The Edgar Faure and Notre-Dame de Lorette viewpoint

Forest trail to discover the Edgar Faure viewpoint over the Loue valley and its vine-covered hillsides, then return, devoutly, to the Hermitage of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette perched on the cliff face above the valley, ending with a short break at the Espace Vöhl with its views of Mont Poupet and the Jura mountains.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 281 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 278 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 413 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 280 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Mouchard (39330)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.978299° / E 5.806567°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare de Mouchard.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3324ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the entrance to Mouchard (coming from Besançon), in front of the Val d'Amour Media Library. Yellow markings and mountain biking in some places.

(S/E) Go down to the roundabout and turn left towards the Bel-Air district. After the third building, at the "Val d'Amour" signpost, go up to the left towards the corner of the building at the back, climbing the hillside along the grassy path and quickly entering the woods. After passing an old mossy wall, it becomes a path, then a trail. When it widens again and begins to descend slightly, you will cross a karst landscape of beautiful wooded sinkholes to arrive at the Buis crossroads (signpost).

(1) Continue straight ahead towards the Belvédère Edgar Faure (mountain bike route 74). You will pass through mossy boxwood trees that are struggling to recover from the moth attack and arrive at a fork in the road. Go down to the right to reach the viewpoint. At the next fork, when you see the village of Port-Lesney through the foliage, continue straight ahead to reach the viewpoint.

There is a superb view of the Loue and the vine-covered hillsides and, on the far left, on the crest of the mountain, the Chapel of Lorette.

(2) Leave the viewpoint via the path that turns away from the viewpoint. Quickly, at a crossroads, continue straight on towards Cramans, passing through mossy sharp limestone pavement and a beautiful airy forest to reach a five-way crossroads, a hunting car park and its hut.

(3) Take the first path downhill to the right. You will come to another five-way crossroads, marked by a signpost. At the foot of the post, take the third path from the right (red mountain bike sign).

You will soon reach a crossroads. Continue straight ahead. At the start of the path, on the left, you will see a pretty engraved stone sign indicating the direction of the chapel. You will soon come to a departmental road.

(4) Climb up to the right towards the Chapel of Lorette overlooking the Loue Valley. In the open space, head towards the stairs and take a look through the small window at the altarpiece above the altar. Go through the pretty postern gate to walk along the front of the chapel for a small viewpoint over the valley, the bell tower and its slate roof. Turn back to the main road.

(4) Take it to the left for about a hundred metres, then immediately head back into the woods via the stony path on the left. Stay on this wide, uphill path and, when it veers slightly to the left, leave it and take the path on the right (following the yellow markings). You will come to a wider path at a signpost.

(5) Head up to the left, following the signs for Port-Lesney-Vieux Pont, to reach the hunting lodge and a wooden bench for a welcome break.

(3) Immediately turn right onto the gravel path, which will lose its gravel surface and, after a good walk, join a new wide gravel path at right angles.

(6) Turn left and stay on this path until you reach a triangular crossroads. Then descend to the left to leave the woods and arrive at the picnic table in the Völh area with a view of the Jura valley and mountains.

(7) Then descend the stone path. On the way, enjoy a lovely view of Poupet and Fort Saint-André on the right. Continue downhill to return to the media library (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 294 m - Mouchard - Val d'Amour Media Library
  2. 1 : km 2.22 - alt. 335 m - The Buis crossroads
  3. 2 : km 3.05 - alt. 339 m - Edgar Faure Belvedere. View of the - Loue (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 3.91 - alt. 357 m - The hunting lodge
  5. 4 : km 4.47 - alt. 286 m - Lorette Chapel
  6. 5 : km 5.59 - alt. 353 m - Le Chaumois
  7. 6 : km 8 - alt. 380 m - Le Vallun
  8. 7 : km 8.78 - alt. 333 m - Völh area
  9. S/E : km 9.16 - alt. 294 m - Mouchard - Val d'Amour Media Library

Worth a visit

(2) The Edgar Faure Belvedere, named in honour of the politician, academician and mayor of Port-Lesney. Superb panorama over the Loue and the vine-covered hillsides and, on the far left, on the crest of the mountain, the Chapel of Lorette.

(4) Notre-Dame de Lorette Chapel (built in the 15th and 17th centuries). People used to climb up there on pilgrimage. Against the left end of the chapel, the residential building was once occupied by three hermits of the Order of Saint John the Baptist. They ran a free school there for poor children from neighbouring villages.

(7) The Völh area: since 1987, Mouchard has been twinned with Vöhl (a German village), a group of 15 municipalities located in the state of Hesse. Pretty arboretum (each tree was probably donated by one of the municipalities) with a view of the Jura mountains.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
MaelleN
MaelleN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through wooded countryside! We shortened it by going directly from 3 to 5. The first two kilometres are less overgrown with grass and brambles than expected. There are a few low brambles and some grass, but it was probably cleared a few months ago, so it's perfectly passable, with just a few scratches on the lower legs from the brambles that weren't stepped over.it might be better to wear trousers rather than shorts The trees across the path before point 6 aren't too much of a problem for people of normal fitness: you can either step over them or go around them without any difficulty. Thanks anyway for the route!

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PAKA
PAKA
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route through the woods! Ideal in this hot weather...
It's a shame that the start of the trail hasn't been cleared (tall grass), but otherwise it's very well marked... Beautiful view of Port Lesney and the Loue.

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SYIR5293
SYIR5293
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first 2 kilometres of the trail are very grassy with a few trees blocking the way. Otherwise, the rest of the hike is interesting and shaded. Ideal during this heatwave. Superb view of the Loue and Port Lesney.

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yves71
yves71

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route with plenty of shade. The only downside is that the trail is poorly maintained at the start. In my opinion, it is better to park in the COLRUYT supermarket car park, which is very close by, as the media library car park is small.
A beautiful hike.
I rounded off this route with a wonderful guided tour of the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans.

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Aline Arbois
Aline Arbois

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The path up to the viewpoint is not maintained, which is a shame as you have to walk through brambles, but otherwise the route is great and shaded.

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pathy
pathy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good hike. The weather was overcast that day, but it was still great. Thank you very much.

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anonymus21
anonymus21

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. The description is very clear and easy to follow, well done for the very precise description.
A hike in the forest, done on a hot day without suffering, as the entire route is shaded.
The Edgar Faure viewpoint offers a splendid view of Port Lesney and the valley.
Thank you for this hike!

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Rabatteur27
Rabatteur27

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well shaded...
Beautiful views over the Loue Valley...
A bit monotonous towards the end.
Good description, thanks to the author.

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