Malans (Haute-Saône) walks

A walk along the Malans Castle Park before reaching the Pesmes Forges site, on the banks of the Ognon.

Pesmes, one of the most beautiful villages in the Franche-Comté region, reveals its secrets. A watchful sentinel on the banks of the Ognon, Pesmes enjoyed an important strategic position, as evidenced by the imposing mass of the castle and the surrounding wall.

Pesmes is a French commune located in the Haute-Saône department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.The commune holds the ‘Cité de Caractère de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté’ and ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’ labels.

Perched in the heart of the Ognon Valley, Pesmes is a real gem of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region and is listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. Take the "du martin-pêcheur aux remparts" loop trail and let yourself be charmed by the harmony between the remarkable architectural heritage and the natural setting. Narrow streets wind their way between elegant Renaissance houses and imposing medieval fortifications. Following the Ognon river, the trail will take you to the Forges site, a former industrial complex. Here you will discover the combination of water, wood, ore and human labour.

Hike in the Pesmes forges and along the Ognon river.

Hikers taking their time as they pass through the small village of Ougney will find their gaze drawn for a few seconds to an old, massive, cylindrical tower. During this hike, we will walk from Ougney to Saligney, then head towards Gendrey and Taxenne before returning to Ougney. The rolling, green countryside will give you a glimpse of part of the northern Jura (39).

During this hike, we will pass through Montmirey-le-Château, then walk through the grounds of Montmirey-la-Ville Castle before climbing Mont Guerin, which offers a magnificent view from the oratory. We will then descend to Frasne-la-Meulières, with its church, cross-shaped crosses and wash house. Once again, we will pass through Montmirey-la-Ville with its wash house, chapel, church and the ruins of its medieval castle.

A short, easy half-day walk through woodland and along a tarmac road (very little traffic).

A short walk through woods and pastures around the village of Sornay.

Circular route starting from Pointre, to see castles, an archaeological site, woods, water... passing through Frasne-les-Meulières and the two Montmireys.A very varied route, combining the discovery of nature and interesting historical sites to visit, with a charming section through wooded hills, returning via winding paths through the forest.

Welcome to Valay, a pretty village in Haute-Saône, surrounded by countryside and forests.Set off to explore its peaceful setting, typical of rural villages in the region, thanks to the "Entre Forges et Forêts" trail and its three loops:- The Tacot loop to the east of the village will take you close to the fortified castle, then into the forest, following the old railway line for 7 km.- You can extend your walk with the Sainte-Cécile loop, which will take you 6 km to the ruins of an old abbey and the commune of La Résie-Saint-Martin.- Finally, the La Fresse loop will take you to discover the village's iconic sites, while crossing a wooded section on a 4.8 km route.

This circular will allow you to see the incredible Grotte de l'Ermitage, the Boyon Cross and other cross-shaped crosses, as well as Moissey's heritage, its castle, fountain and church. You will also have a long walk through the Bois de La Serre. In this wood, part of the path is not maintained and you will probably, like me, have to go around a few trees that have fallen during storms.

Discover the commune of Amange on a route with several information panels describing the buildings and places you pass.

This route will take you along the banks of the Saône and to the mouth of the Marne-Saône canal.Take time to look at the lock-keeper's houses and the locks. Maybe you'll see swans, herons and cranes. Beautiful views of cattle farms and meadows.Just before you return to the starting point, you'll pass over the Pont de Garde, close to the two dams on the Saône and the last lock on the route.

Remains of Gallo-Roman buildings have been found in Marnay. However, the commune was not mentioned until 1210. A gate and some remains of the old surrounding walls are still visible. A few elements of the feudal castle also remain, including the drawbridge and two turrets. The old town also has many houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The current town hall dates from the Renaissance.The castle overlooking the Ognon valley was rebuilt in the 16th century but has been extensively remodelled since then.Finally, the Gothic church dates from the 14th and 17th centuries. The 20-hectare lake is home to many animal and plant species.

Starting from Pontailler-sur-Saône, the route leads through the communal forests of Pontailler and Maxilly-sur-Saône before descending via the Canal de la Marne à la Saône and then along the Saône to return to Pontailler.

An easy walk around the village of Crésancey, leading along the Tenise and then through valleys and woods, to discover the churches and wash houses of Noiron, Arsans and then Champtonnay, before returning to Crésancey through the fields. The villages you pass through are surrounded by magnificent natural landscapes such as beech woods, green hills, farmland and winding rivers.

An easy route through the countryside and forest, passing through villages in Franche-Comté.

As well as a visit to the village and its famous castle, this walk will take you into the Bois de Charmois, where, like me, you might be lucky enough to spot some deer – outside of hunting season, of course.

A hike with no technical difficulties or elevation changes, along roads, paths and trails between the Apremont woods, the Mantoche woods and the right bank of the Saône, passing through:- Essertenne and its church with its external bells,- the old forges of Echalonge and its pond,- Mantoche,- the Saône, the blue route, stroll along the river,- the chalets of Grand Gué and Maison Rouge.Note: parts of the route are exposed to the sun, so take precautions in hot weather.