Hautepierre-le-Châtelet walks

Walk around Hautepierre-le-Châtelet, with access to the summit of La Roche, views of the Alps and the Loue Valley. You can also take the Sentier de la Roche trail and link up with the GR® trail in the Loue Valley. On a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc from the summit of La Roche d'Hautepierre. In Hautepierre, below the old town hall, you can enjoy refreshments on the terrace of a community café called "La Distillerie". The trail is marked in yellow

The Loue Spring (tributary of the Doubs) is a resurgence of the Doubs. After journeying underground, it comes out into the open air at the bottom of a 'reculée' (steephead valley), at the foot of the rock face. It has cut deep into the limestone of the Jura massif, creating an enclosed valley, which I invite you to gaze at and contemplate from the many lookout points. You will also go down to the bottom of the gorge to discover this impressive resurgence.

Please note: the left bank is closed to walkers following accidents Start from Mouthier-Haute-Pierre for a hike through the Gorges de Nouailles, passing by the Grotte des Faux Monnayeurs and the Source du Pontet. Hike up the gorges via the Grotte de Nouaille to the source of the Loue along the left bank. After the source of the Loue, descend along the right bank before climbing up to the plateau above the gorges, and walk around the valley above the source of the Loue. Continue along the plateau on the western side of the gorges, passing by the Renédale viewpoints, then return to Mouthier-Haute-Pierre via the west.

This short route, which starts off challenging with the climb up Petit Mont, offers a glimpse of the beauty of this valley so dear to Gustave Courbet: its high rocks glistening in the sun, its lost valleys with their gentle green curves, its cool, mossy gorges with deep caves, and the emerald and mysterious Loue river. And to conclude, this small village in the Comté region with its character and medieval statues.

Visit the picturesque village of Mouthier and hike along the Loue river in pleasant surroundings.

The Source de la Loue is one of the most famous springs in the Jura. Located near Pontarlier, the river emerges from the rock through this enormous cave and flows through deep gorges before reaching the plain. This walk, starting from the charming village of Mouthier-Haute-Pierre, begins with an ascent to the Moine de la Vallée viewpoint. The route then generally descends to the Source de la Loue, which offers a refreshing break. The paths that follow are narrow, particularly vertiginous and technical, but this is the most beautiful part of the walk. After this section, which ends at the Aiguillons de Brasse, the path is less dangerous and alternates between ascents and descents to the Roche de Hautepierre viewpoint. From there, you tackle the final descent towards the village.

You will walk towards this Mecca of Franche-Comté tourism, the Source de la Loue, along the steep path of the Aiguillon de Brasse, crossing our Haut-Doubs pastures, accompanied by the peaceful music of cowbells and overlooking the sumptuous and wild Nouailles gorges from the cliff side.

A pleasant and refreshing short walk leading to the source of the Loue, with several viewpoints along the way.

Starting from Lods, one of the most beautiful villages in France, a lovely hillside path offers sumptuous views of the sun-drenched cliffs of La Roche de Haute-Pierre, Le Moine de la Vallée and Les Gorges de Nouailles, leading you to Mouthier, another charming little village in the Comté region with its medieval statues.

Formerly known as Roche du Soleil ( Sun Rock), because it is here that the sun, rising above the horizon, casts its first rays and bids its last farewell as it sets, it is through the pale or red hue with which it colours the rock that it predicts to the inhabitants whether the next day will bring serenity or tears from the sky. Discover two characterful towns in the Comté region and this royal viewpoint over the Loue valley, the Jura mountains and Mont Blanc.

Starting from one of the most beautiful villages in France, after a challenging climb, you will be rewarded by the cornices of the Rochers du Capucin, which offer what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful views of the upper Loue valley with the Hautepierre rock. These will guide you along wooded and steep paths to the Moine de la Vallée and the sumptuous and wild gorges of Nouailles. The return journey, under the watchful gaze of the monk, takes you through blossoming orchards.

In a particularly remarkable setting, where the Loue has carved out a wide, deep gorge, this circular route passes through one of the “most beautiful villages in France”: Lods, nestled in the valley. Steep climbs take us, after a 510-metre ascent, to the Roche de Hautepierre and its sweeping panorama. From there, the route follows charming paths through unspoilt countryside. The descent is gentle. As a bonus, we discover the curious Roche de Sainte-Foy rock formation and the “village of character” of Mouthier-Hautepierre, which is also full of charm and boasts a rich architectural heritage.

As you walk along this magnificent path overlooking the Loue, you will discover, from three vantage points, the wild splendour of the Gorges de Nouailles, the Moine de la Vallée overlooking Mouthier and its view of the most beautiful, highest and most superb rock, not only in the whole of Burgundy, but perhaps in the whole kingdom of France: the Roche de Hautepierre and finally, the Rochers du Capucin, a splendid wild viewpoint overlooking the upper and lower reaches of the valley.

This relatively easy walk (apart from the climb up to the Roche de Hautepierre) will take you through the new commune of Les Premiers Sapins, between the villages of Athose and Hautepierre-le-Châtelet. Through woods and meadows, you’ll reach and pass through Hautepierre before climbing to the summit of the famous Roche de Hautepierre, which rises to an altitude of 881 metres. A breathtaking 360° panorama will allow you to take in the Loue valley, the Doubs plateaus and the first peaks of the Jura mountain range.You’ll return to the starting point by following the Ruisseau d’Athose gorge upwards through beautiful high forests, which provide welcome shade should the sun become a little too hot.

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.

You will descend towards this regional tourist hotspot, one of the Doubs' major natural sites: the Source de la Loue. You will overlook the sumptuous and wild Gorges de Nouailles from the side of the cliff, then climb up a steep path to the Aiguillon de Brasse viewpoint. Finally, you will return to Ouhans through peaceful meadows and bright pine forests, stopping for a few moments at the Notre-Dame des Anges chapel to thank the heavens for being a resident of Franche-Comté

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.