The Offemont Cherry Tree Walk

History and nature come together along this route around the Étang des Forges near Belfort.

Details

1010537
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 109 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 108 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 456 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 360 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Offemont (90300)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.658978° / E 6.879495°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3520ET, 3621OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the MIEL (Maison Intercommunale de l'Enfance et des Loisirs) car park, 36 Rue des Eygras, 90300 Offemont.
The route is partially marked with a red ring. (From the start to the point (8))

(S/E) From the car park, turn right to quickly reach the Sentier de la Roselière. Red ring marked route.

(1) Continue straight ahead and use several footbridges to go around the reed bed to the east.

(2) After passing through the log barrier, turn right onto the path that enters the small wood to reach the edge of the Étang des Forges.

(3) At the water sports centre buildings, go up the side road along the edge of the road, cross Rue de la Division Blindée and continue opposite along Chemin de la Tour. After the vegetable gardens, continue up the path that winds through the woods to reach the foot of the Miotte Tower.

(4) Beautiful panoramic view. Continue straight ahead, following the fortifications. Narrow passage, protected by a log barrier. The path continues along the ridge in the woods and after a quick descent.

(5) Cross the road leading to Denney, climb the few steps and follow the wide stone path that leads to the esplanade of the Monument du Maquis du Chérimont.

(6) Turn right onto a forest path that follows the edge of the woods and leads to another path, the Fort Trail.

(7) Take this path on the left. At the edge of the woods, cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de la Femme to reach the first houses on Rue du Pâquis and the cycle path.

(8) At the cycle path, turn left and follow it for 1.4 km. Leave the Anneau Rouge trail
Turn left to follow Rue des Eygras, which will take you back to the starting point at the MIEL car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 367 m - Intercommunal Children's and Leisure Centre
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 366 m - Roselière Trail
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 367 m - Barrier
  4. 3 : km 2.03 - alt. 367 m - Water sports centre - Étang des Forges (Belfort)
  5. 4 : km 2.65 - alt. 440 m - Tour et Fort de la Miotte
  6. 5 : km 4.53 - alt. 379 m - Crossing the road
  7. 6 : km 4.94 - alt. 374 m - Monument to the Chérimont Maquis
  8. 7 : km 5.52 - alt. 364 m - Fort hiking trail
  9. 8 : km 6.44 - alt. 368 m - Cycle path
  10. S/E : km 8.55 - alt. 367 m - Intercommunal Children's and Leisure Centre

Notes

Please note the car park closing times.

Visorando was informed by Mr Chevalley, a volunteer member of Balisage90, based on brochures published by the Belfort regional council.

Worth a visit

The Roselière trail
The trail circles the pond, passing through remarkable wetlands: you could almost believe you were in the heart of the Louisiana bayous! Here you will find flora typical of these environments, where many water birds come to feed and nest, as well as dragonflies, amphibians, etc. This area is listed by the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO).

The Étang des Forges
Covering an area of 30 hectares, the Étang des Forges was created in the Middle Ages for fish farming. In the 19th century, it became a water reserve for industry, and today it is a popular leisure site for the people of Belfort.

The Tower and Fort of La Miotte
Located on the hill of the same name in the Jura mountains, it was long the main symbol of the city before being supplanted by the Lion of Belfort; however, it remains an emblem of the city today. It was destroyed in 1945 during the Second World War and rebuilt in 1947.

The Chérimont Maquis Monument
During the summer of 1944, German troops were harassed by local resistance fighters who ambushed them. Faced with the advance of the Allies, the Kommandantur decided to eliminate the local resistance fighters. On 22 September, a group of 20 people were taken prisoner by the Gestapo in the Chérimont maquis (near Haute-Saône). They were taken to the edge of the Bromont forest before being cowardly murdered. The burial mound was not discovered until 1945. A monument was inaugurated in 1946.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
latristesse
latristesse

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

This route is recognised as being suitable for Nordic walking, as it is flat and free of obstacles. Avoid after heavy rain, as the undergrowth becomes difficult to walk through.

Best regards.

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freyjojo
freyjojo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike as described. I do this route regularly with my association.

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yaimond
yaimond

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Especially the area around the Forges pond.

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denisjean
denisjean

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. In rainy weather, the path between the Chérimont monument and Vétrigne is slippery to muddy.

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vero4400
vero4400

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It had been a long time since I had seen these arrows with pictograms coming out of the mini tunnel just below the Miotte tower, pointing to the left, without me knowing which route they would take us on! So thank you, now I know! (Incidentally, I think it's a shame that there isn't a website where you can find walks around towns using the pictograms, such as "the blue rectangle towards Belfort... yes, that's the so-and-so route"). In any case, we were pleasantly surprised by this easy route, with its magnificent views, three-quarters of which are shaded and peaceful. So thank you very much!

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peltier46
peltier46

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy route that can be enjoyed in any season. Beautiful views of the Étang des Forges lake.

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Jérémie Depain
Jérémie Depain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Another very pleasant route to tour the Étang des Forges. Route completed on a day with sub-zero temperatures (14/02/2021): it's nice to be away from the lake, where an icy wind blows. Inside the woods on the ridge, it was much milder, with less wind. Beautiful unobstructed views of Belfort and the Étang des Forges, the Ballons and Offemont. The climb up to the tower (between points 3 and 4) is very steep, but quite short. The path under the fortifications is not particularly difficult: there are steps and a handrail for passages that might otherwise be tricky. However, it is not recommended in icy conditions due to some slightly steep sections. The path to Offemont, through the woods and then the pastures, is very pleasant, with a beautiful view of the Salbert in the distance. The long stretch straight along the cycle path to reach the Étang des Forges through the Offemont housing estates is the least interesting part. Next time, we will allow more time to take the alternative route through the woods around Vétrigne . Thank you again for the very clear information sheet and map.

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henri57
henri57 ★
• Edited:

Hello,

@gagarine

I would like to thank you for your insightful comment.

Indeed, stating "The route is marked by a red ring" at the beginning of the description could be misleading.

We will contact the author of the route.

Description modified on 01/09/2018

See you soon

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gagarine
gagarine
• Edited:

A small correction to my previous message. The Cherry Tree Field route in Offemont can be extended to include the Vétrigne woods, both of which are marked with a red ring. However, they could have left the red ring for the Cherry Tree Field route and used a different colour ring for the extension (Vétrigne woods).

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gagarine
gagarine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, everyone. I would just like to point out a slight error or confusion regarding the route from Champs des Cerisiers to Offemont (90). As specified at the beginning of the PDF (and even on site, at the Etang des Forges), the route is marked with a red ring. However, at the end of the route (Rue du Pâquis), the PDF indicates to take the cycle path on the left for 1.4 km. The confusion is that on a sign three metres further on in Rue des Pâquis, a red ring is indicated! So, cycle path or red ring? I decided to follow the red ring and found myself completely lost in the woods above
above the town of Offemont for an extra hour's walk. I just looked on Google Maps via satellite and you can see red circles instead of rings (post opposite the stadium, just after the cycle path).But that dates back to 2011? For your information, the red rings lead us to the main road (D22) and Rue de la Fontaine before entering the woods above Offemont and Vétrigne. Please correct or modify if necessary.

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BEATRICE.M
BEATRICE.M

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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