Fort Lachaux par la face Est et retour par la Citédo

Departure from the car park in front of the Espace Jean Jaurès in Vieux-Charmont. The sign is on a post 10 metres in front of the entrance. Route No. 4 is marked by two horizontal yellow and blue lines (URV standard, see §Info).

(S/E) Turn right onto Rue de Brognard towards the temple. At the crossroads, take route No. 4 straight ahead, Rue des Sources, then turn left onto Rue des Vignoles. At the crossroads with Rue du Crépon, turn left, then take the path on the right: "no vehicles except service vehicles" which leads up a slightly steep climb for a few metres to the fort, as indicated by the route No. 4 sign. At the foot of the electricity pylon, follow the path that enters the woods. This climbs, with a hairpin bend to the left, then flattens out.

(1) Enjoy the magnificent view of the Belfort gap, Vieux-Charmont and Grand-Charmont at the end of the fence on your left. Continue along the path that turns right and climbs into the woods. Come out onto a meadow and follow the path that runs along the right-hand edge. At the sign, head towards the viewpoint on the left.

(2) At the eastern viewpoint, enjoy the view of the Savoureuse Valley, the Vosges mountains, etc. An orientation table describes the landscape. The view is clear in winter.
Optionally, you can walk the 300-metre-long caponier route, which is marked in red.
After exploring, the signpost indicates to take the path on the left. Follow the edge of the ditch to a staircase. Turn left and then right, then follow a grassy path. On the left is the southern slope of the fort overlooking the town of Sochaux. The path curves slightly to the right with a slight incline before reaching a crossroads.

(3) Take a quick look around the farmyard. To do so, go straight ahead at the crossroads, turn left onto the tarmac road, then immediately take the path between the two fences on the right. After your visit, turn around and return to the crossroads. Take route No. 4 on the right, along the grassy path. When you reach a white building with a sign pointing to "dessus des escaliers" (top of the stairs), turn left onto the stairs.

(4) At the bottom of the stairs, a sign indicates route No. 4. Turn left onto Rue Sous Lachaux. At the next intersection, turn right onto Rue de Grand-Charmont. At the crossroads with traffic lights, cross Rue de Belfort (CD 437) and continue along Rue De Gaule on the right-hand pavement for 100 m. Take the footpath on the right, cross Rue des Vergers and continue along the footpath between two buildings. Cross Rue des Graviers at the pedestrian crossing and take the footpath on the right, which runs parallel to Rue des Graviers. Cross Rue des Chênes and continue south on the footpath that crosses a playground (kiosk). Continue in the same direction towards the south, crossing Rue Georges Cuvier twice, and continue towards the Citédo car park. Cross the street that leads to the sports and shopping complex and the secondary school. You will see two footpaths in front of you; take the one on the left, which leads to Citédo.

(5) At Citédo, go around the building on the left; this path joins the La Coulée Verte cycle path. Take La Coulée Verte on the left for 800 metres. On the left, you will see the ponds (gravel pit).

(6) Walk along the right-hand side of the Savoureuse river (ducks and herons). At the bridge, turn left onto Rue de Brognard until you reach Espace Jean Jaurès. (S/E)

What is the URV?
After the hike
- Museum of the Castle of the Dukes of Württemberg, Montbéliard.
- Peugeot Adventure Museum, Sochaux.
- Brewery Museum, Sochaux.
- Près-la-Rose Science Pavilion, Montbéliard.
- Outdoor swimming pool (July/August), Montbéliard.
- Pré la Rose and Île en Mouvement parks, Montbéliard.
- La Citédo, Sochaux.
- Pays de Montbéliard Leisure Centre, Brognard.
- Bonal Stadium, Montbéliard.
- Beurnier Rossel Hotel Museum of Art and History, Montbéliard.

We also recommend that you take the 1:25,000 IGN paper maps for this hike with you.
Always be careful and plan ahead when hiking. Visorando and the author of this information sheet cannot be held responsible for any accidents or inconveniences that may occur on this route.

A village at the foot of Fort Lachaux overlooking the Savoureuse river, a little of its history.
Vieux-Charmont, a pleasant place to live for several centuries
- The name of the commune appears for the first time in a document dated 21 July 1189 from Pope Clement III, confirming the Abbey of Belchamp's possessions in goods and people at "Chalvus Mons". In 1340, the commune became "Viez Charmont", then "Vieulx Charmont" in 1616, "Charmont sur l'eau" around 1830, and finally Vieux-Charmont.
The Protestant Reformation reached Vieux-Charmont in 1538-1540. As in the whole of the Württemberg region of Montbéliard, reading was taught so that people could read the Bible. In 1777, the school was rebuilt and served as the town hall, school and place of worship until the temple was built in 1849.
- The old chapel that makes up the Church of Saint Justin was built in 1877 as a result of Catholic influence due to industrialisation.
- The school, built in 1934, was transferred to new premises in 1972. The Jean Jaurès building became a community hall known as "Rencontres Jean Jaurès" in 1990.
- The current town hall was built in 1883. Vieux-Charmont belongs to the "Pays de Montbéliard", a territory that was administered by a Germanic state for almost four centuries, from 1397 to 1793. However, the "Pays" was not Germanised. Very slowly, Vieux-Charmont was established and then developed on the embankment overlooking "la Savoureuse". The town then expanded with numerous housing estates and an industrial zone.
In 1898, Jean Frédéric Marti (an industrialist) settled permanently in Vieux Charmont after acquiring the land opposite the factory, where he had a magnificent residence known as La Grande Maison built between 1889 and 1891.
Today, Vieux-Charmont belongs to the canton of Bethoncourt. Vieux-Charmont chose to become a member of the "District Urbain du Pays de Montbéliard" (Montbéliard Urban District), which in 1999 became the "Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays de Montbéliard" (Montbéliard Urban Community). With 27 associations offering a wide range of activities, the town and its inhabitants organise numerous festive events.
Vieux-Charmont was a stop on the line connecting Sochaux to Belfort, on which trams ran from 1913 to 1940. Elected officials are committed to sustainable development; thus, after the opening of the first fair trade market (Route de Brognard), the town is expanding with a new eco-friendly neighbourhood called "Les Hauts Bois". On the former Gefco site, an eco-neighbourhood has been built, showcasing the Montbéliard region, where the emphasis is on energy saving, carpooling and soft mobility.