The Old Wash House at Arguel

(S) Fontain cemetery car park. Follow the Grands Prés route, marked with yellow-and-blue signposts.
Walk past the war memorial with the church on your right, then turn immediately left to reach Rue du Mouthier and then Impasse du Prays.

(1) 800 metres from the start, turn right onto a small path somewhat hidden between two houses, just by the route sign and before the electricity substation. This path climbs steeply and joins a small tarmac road. Turn right onto this road, which heads towards the Mercureaux valley. Leave it after 300 metres and take the path on the left – the ‘blanc’ path, as we say here in Franche-Comté, meaning a stony track – which descends towards Maillot. There’s a lovely view of Arguel Hill, and if you’ve got good eyesight and a bit of luck, you might spot a few chamois grazing in the pastures below.

(2) In the hamlet of Maillot, turn left after the small bridge and take the second small street on the left, continuing along the Grands Prés route, which quickly turns into a footpath. Cross the Mercureaux stream via a small wooden bridge. You are now above the Bout du Monde waterfall. Climb this steep path, where you can see the tracks left by the iron-rimmed wheels of our old carts. Two-thirds of the way up the slope, climb a narrow, barely visible path for a few metres to reach the viewpoint overlooking the old village of Beure. But be extremely careful, as the viewpoint is not secured! Return to the path and continue the climb, glancing down to the right. You might be lucky enough to spot the tail of a chamois.

(3) The path turns 90° and continues to climb towards the Arguel plateau. You can also continue straight on for 300 metres, following a stream below that has carved out small gorges (but here too, proceed with great caution: the stones, which are always damp, are slippery!), then retrace your steps. At the top, the dirt track turns into a ‘white’ path and will lead you to the first houses of Arguel.

(4) Cross the D111, take the sandy path on the left which leads to the old wash house and joins the D141. Turn left. Follow the pavement on the left for about 200 metres.

(5) Turn left again onto a dead-end track that takes you up the Arguel hillside. The road turns into a grassy path and leads you to a better-graveled track, which you’ll leave on your right.

(6) Continue towards the Grande Boucle de Fontain, pushing open the metal gate. Walk up the field, passing to the right of the water tower, taking a moment to glance at the Arguel rock, where another castle once stood – a feudal one, now in ruins – and at the hills of Besançon. At the top of the field, take the path that climbs to the left into the woods. As you leave the woods, keep left onto the path that takes you back to Fontain. At the roundabout, pay your respects to Saint Peter, who has lost his shepherd’s crook. Turn right and walk along the pavement for a few metres. Cross the D111 and take (without forgetting to return it, as the locals of Fontain may still need it) the Impasse du Prays, which will lead you back to the car park.