons in the hollow of the pond. Then, from the Gouffre du Seu, you will reach Bretigney with its beautiful fountains and return via the superb ridge line and its rocks, with views over the Doubs valley and the Vosges mountains.

Starting from Silley-Bléfond, this loop combines forest trails, rocky ledges and viewpoints over the Doubs valley. You will discover Mont Dommage, the Chassignole viewpoint and enjoy magnificent views of Baume-les-Dames, the Roches du Quin and the Roche du Rechevet. A varied and panoramic hike, with a few sections requiring caution.

The village has one of the oldest names in our county: Bois de la Fontaine au Loup(Wood of the Wolf's Fountain). So, let's take a walk in the woods while the wolf is away, exploring the magnificent ridge line of Mont Dommage and Chassignole and their views over the Doubs valley, returning via the Val de Bléfond, forgotten by the world with its vats and waterfalls.

Departure from the car park of the old town hall of Nods, in the heart of the village, along the main street. The circular begins at the statue of the Virgin Mary. The path between Nods and the Virgin Mary is the same on the way there and back. When passing through the meadows, keep dogs on a leash and respect the peace and quiet of the animals.

This hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Doubs river loops. The route passes through the picturesque site of the Cuves de Bléfond.

A hike to discover the plateaus from the ridges overlooking the Doubs.

This easy route alternates between a ridge trail offering views of the Doubs valley and more wooded sections.

A walk along the ridges above Baume-les-Dames. Magnificent views over the Doubs and an easy return via the cycle path.

A walk that will introduce you to the Premiers Sapins area, a new commune in the Doubs since 2016, following the merger of six communes. This walk will take you past the ruins of Cicon Castle and its viewpoint, the FFI monument at a place called La Vêche, with a view over Les Premiers Sapins, as well as Crêt Moniot, Étang le Barchet and its peat bogs in the municipality of Passonfontaine, returning via the Derrière la Roche viewpoint.

A beautiful stretch of cliffs and steep forest slopes offer magnificent views of the valley along a superb ridge path, ending with a glimpse of the industrial past of Baume-les-Dames with its old pipe factory and paper mill on the riverbank.

After the rain, take a walk in the forest on gravel and tarmac paths and walk around Barchet Lake along the peat bogs.

The hike at Baume-les-Dames undoubtedly offers the most beautiful view of the Doubs valley "canyon". From the Chassignole viewpoint, you can see the Doubs river winding its way through the valley.

This route follows the ridges above the village and descends towards La Lavaine. Enjoy several viewpoints over the Doubs valley and a section along the banks of the Doubs via Eurovélo 6.

A short post-lunch walk for the whole family along the Doubs and on the heights of Baumes-les-Dames.

From the pretty little village of Ougney la Roche, you will walk along the banks of the Doubs, discovering the silhouette of the Château de Roulans standing out against the sky. Then you will climb up cool forest paths to the beautiful ridge and the Roche du Rechandet, overlooking the Doubs valley from Besançon to Baume-les-Dames, with views of Mont Souvance, Montagne Notre-Dame d'Aigremont and the Vosges mountain range.

From the river, you will climb up cool forest paths to the beautiful ridge line, discovering the Doubs valley from Besançon to Baume-les-Dames, with views of Mont Souvance, Montagne Notre-Dame d'Aigremont and the Vosges mountain range.

A rocky outcrop, a Bronze Age residence in Franche-Comté; a feudal castle destroyed during the Revolution for fear that it would become a hideout for bandits; views of the Doubs valley; a pretty waterfall created by human hands in a bright and airy woodland setting.

A challenging climb to Pic d'Aigremont and Mont Souvance, overlooking the Doubs Valley and visible from Besançon and Baume-les-Dames, observation points already used by the Romans. The discovery of various small objects from the Bronze Age at the summit of Mont Souvance, where the cross stands, indicates occupation since the Bronze Age.

After visiting the source, you will climb to the Dard viewpoint, located at an altitude of 600 metres above Sancey-le-Grand, overlooking the valley with the Château de Belvoir and the Lomont mountain range crowned by fifteen wind turbines in the background. Then, from this magnificent rocky amphitheatre, a sunny valley will lead you to the wild cliffs of the Cul de Voye.

You will walk in the footsteps of Xavier Bourqueney, the Lomont hunter who survived the ferocious charge of a wounded boar and, in gratitude for his life being spared, built the Sainte-Anne Chapel, which overlooks Crosey-le-Grand and the Comté countryside, which has probably hardly changed since the end of the 17th century. Then, in two strides, you will find yourself in the midst of modernity, at the foot of impressive wind turbines. A sunny country walk.

Walk to the Chapel of Aigremont in Roulans and the viewpoint overlooking the Doubs on the Laissey side.

Circuit between woods and meadows with a significant elevation gain between Athose and La Baraque. Presence of game, particularly chamois. It is best to follow the route in the suggested direction, i.e. anti-clockwise.You can start from any point, but the suggested starting point is the church in Athose.

From a steep rocky ledge, with numerous views over the Loue valley and Châteauvieux-les-Fossés, you will cross the beautiful, airy Tangelet forest, sharpening your sense of direction as you climb back up to the sunny plateau. You will visit the church of La Barêche, lost in the middle of the fields, and finish at the charming Sainte-Gertrude Chapel with its superb view of the valley.