The Velours Forest and its picturesque surroundings

Head to Bourberain. At the crossroads by the church, turn left onto the D28g towards Lux and park in the cemetery car park. You can also park on a service road opposite or in the car park behind the church (this has no impact on the start or finish of the walk).

(S/E) Start from Bourberain cemetery. Walk to the church. Cross the junction with the D960 and take the road opposite heading off to the left (VC 1 – Route de Dampierre). Although there is little traffic, walk carefully along this downhill road. On leaving the village of Bourberain, on the left, there is a fine stone cross dating from 1828. At the next junction, keep to the right, using the telephone line as a guide. On leaving the wooded area to the left of the road, turn right onto the white gravel track.

(1) It crosses fields before entering the forest, where the path climbs slightly whilst curving to the left. Follow this wide, well-maintained path straight ahead (there are hunting posts with watchtowers on either side). When you reach a T-junction, follow the main path to the right and then, about forty metres further on, turn left onto the first path through the undergrowth.

(2) It heads straight on and eventually becomes a visible path where brambles have reclaimed the area. Just before a clearing in the vegetation, you can make out a body of water (Étang de Bessey) straight ahead. The path then branches off to the right and stays clear of the pond; head left. At one point, it turns right to head deeper into the woods. When you reach a Fork in the road at the edge of the woodland, take the left-hand path.

(3) Continue straight ahead with the woodland on your left and a former logging site on your right. At the end of this, turn left to enter the undergrowth and then, immediately afterwards, turn right (line 44). Follow this new track straight ahead until you reach a crossroads of paths (a clearing directly ahead). Turn left. Head down the path which leads to a clearing where a house stands at the southern end of the Étang de Bessey. Please respect the site and the surrounding wildlife (nesting area).

(4) The Bessey Pond forest house. It has a timber frame and cob walls. Beautiful view of the pond and its banks. Leave the site via a track suitable for vehicles, passing another narrower pond on the left, surrounded by a wide, deep ditch. Head up this dirt track through the woodland and then follow it across the fields. It bends to the right and then continues straight on. At the next crossroads, turn left (visible a few dozen metres ahead, a post indicating the presence of an oil pipeline).

(5) Follow it all the way to Bèze. You’ll come out onto the D30h (Route de Chevigny) at the entrance to the town. Cross the road to take the track opposite.

(6) A track suitable for vehicles, serving local homes, with a 20 km/h speed limit. Look out for four fairly tall fir trees as a landmark. At the end of the track, there is another speed limit sign in the opposite direction. Turn right onto the tarmac road. It descends through a housing estate. At the bottom, there is a stained wooden sign on your left indicating the direction of the village centre for walkers. Follow a grassy path. On the right, a few steps lead up to the D 960, Rue du Mont. Cross it straight ahead, heading towards ‘les grottes, la source’ via Rue des Vieux Murs. Further down, you’ll reach Place du Trou au Loup.

(7) On this square, on your right, there is a memorial stone featuring a bust of Canon Félix Kir, parish priest of Bèze from 1910 to 1924. Walk back a few steps, turn right and take Rue des Potiers. At the end of the street, just before the former presbytery (currently being renovated), turn left into Rue Vincenot, then right into Rue du Pont de Penaisot. Cross the bridge over the River Bèze and turn right into Rue de la Cour des Francs. Join the footpath along the River Bèze (before the footbridge) and follow it to the spring (there’s a picnic spot nearby). Head back and climb the steps towards the caves.

(8) You’ll arrive at the Chemin des Grottes opposite a timber-framed building (cave tour reception, ticket office, food shop). Turn right onto the Chemin des Grottes. At the end of this path, behind the Canon Kir memorial, turn left at the junction (Rue des Combottes). This tarmac road leads away from the village, curving gently to the left for some distance. You’ll pass two twin metal sheds on the right-hand side of the road. Continue in this direction until you reach a crossroads. Keep to the right.

(9) Crossroads with a recycling point on the right and, on the left, a long metal shed and a sheep pasture. Carry on to the right as the road turns into a stony track. At the top of the hill, ignore a dirt track branching off to the left. Head straight on towards the Velours Forest. Continue along the same track once you’re in the woods. It winds slightly before leading onto a wide, white, stony track. Turn left.

(10) Follow this track, which has a grassy strip running down the middle, until you reach a large clearing on the right (a hunting lookout is visible in the distance ahead of you). At the edge of the woodland and the clearing, turn immediately right (the path is barely visible).

(11) Walk alongside the woodland, heading straight ahead into the undergrowth to rejoin the path. Continue straight on until you reach the ‘Étoile de la Duchesse’ and Les Maisons Neuves (ignore the numerous side paths).
Head further to the right at the central crossroads of the hamlet, onto the D 28g. Turn left.

(12) Take the forest road until you reach the junction with the Creux du Diable track (if you take a wrong turn, there’s a stop line at the edge of the forest, just over a hundred metres further on).

(13) The only landmark at this junction is a stone marker inscribed with ‘ST’. Turn right onto a narrow track which joins a wider woodland path and leads to the Creux du Diable, a huge rock hollow visible shortly afterwards, to the right of the route. Return to the path and continue straight ahead, ignoring the side paths. On the right, there is a large clear-cut area. At the end of this clearing, go straight on. Continue in this way until you reach the next junction of tracks, where the numbers 18 and 20 are painted on two trees (blue on a white background). Turn right.

(14) The path runs diagonally and leads straight to the Étoile de Tavannes after crossing a white, stony track halfway along. Take^{the third} path on the right.

(15) The Étoile de Tavannes crossroads with a monumental marker in its centre. Follow the^third path on the right, relative to the path you’ve just come from, which runs through a clear-cut area for its entire length until it joins the Étoile de Gaspard. Take the second path on the right.

(16) The Étoile de Gaspard crossroads with a monumental marker in its centre. Follow the^second path on the right, relative to the approach path. Continue straight ahead, crossing the cleared path once more, and thus reach the Étoile de Ranti. Take the^second path on the left.

(17) The Étoile de Ranti crossroads with a monumental marker in its centre. Take the^second path on the left, relative to the approach path. It runs alongside an old logging track (keep left), then climbs briefly but steeply and eventually leads out onto the D 28g. Join the main road by turning left and follow it carefully until you reach Bourberain cemetery (or the church), the starting point (S/E).

Outdoor water point at the entrance to Bourberain cemetery.
Shelter under the canopy of the terrace at the Étang de Bessey forest lodge.
Picnic area in the park next to the Bèze spring (4 tables).
Walking sticks are recommended when crossing the forest or if the paths are wet.

- Stone cross dating from 1828 along the VC1, on the outskirts of Bourberain.
- The area around Étang de Bessey and the forest ranger’s house. A nesting area (no entry). Don’t forget your binoculars.
- Visit to Bèze (village centre, with the option to venture a little further afield to see historic buildings), the park and the area around the source of the Bèze. Memorial to Canon Kir, parish priest of Bèze from 1910 to 1924, future mayor of Dijon and a renowned politician, who invented the Kir (white wine and blackcurrant liqueur). The Bèze caves (underground tour).
- The magnificent Velours Forest and its star-shaped crossroads. The hamlet of Les Maisons Neuves on the D28g.
- Le Creux du Diable, a large rock formation.