The Reculées de Baume-les-Messieurs

This route will give you an overview of these great glacial valleys of the Jura.

Details

n°26938

Creation:
20 May 2013

Last update:
02 Sep 2026

Last review:
07 Sep 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 16.14 mi
Average duration: 9h 35
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 2,526 ft
Descent: - 2,523 ft
Highest point: 1,729 ft
Lowest point: 869 ft

Country: France
Area: Jura mountains
City: Nevy-sur-Seille (39210)
Start/End: N 46.744551° / E 5.626396°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3226ET
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Just at the entrance to Nevy-sur-Seille, park in the car park by the banks of the Seille.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path on the other side of the D70; it is marked^GR®®59Dand has red and white signposting. It climbs towards Château-Chalon.

(1) At the top of this valley, follow the^GR®®59to the right towards Blois-sur-Seille.

(2) In Blois-sur-Seille, take the first street on the right^{marked ‘GR®®’} and begin a steep climb. Once at the top, you can head to the viewpoint just past the goods lift station.

(3) Return to the^GR®® and follow it to the right as far as Granges-de-Baume, ignoring all the paths at the various junctions. You can also reach the viewpoint near the cheese dairy (a lovely view over Baume-les-Messieurs).

(4) At Granges-de-Baume, follow the D 210 which runs alongside the cliffs, still following the^GR®® markings, for about 1,500 metres, until you reach a car park.

(5) Leave the^GR®® and turn right to follow the path marked ‘Croix de Suchot “Belvédère”’.

(6) Turn left onto the path, which is poorly marked at the start, running alongside the cliff; follow it until you reach the end of the route skirting the Aldegrin gorge.

(7) Join the^GR®®59again to reach the summit of the Baume ravine and the Belvédère viewpoint.

(8) Leave the^GR®®59and descend the steps leading to the site of the Baume Caves.

(9) Carry on.

(10) Walk beneath the tufa waterfalls and keep to the left bank of the Dard. After Baume, rejoin the^GR®®59, staying on the same bank.

(11) Cross the River Dard.

(12) Carry on straight ahead up the hillside, climbing in a straight line to the top until you reach a road.

(13) Leave the^GR®®59by turning right and follow the road to a large farm (sign: ‘Beware of dogs’).

(14) Continue to the right along the unpaved track and follow it to a bridge; cross it and turn immediately left. Follow this track to the car park at the entrance to Nevy-sur-Seille (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 869 ft - Car park by the - Seille (Affluent de la Saône)
1 : mi 0.89 - alt. 1,480 ft - Top of the valley
2 : mi 3.26 - alt. 1,037 ft - Take the first right. Cross the - Seille (Affluent de la Saône)
3 : mi 3.88 - alt. 1,637 ft - Lift station
4 : mi 7.1 - alt. 1,621 ft - Follow the D 210
5 : mi 8.07 - alt. 1,634 ft - Head for Croix de Suchot
6 : mi 8.42 - alt. 1,637 ft - Walk along the cliff on the left - Belvédère de Suchot
7 : mi 9.18 - alt. 1,670 ft - GR59 junction
8 : mi 10.51 - alt. 1,611 ft - Belvédère des Roches de Baume
9 : mi 10.83 - alt. 1,322 ft - Grottes de Baume
10 : mi 10.9 - alt. 1,234 ft - Cascades de Tuf sur le Dard
11 : mi 11.97 - alt. 1,027 ft - Dard (torrent) - Affluent de la Seille
12 : mi 13.07 - alt. 968 ft - Take the Face hillside
13 : mi 13.82 - alt. 1,588 ft - GR junction
14 : mi 14.37 - alt. 1,617 ft - At the farm
S/E : mi 16.14 - alt. 869 ft - Car park on the banks of the Seille

Notes

Toilets and drinking water point in Granges-de-Baume
Toilets and drinking water at the Caves site

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

APPB Reculées de la Haute Seille - more information

Worth a visit

Places to visit:
The Baume-les-Messieurs Caves.
Baume-les-Messieurs Abbey.

The Granges-de-Baume cheese dairy is open on Sunday mornings.
Voiteur fruit shop, at the foot of Château-Chalon (vin jaune and other Jura wines).

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5

Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

User 8832430

07 Sep 2026 at 20:13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with stunning views. A varied route: vineyards, roads, paths, ridges and woodland. There are plenty of places to get a drink along the way – it’s brilliant 🤩
You’ll need to be reasonably fit as there are a few steep climbs 😁

Machine-translated

Adrien Letourneau

23 Mar 2026 at 12:06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike!

We set off at 5.45 am and finished at 1.30 pm, extending the route to 30 km with a few quick breaks, so there were fewer people out and about.

The start is quite tough with two steep climbs over 7 km, then there’s a very flat stretch of 10 km, which gives you a chance to rest before the final big climb.

The route is well marked, so no problems there, though there are trees on the path due to this winter’s weather, which makes it a bit harder going! Watch out for the very aggressive sheepdog on the path between the two farm buildings at km 23, which gave us a few scares, so we went round it via the meadow next to the farmhouse.

As for the scenery, it’s magnificent, with several viewpoints near the route, though not all of them are directly on the path, which meant a few detours.

I strongly recommend this hike – you won’t regret it!

Machine-translated

SHERMAN69

17 Jul 2025 at 12:49 • Edited: 17 Jul 2025 at 12:51

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent tour!

The start, with the vine-covered hills of Château-Chalon, is reminiscent of Tuscany. The passage through Blois-sur-Seille is relaxing and timeless. Reaching Granges de Beaume isn't the best part, but it's necessary for what comes next.

Walking through the remote valleys around Baume-Les-Messieurs is impressive. The path between the Croix de Suchot (Point 6) and the viewpoint (Point 8) is an initiation. The view from the viewpoint is magnificent! So are the steps leading down. Reaching Baume-Les-Messieurs allows you to recover.
This is because the 2.5 km climb (Point 12) that follows is difficult and not clear (there were trees across the path and brambles/nettles everywhere when I went). The start of this climb runs alongside a small farm (the yellow markings between points 11 and 12 are difficult to see).

The Tuscan-style summit is worth the detour. The descent to Nevy-Sur-Seille allows you to recover, although it will be long for those who have used up too much energy.

The difficulty lies in managing the elevation gain and staying hydrated/nourished given the distance.
So, if you don't feel up to it, it's best to listen to your body.

As a keen sportsman, I completed it in 6½ hours with a few quick breaks.
If I return to the region, I hope to do it again in trail mode for fun.

Machine-translated

FREGIS

29 Apr 2025 at 08:27

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good route, very enjoyable. The Beaune les Messieurs circus section with the waterfall and cave is magnificent. The colours of the water are simply incredible.

The difficulty level is very reasonable, but be careful not to underestimate the 26 km distance when starting again in spring. Keep in mind the 770 m elevation gain.

There are public toilets in Château-Chalon, Grange sur Beaune and at the waterfall, where you can fill up your water bottles.

We just extended the route because it doesn't go through Château-Chalon, which is a real shame. We deviated from the itinerary to visit one of the most beautiful villages in France. Allow an extra 2 km.

I recommend stopping off to enjoy some homemade ice cream in Beaune-les-Messieurs in the little restaurant opposite the entrance to the abbey (on the other side of the road), where they have a truly delicious blackcurrant sorbet.

So I did this hike with my two teenagers; 28 km in 6 hours and 55 minutes on 27/04/2025, which was great!

Machine-translated

fredosteph

02 Jun 2024 at 08:33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Watch out for the dog near the farm. I managed to get past, but it wasn't very reassuring.
Watch out for ticks too, there's a lot of paths in the tall grass
But very pretty hike🤩

Machine-translated

Fab.L

27 Feb 2024 at 23:21 • Edited: 28 Feb 2024 at 08:37

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant hike despite quite a few sections on roads. I did it over two days with a bivouac.
There are beautiful things to see and discover if you have time.
Best done in summer or dry weather as some sections of the trail are slippery and muddy at this time of year (February).

One small hiccup for me: you cross quite a few farms and a large dog that wasn't on a leash forced me to take a detour and then cross some cow fields to get back on the trail 😅

Machine-translated

Gégé 21

22 Oct 2023 at 11:20

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike. Magnificent landscapes. 7.5 hours without breaks.
However, I had to use the app to find my way a few times.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful route.

Machine-translated

Emeline 54

14 Aug 2023 at 20:49

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route mapped using GPS coordinates with Map on your phone: matches the information provided on the information sheet.
Remember to bring a portable charger to recharge your phone (there is network coverage throughout the route, which is handy 👍)
It took us 9 hours and 20 minutes to complete this hike: we are beginners.
The elevation changes were particularly challenging at the beginning and end of the route: make sure you have good shoes!
The views were magnificent: at the Belvédère and the Suchot cross, as well as the Tufs waterfalls (they were dry when we went), where you can visit the caves (there is an entrance fee, adult admission is €9.50 for a 1-hour guided tour covering 1 km, temperature 11 degrees, ticket office located at the Tufs waterfall, surrounded by a park with a refreshment stand and toilets. We didn't visit the cave because there was a 2-hour wait).
The trail runs through the forest at an altitude of 534 metres at its highest point, overlooking the villages and winding its way over the large rocks of Baume les Messieurs
There are also sections on departmental roads.
there are two drinking water points on the route.
We recommend this circuit for walkers, even beginners (like us!!! 💪😁) who want to push themselves a little...
Good luck to those who want to give it a go!
We came out exhausted but proud and in awe of the beautiful landscapes we encountered! 🥰🤗

Machine-translated

dayson

01 Aug 2023 at 13:53

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route suitable for average walkers.

Machine-translated

Gaulliard

24 Jul 2023 at 10:51

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 : Yes

A beautiful route with some real challenges, so be sure to come physically prepared. Granges sur Beaume is ideally located along the route and offers a warm welcome, clean toilets and a table for a snack.

Machine-translated

josettechagnon

22 May 2023 at 10:18

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, not too difficult, lots of views

Machine-translated

Bugs78

06 Jun 2022 at 17:42

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Until the first half, the route is not very appealing. After that, it is magnificent.
Be careful on the first two climbs, which are quite tough, especially if you are carrying a backpack.
We completed the circuit in 10 hours with backpacks for bivouacking, so we were carrying a heavy load

Machine-translated

jeff randonneur

02 Jul 2021 at 15:34

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike, including a snack break and stops at the caves and waterfall, took almost 10 hours. We left Nevy-sur-Seille at 8:20 a.m. and returned at 6:10 p.m. I would rate it as difficult ++. The distance indicated is less than the actual distance (at point 11, I had walked 2 km more). I couldn't check at the end of the hike because my smartphone battery had died. We only had the description downloaded from the website, which caused us a problem at point 11. We missed the sign at point 11 and lost time trying to find the small path that climbs towards point 12. Advice for future hikers on this route: set off very early (before 8 a.m.), be well trained and take an IGN map with you, which is a bonus on this type of hike. We have fond memories of it, but we did suffer.

Machine-translated

QntnCat

12 Apr 2021 at 09:59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This route is ideal for observing the reculée from several different vantage points.
There are three notable difficulties corresponding to the climbs up to the plateaus: on leaving Nevy, on leaving Blois-sur-Seille and after point 11.
There are points of interest all along the route, but most of the distance is covered on small roads or wide, open paths. It's a bit monotonous.

Machine-translated

Anna479

28 Feb 2021 at 18:19

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route of this hike is truly magnificent. There are a few difficult climbs on the plateaus, but most of the time the terrain is flat. It's really nice to arrive at the Tufs waterfall via the cliffs. There are some beautiful spots to eat between numbers 6 and 7.
However, you really need to be careful between numbers 10 and 11. The signposts can point in several directions and the description given on Visorando is not precise enough. You really need to follow the route on the map.

Machine-translated