The Dorans Fountain Trail

Nestled in the heart of a small valley, this peaceful walk linking Dorans to Bermont is an opportunity for the whole family to discover these two charming villages steeped in history.

The trail is marked with blue rings.

Details

1006226
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 63 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 72 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 414 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 363 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Dorans (90400)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.588939° / E 6.832279°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3621OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Maison du Temps Libre - Rue des Sapins in Dorans.
The trail is marked with blue rings.

(S/E) In front of the entrance to the Maison du Temps Libre, turn left towards the edge of the woods. Walk along the edge behind the houses, then turn right at the fence and enter the forest. Follow a good path that climbs and then turns left. It then descends towards some houses. At the edge of the woods, turn right, cross a path and then pass above the playground. The path joins Rue de la Chapelle just after the barrier.

(1) Walk up this road to the last houses. Continue left along the path. It joins another path that leads to Bermont, passing in front of the cave shelter and a battery site.

(2) Go up the path on the right for 50 metres and turn right again. Cross the copse before walking along cultivated land and pastures. After crossing another copse, the path passes over a farm.

(3) At the edge of the woods, turn right again and the path descends towards the Maison du Temps Libre. Leave it on your right and continue along the edge of the forest. The route takes Rue des Sources, where you will see the Fontaine Converse fountain on your left, then leads onto Rue des Lilas.

(4) Follow the street to the left for 50 metres, cross and go up the stony path that leads to the top of the hill. Continue to the right, then towards the orientation table, and descend via Rue des Écoles to the centre of the village. At the beginning of this street is a small building known as the "fire pump".

(5) Turn right onto Rue de la Charme, which is lined with several fountains: the Abreuvoir fountain at the edge of the street, then the Charme fountain on the left about 50 metres from the street just before another farm, and finally the Pâquis fountain. The Chemin des Fontaines ends at the Maison du Temps Libre, where you will find the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 376 m - Maison du Temps Libre
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 369 m - Rue des Sapins
  3. 2 : km 1.26 - alt. 403 m - Towards the forest
  4. 3 : km 2.27 - alt. 404 m - Edge of the woods
  5. 4 : km 3.01 - alt. 376 m - Rue des Lilas
  6. 5 : km 4.22 - alt. 364 m - Rue de la Charme
  7. S/E : km 4.96 - alt. 375 m - Maison du Temps Libre

Notes

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

Worth a visit

The fire pump:
Following several fires in the 1830s, the municipality had a building constructed in 1861. This building was used to store a "fire pump" which, at the time, delivered 350 litres of water per minute. It took 18 men to operate it.

The fountains of Dorans:
At the beginning of the last century, Dorans had five fountains. Used to water livestock, they were also used by washerwomen. With the arrival of running water and then washing machines, these fountains were abandoned. A few years ago, the municipality undertook their renovation with the help of volunteers. It was necessary to dig, clear and find the pipes.

The Fontaine des Converses is located on Rue des Sources, while the Fontaine du Tilleul is well hidden at the intersection
of Rue des Lilas, Rue des Cerisiers and Rue du Tilleul. The other three are located on Rue de la Charme.

The neighbouring village of Bermont:
Places to visit: the Notre-Dame du Chêne chapel, Saint-Laurent Church, the former presbytery, Fort du Bois d'Oye, and the canal bridge.

The agricultural museum in Botans (neighbouring village):
Housed in a farm dating from 1830, this museum traces the development of agricultural machinery over the last 200 years and displays all the tools used in everyday life in days gone by: 100 machines and 1,700 objects (veterinary instruments, horse harnesses, bread-making equipment, equipment for making brandy and apple juice). A vegetable garden is home to local plants: wormwood, horseradish and angelica.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
pierre LAB 90
pierre LAB 90

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

well

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vero4400
vero4400

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant short hike, an eclectic route through forests, paths through meadows, and the charming village of Dorans. Lots of fountains... and even a book box along the way if you feel like taking a book home with you! In short, pure joy. What's more, even I couldn't get lost, as the description is so precise. Thank you!!!

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LFol
LFol

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the cold sunshine. Just follow the blue circles (fountain trail), which are quite numerous, so it's impossible to get lost. It took us 1 hour and 25 minutes, including breaks, and there were no particular difficulties. Beautiful view of the mountains in the background. The village of Dorans is very pretty.

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annie michel
annie michel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

At the beginning of the description, specify: go left along the edge.
Use the word "path" instead of "trail" above the playground.

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Dormeur Duval
Dormeur Duval

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nothing against the description itself, but it proves to be more confusing than anything else (the "paths" are actually paved...) since you just have to follow the blue "Sentier des fontaines" trail, no more, no less.

A pleasant mix of woods, fields and streets lined with rose bushes. As a bonus, there's a viewpoint and a friendly donkey at the school, all within 5 km, busy but not crowded: what more could you ask for on a nice, easy stroll?

NB1: the Charme fountain is off the route: you have to make a short detour, not continue along the path behind.
NB2: according to the sign, it is the Paguis fountain, not the Pâquis fountain.

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Kirbydou
Kirbydou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This hike is very pleasant. I was looking for a hike that wasn't too difficult or too long, and the fountain trail is perfect for that.
Dorans is a beautiful little village with all these fountains.
The explanations on the website about the fire pump helped me understand why the building was constructed, which I found useful as there were no signs on site. The explanations for finding the second fountain were very helpful as it is well hidden.
The only slight downside is that the explanations at the start of the route are not very clear. Other people doing the same hike were looking for the start, but the map with the route allows you to find your way.

The trail is well marked throughout, so I recommend this hike.
Thank you for publishing this hike. I had a wonderful time.

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