The Montferrand keep ridge trail

This hike offers magnificent views of the Doubs valley and its contrasting hills: warlike with the ruins of the feudal castle of Montferrand, peaceful with the protective Virgin of Notre-Dame du Mont. You will walk along a beautiful, rocky ridge, punctuated by numerous viewpoints over the valley.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.18 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 443 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 430 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,240 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 912 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Rancenay (25320)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.186746° / E 5.948925°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3323ET, 3323O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking in Rancenay, behind the town hall, at the start of the hike.

Yellow-blue markings.

(S/E) Go to the top of the car park to find the start of the hike. The path enters the woods.

(1) Quickly leave a path ascending to the left and continue for a while on this fairly straight forest path, leaving a path ascending to the right and continuing straight ahead. Join a path ascending to the left (signpost, trail).

(2) Continue straight ahead until you see the first houses of Montferrand and arrive at a wooden barrier on a small tarmac road. About thirty metres further on, at the fork, go up to the left onto the stony path.

(3) At the antenna, the path turns sharply left and uphill. Enter a Protected Natural Area and walk along the right-hand side of a section of wall hidden in the vegetation. You will arrive at the esplanade of the ruins of the feudal castle of Montferrand with a 180° view of the Doubs valley and, on the right, on the other side, the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Mont. Walk to the foot of the old keep.

(4) Descend to the left via the small path that passes between the walls. Walk along the wall on the right, leaving the path that descends to the left. This rocky path soon becomes the corniche path. Be careful, as it runs close to the cliff in places. Keep left of the paths. You will soon see a small path that quickly leads you to the right to a beautiful , unsecured viewpoint overlooking the valley below, watched over by the imposing silhouette of the keep.

(5) Return to the path and continue straight ahead. Leave the path climbing to the left and stay on this ridge path, winding through the reborn box trees. As it descends, you will discover open spaces with views of the Double Écluse, the Côte de Planoise and the Rocher de Valmy.

(6) Continue along this beautiful cliff path down to a small stone marker and turn left to rejoin the forest path you started on.

(1) Then turn right to return to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 912 ft - Rancenay Town Hall
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 981 ft - Le Bois de la Côte. Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.14 - alt. 1,024 ft - Marker post
  4. 3 : mi 1.57 - alt. 1,037 ft - Antaine
  5. 4 : mi 1.77 - alt. 1,152 ft - Ruines De Montferrand
  6. 5 : mi 2.1 - alt. 1,142 ft - Viewpoint overlooking the valley below - Doubs (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 2.77 - alt. 1,224 ft - Viewpoints overlooking the upper valley
  8. S/E : mi 3.18 - alt. 912 ft - Rancenay Town Hall

Notes

The route follows paths along the cliff edge and offers several unsecured viewpoints. The paths, which are sometimes rocky and slippery, run close to the cliff edge and require a degree of caution. Suitable footwear is essential and the use of walking sticks is strongly recommended.

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