Frais Puits – Les Belles Barraques – the Château Bleu

Among the natural attractions of this walk are the resurgence of the Font de Champdamoy and its pumping station, which supplies Vesoul and seven other towns (the spring has long been renowned), and the resurgence of the Frais Puits, which has been the subject of numerous explorations by cave divers who found mammoth molars there!

Details

1053705
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 135 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 127 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 368 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 238 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the Quincey recycling centre (park cars on the hard shoulder)

(S/E) Follow the D77a road to join the main D9 road linking Vesoul to Villersexel.

(1) Cross this road carefully and head off to the right. Walk for about 150m then enter the woods on the left. Follow the path until you reach the Chemin Vert (or Voie Verte)

(2) Turn left and after about 250m (past the boulders), take the small winding path on the left to descend to a valley. Head left again to reach the end of the valley and arrive at the Frais Puits chasm.

(3) Set off again along a path that starts at the corner of the chasm’s fence and rejoin the path taken to reach the Chemin Vert. Turn left.

(2) This time, head right and continue along this path for 4.5 to 5 km. Cross the road leading to Villers-le-Sec.

(4) Cross the D76 and continue straight on until you reach a yellow and grey bridge (signposted Saint-Igny).

(5) Cross the bridge and go down the steps on the left to pass under the bridge. Head towards the hamlet of Les Belles Baraques.

(6) Carefully cross the main road (D9) again and continue straight ahead along the tarmac road. You will then pass through several hamlets (Les Marcassins and Grange Mercier) before reaching the D76.

(7) Take this road to the left and leave it 80m further on by turning right to reach the Belle Côte farm. Continue along the road up a lovely climb that passes close to numerous horse paddocks. Leave the path leading to the hamlet of Les Charbonniers on your left.

(8) Ignore the access road to the hamlet of Les Guinguettes and head straight on to the Château Bleu farm.

(9) Continue straight on to reach the junction with the Vesoul–Villersexel road you took at the start.

(1) Then turn left and head for the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 262 m - Parking near the recycling centre
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 263 m - Crossroads on the Vesoul–Villersexel road
  3. 2 : km 0.71 - alt. 256 m - Chemin Vert
  4. 3 : km 1.35 - alt. 243 m - Gouffre du Frais Puits
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 274 m - D76
  6. 5 : km 5.62 - alt. 295 m - Pont, Saint-Igny
  7. 6 : km 6.11 - alt. 287 m - D9
  8. 7 : km 7.37 - alt. 302 m - Grange Mercier
  9. 8 : km 9.21 - alt. 364 m - Crossroads, go straight on
  10. 9 : km 10.7 - alt. 275 m - Château Bleu
  11. S/E : km 12.16 - alt. 262 m - Parking near the recycling centre

Notes

In the various hamlets, there are a few dogs running free that may startle you – they bark to alert their owners – just stay calm if they approach you and everything will be fine

Worth a visit

The Chapel of Saint-Igny is a chapel situated within the municipality of Villers-le-Sec, which owns it. It is one of the few remaining examples of Romanesque architecture in the department. It was listed as a historic monument on 16 May 1979.

Chemin Vert: the former Vesoul-Besançon railway line, converted into a footpath and cycle route as far as Fontenois-les-Montbozon. It runs through the municipality for approximately 5 km.

Le Frais-Puits: A sinkhole on the edge of the Chemin Vert, located in the neighbouring commune of Quincey

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.2 / 5
fangio70
fangio70

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

10 km of tarmac – a shame for such a lovely route; best avoided in hot weather. Watch out for dogs.

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Luc70
Luc70

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A winter walk in grey, damp weather; it was pleasant as much of the route was dry. It’s worth leaving the greenway before point 5 to head towards St Igny, where there’s a chapel worth seeing, then passing under the greenway. No difficulties; just a gentle stroll, nothing out of the ordinary.

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paillot Christine
paillot Christine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A lovely walk, but it’s all on tarmac
A shame, although there’s no other choice in this area

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maryvonne.guinchard
maryvonne.guinchard

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The walk isn’t difficult at all – in fact, there’s a bit too much tarmac! To start with, why not head to Frais Puits by taking the path on the left into the woods, then join the Chemin Vert via the path you mention, but going downhill?
The path leading down to Frais Puits from the Chemin Vert is hard to spot due to the dense vegetation. We found it thanks to the help of a jogger who knows the area well.
We did the walk in sunny weather. Some sections are exposed. We missed having any shade. So it’s best done on a day that isn’t too hot. According to the jogger we met, the Puits overflows in winter, so it’s inaccessible.

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castel martine
castel martine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy and enjoyable walk.

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