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Park in the car parks along the D683, near the footbridge that crosses the Doubs River south of the Tarragnoz suburb of Besançon.
(S/E) Cross the Doubs on the footbridge and turn right onto Chemin de Mazagran, which runs alongside the river.
(1) After about 800 m, on your left, take the stairs leading up to Fort de Chaudanne. Continue along the path on the hillside (ignore the road you cross at one point) until you reach a fork. Take the path that climbs up to your right. When you reach the walls of Fort Chaudanne, continue to the viewpoint by crossing the esplanade of the 3rd American Infantry Division.
(2) Take the steps on the left of the esplanade towards the entrance to Fort Brégille. In front of the entrance, take the path that descends into the ditch towards "Velotte via limestone lawn; viewpoint over the town". Continue along the fort's fortifications until you reach the steps on your left. Climb them and turn right to the viewpoint.
(3) Leave the viewpoint via the path that heads south-west across the limestone lawn. When you reach the stop sign, continue downhill, taking the tarmac road on your right towards "Petit Chaudanne; Velotte". Then turn left at the second crossroads towards "Échenoz de Velotte; Velotte par Coteaux". Continue straight on towards Échenoz de Velotte.
(4) Almost at the end of the path, follow the stony path on the right that descends the slope. When you reach the road, take the small series of steps on the left towards "Centre ville par Chemin de Mazagran". When you reach the tarmac road of Mazagran again, which runs alongside the Doubs, turn left towards the footbridge and your starting point.
(S/E) Turn right towards "Chapelle des Buis". Still heading towards "Chapelle des Buis", cross the main road.
(5) Turn left onto Chemin de la Petite Creuse. After the steps, turn left and you will come to a crossroads with a car park.
(6) Climb up to your left to the viewpoint.
(7) Descend the same way you came up to the car park.
(6) Continue straight ahead on Chemin des Trois Chatels and begin the descent.
Caution: this is a paved road with hairpin bends and no verges, so take particular care with cars.
Once you have passed under the railway line, do not take the stairs on your left but continue along the road until you reach the "Give Way" sign. Cross the road at this point as you will have the best visibility of cars approaching from both directions.
Caution: this is a very busy road! If you do not feel safe, stay on the pavement, continue down the road, pass under the Porte Taillée and cross at the first pedestrian crossing, then retrace your steps to continue the hike. Descend on your left towards the Porte Taillée.
(8) Just before the gate, take Chemin de la Malate on your right until you reach Passerelle de la Malate.
(9) Cross the Doubs river and join the Chemin des Prés de Vaux on the other bank. Continue to the right for about 50 metres and you will find the start of a path on the left.
(10) Take this path and start climbing up to the tarmac road, Chemin des Échenoz Saint-Paul.
(11) Turn right and, at the end of the path, take the path on the left towards "Mont de Brégille - difficult passage" (Note: the passage is not that difficult). When you reach a T-junction, turn left towards the ruins of a gate.
(12) Continue left until you reach the tarmac road, then turn right. Go through the barrier blocking the path and continue climbing for a few dozen metres until you reach the path on your left through the vegetation. At each subsequent intersection, continue towards "Fort de Brégille - Centre Ville". You will then arrive in front of Fort de Brégille and its viewpoint over the town.
(13) Take the path downhill towards "Centre Ville". At the next intersection, turn right towards "Grand Désert". You will arrive at a small car park at the side of the road. Go down the road (keeping to your left). You will arrive at a very small car park bordered by a hedge.
(14) Turn left at this car park and walk across the lawn, descending on your left to the viewpoint overlooking the town.
(15) From the viewpoint, continue straight ahead and rejoin the road when it turns left. There, take the stairway that descends into the trees on the left side of the road. At the end of the stairway, you will come back to the road: turn right to go up towards Fort de Beauregard (caution: very busy, narrow road with no pavement at one point). At the hairpin bend on the right, continue straight ahead towards Fort de Beauregard. Cross the car park and the square built on the fort to reach the viewpoint overlooking the town.
(16) From the square, take the path down to the right and descend to the lawn below the viewpoint. There, go down the two flights of concrete steps that lead "into the fort" on the right. Once through the fort gate, continue along the path. At the intersection, take the stairs on your left towards "Centre-Ville" (town centre). The descent is steep and the steps are uneven (caution: slippery in wet weather).
Once you reach the road, turn left until you reach the roundabout, then continue straight on Rue des Fontenottes. When you reach the bridge under the railway line, do not go under it but continue straight on. Then, at the next intersection, turn left (no, still do not go under the railway line) and continue to a car park along the road on the right.
Cross over and go to the end of the car park to reach the footbridge and cross the Doubs. You will arrive in front of the Bastioned Tower of Rivotte. Cross the road (pedestrian crossing or underpass near the roundabout) and head towards the Porte Rivotte. Just after the gate, climb the stairs on your left towards the Citadel. Once you have climbed the stairs, don't miss the viewpoint on your left.
(17) Continue climbing towards the Citadel. When you reach the Saint-Étienne front, you can enjoy the view by climbing up to the demi-lune.
(18) If the Citadel is open to the public, you can pass through the Saint-Étienne front free of charge and climb up to the royal front through the old glacis. The view of the city will be even more beautiful. Don't miss the Geladas (large monkeys related to baboons) that live in the moats of the royal front.
Then head back down to the Saint-Étienne front and, when you reach the demi-lune, take the road on the left. At the hairpin bend on the right, continue straight ahead on the path that runs along the walls of the Citadel. Take the series of steps and go down until you reach the level of the Doubs (you will come out just in front of the gendarmerie). There, turn left towards the roundabout. Note the Notre-Dame Tower overlooking the roundabout on your left. Cross the road to reach the footpath that runs alongside the Doubs river, then the port and the lock, and takes you back to your car park in front of the footbridge (S/E).
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