The Arcier Springs via the Grand Bois, starting from Gennes

Park in the car park at Gennes church.

(S/E) Head up to the right towards the school, make your way towards the Bois de la Côte, and reach a crossroads at the edge of the woodland.

(1) Leave the road and head up into the forest opposite. Continue until you reach the hunting lodge.

(2) To the left of the hunting lodge, continue straight ahead uphill until you reach the highest point. Continue straight ahead downhill and join the junction of a forest track.

(3) Cross this track and continue down the ridge. Keep to the left and join the shortcut at Source Bergeret.

(4) Here you have two options:
- continue to the right along the path – this is the route shown on the map background;
- take the very steep shortcut to the left, which is not recommended in wet weather. Be careful here: you must keep to the left to avoid the rocky outcrop overlooking the Source Bergeret.
In either case, head back to the car park at the entrance to Arcier, where you’ll find the^GR®59.

(5) Turn left onto it and you’ll reach a place called Le Caprice, where you’ll find a signpost: Route des Trois Portes.

(6) Climb a steep slope via a flight of steps fitted with wooden risers. Continue along the main path without taking the other tracks branching off to your left. You’ll reach the signpost for the Route des Epesses and the Route des Trois Portes.

(7) Turn left onto the path leading up towards the Grand Bois ridge; this is the Circuit des Epesses, marked in blue and yellow, but you’ll be walking in the opposite direction. Reach the ridge.

(8) Follow it to the right towards Montfaucon. You’ll come to another signpost.

(9) Continue down the path to the left towards Gennes.
Note: there are several paths leading to Gennes, but the GPS route mentioned takes you through a fir forest. At the hairpin bend, carry on straight ahead to reach the crossroads at the edge of the woodland you passed on the way out.

(1) Turn right and follow the road to the car park at Gennes church (S/E).

Sturdy footwear is essential to keep your feet secure on the descent and prevent slipping on the ascent.

The sinkholes: these are 11 deep, natural holes at Saône, Nancray, Gennes, Mamirolle and Naisey, through which water collected on the plateau seeps into the ground. It then flows through the fissured limestone subsoil known as ‘kartz’, before re-emerging at the Arcier springs.
An interesting challenge whilst hiking: it’s up to you to find them as you walk across the plateau.
This route has been identified using a dye called fluorescein.

(Between 4 and 5) Once you reach the flat path above Arcier, take the opportunity to admire the Bergeret, Arcier and, above all, Martinet springs, which flow via several waterfalls towards the Doubs. These springs originate, via the Mamirolle faults, from the natural drainage of the Saône-Nancray plateau’s catchment area.
The sinkholes and springs are protected and serve as the route for the town of Besançon’s drinking water.
The Arcier springs are among the listed sites in the Doubs department.