Abbans Castle

On its rocky spur overlooking the Doubs valley, Abbans Castle was probably built on the site of a Roman castrum. The oldest parts date from the 12th century. It was at the top of the keep that Claude Dorothée de Jouffroy d'Abbans set up his study and forge, where he built his steamboat. Enjoy a short country walk in this historic setting along a pleasant ridge path, then through the Grande Fin valley, discovering the castle from different angles.

Details

n°344271

Creation:
19 Aug 2016

Last update:
02 Jun 2023

Last review:
01 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.61 km
Average duration: 2h 30
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 127 m
Descent: - 123 m
Highest point: 471 m
Lowest point: 355 m

Country: France
District: Abbans-Dessus (25440)
Start/End: N 47.117943° / E 5.881346°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3324ET
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Description of the walk

Car park in Abbans-Dessus, Rue du Signal, in front of the cemetery. No signposts.

(S/E) Head towards the wooded hillside with your back to the village.

(1) At the first bend, you will have your first view of Abbans.

(2) At the pylon, continue straight ahead on the gravel road, which becomes grassy and then turns into a well-marked ridge path. Follow this path for about 3 km, ignoring the adjacent paths.

(3) Halfway along, you will come to a stony path. Continue along the ridge, taking the path opposite.

(4) At the end of the path, as you approach the meadow, the trail turns 90° to the left and joins a beautiful gravel road.

(5) Turn left; the road quickly becomes stony. Continue straight ahead in this valley until you reach the wash house. You will have a lovely view of Abbans-Dessus, with the church and castle in your line of sight.

(6) At the X-shaped crossroads by the wash house, ignore the first road on your right and climb up to the church via the second road, Rue du Ranchot.

(7) At the church (which you can visit), turn right. You will pass a house with many protruding stones. Our old masons used to celebrate the owner of the future building in this way, when he offered them a drink. Continue to the castle.

(8). Retrace your steps.

(7) Walk past the church, staying on the main street, to find the cemetery on your left (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 408 m - Cemetery
1 : km 0.17 - alt. 422 m - Viewpoint
2 : km 0.52 - alt. 468 m - Le Signal
3 : km 1.93 - alt. 452 m - Ayers gravel road
4 : km 3.45 - alt. 395 m - End of the ridge
5 : km 3.71 - alt. 367 m - The Grand Finale
6 : km 6.56 - alt. 381 m - Wash house
7 : km 6.81 - alt. 412 m - Church. Fork in the road to the castle
8 : km 7.06 - alt. 408 m - Castle
S/E : km 7.61 - alt. 408 m - Car park

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

MDuViso

01 Sep 2025 at 11:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

easy hike (completed on 29/08/2025) but you need to wear sturdy footwear as the ridge is very rocky and slippery after rain.
interesting church with a unique Stations of the Cross in three languages...
Viewpoint stretching to Dole and Mont Roland...
in the afternoon, we continued with a circuit that started from the Roches car park, which has tables and a view of Quingey. This circuit took us to the aviators' monument, which is also well laid out.
Thank you for your suggestions.
MDu

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MDuViso

01 Sep 2025 at 11:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

an easy hike, but you need to wear sturdy footwear as the ridge is very rocky and slippery after rain.
interesting church with a unique Stations of the Cross in three languages...
Viewpoint overlooking Dole and Mont Roland...
in the afternoon, we continued with a circuit that started from the Roches car park, which has tables and a view of Quingey. This circuit took us to the aviators' monument, which is also well laid out.
Thank you for your suggestions.
MDu

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mvalencia

24 Jun 2024 at 09:14 7200 • Edited: 24 Jun 2024 at 09:20 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very well-explained hike. It's a shame that the weather isn't cooperating this year. The path through the forest is a bit muddy, but it's certainly very pleasant when the weather is warm.

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Coco29

24 Jul 2023 at 08:55 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike without difficulty

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lesCHA

17 Jul 2023 at 14:26 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No problem following this short hike. Indeed, there isn't much of a view at this time of year with all the foliage, but it's still enjoyable.

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christine-besancon

02 May 2023 at 13:25 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely little walk

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Isa25

04 Mar 2022 at 11:22 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

The description of the hike is perfect, so even without signposts, it's impossible to get lost.
Thank you, have a nice day

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46497477

12 Jul 2021 at 11:39 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Interesting route, but it's a shame that the last section of the ridge trail is so rough with large boulders. It should be clearly stated that walking shoes are recommended. In addition, the access to the small road could be better signposted at the end of the trail
Finally, the panoramic views are very limited due to the vegetation

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DidierG25

22 Feb 2021 at 09:14 3600 • Edited: 22 Feb 2021 at 13:59 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk divided between a slightly rugged but pleasant ridge path (with flora characteristic of limestone ridges) and a wide, grazed valley whose soothing calm is very welcome. We witnessed a fierce battle between a group of crows and a large owl (eagle owl) that they must have disturbed during its daytime rest... The village is pleasant to walk around, with the Marquis' castle and a beautiful view from the platform opposite the old school.

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Popol25

14 Dec 2020 at 08:52 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A walk taken on a grey day, which was unfortunate for me. After the ridge path (which was a bit rocky), there was a long stretch on tarmac road (but hey, you have to get back somehow).

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Chatoune1

15 Jun 2020 at 08:57 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant ridge path, even if the view is somewhat obscured by trees.
Back on the road. We'll have to see if there are any paths that would allow us to return to the village without taking the road..
In the village, the castle is imposing, we'd like to see more!
Takes 2 hours at a leisurely pace.
Beautiful panoramic views, especially at the beginning.

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matthey

24 Oct 2018 at 17:52 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

This walk isn't really interesting, except for stretching your legs!

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Begoniaenfleurs

18 Oct 2018 at 11:52 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful, easy and pleasant walk through the forest, along the ridge on the way there and through a valley with pastures on the way back.

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delphinevisorandoearth

14 May 2018 at 10:19 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

the first half of the hike takes place in the woods, along a ridge path, with the added bonus of wild asparagus!
The second part is through meadows on dirt tracks and then roads, with beautiful views of the village.

SMALL POINTS OF UNCERTAINTY:
"(3) Halfway along, you will come to a stony path. Continue along the ridge, taking the path opposite."
in fact, you need to cross the wide stone path, which allows you to return to the village more quickly if necessary!
and then, before reaching the point: "(4) At the end, as you approach the meadow, the path turns 90° to the left and joins a beautiful gravel road." Before that, there is a path that branches off to the left, but you should continue straight ahead.

There you go! Enjoy your walk!

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v4600

22 Apr 2018 at 05:40 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A lovely springtime stroll.
The castle wall covered in purple and yellow flowers is magnificent. A must-see
The route is well described. No difficulty.

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Author

tonnoguh
291 Walks

Visorando member

District: Fontain (25660)

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