Chailluz Forest and Fort de la Dame Blanche in Besançon

The Petites Baraques car park is directly accessible from Besançon (Montarmots district) via the Chemin de Tallenay.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the signposts for Fort de la Dame Blanche (4.70 km), heading north. Cross the bridge over the A36.

(1) Take the road on the right as it climbs and, at the next junction, follow the forest track on the left, then follow the well-marked, steep path on the left which cuts across the four hairpin bends.

(2) Return to the forest track on the right, avoiding the ledge path, which is not recommended. Continue for about 400 m, then leave the forest track again onto a path on the left – which also serves as a shortcut – and rejoin the track further up.

(3) Continue to the right.

(4) Ignore the path on the right – which you’ll take on the way back – and go straight on to the viewpoint over the Ognon Valley at the entrance to the Fort de la Dame Blanche.

(5) Turn back.

(4) Turn left onto the Chemin de la Charrière du Fort, which descends steeply to the tarmac forest track. Take this track to the right towards Les Grandes Baraques. At the next junction, continue straight on towards Les Grandes Baraques and pass under the A36.

(6) Take the unmarked forest track on the right, immediately after passing under the motorway.

(7) Continue straight on along the path, heading south-west, rather than following the forest track that turns left, which is blocked 100 metres further on by the wildlife park fence. Although unmarked, the path is clearly visible, following a relatively straight route south-west and running alongside the wildlife park fence.

After passing a view of a clearing on the left where some wild animals (deer, etc.) may be grazing, continue in the same direction.

(8) Cross the tarmac road and carry on in the same direction until you reach the signposted path and then the forest road 100 metres before the Petites Baraques car park. This largely straight and flat path has less elevation gain than the signposted Saint-Nicolas path further south.
Carry straight on to return to the starting car park (S/E).

Shelter and picnic table at the start of the Petites Baraques trail, Chailluz Forest in Besançon.

Beautiful views to the right along the final stretch leading up to the Fort de la Dame Blanche on the Haut Doubs plateaus and, of course, over the Ognon valley and even as far as the Vosges from the orientation table next to the fort (5).

The route of the unmarked section of the path (6) to (8) runs alongside the Chailluz Forest wildlife park. In particular, at the clearing before reaching (8), there is a lovely view of the meadow below where wild animals (deer, etc.) may be grazing and can easily be spotted from the path.

A nature trail accessible from Les Grandes Baraques.