Mathay walks

Short walk around the Bois Brûlé in Mathay. Pass through the hamlet of Lucelans with beautiful views of Ecot and the Pays de Montbéliard. Discover the Ecot motocross track. 17 February 2023: problem starting from (2) ==> continue along the road and go directly to (4).

This short hike will take you to the Roman Theatre and the Mathay plain via a path with views over the Doubs and all the biodiversity associated with this coastline: dry and wet forests, cliffs, scree and ponds are home to many protected species. Play areas, picnic areas and facilities are dotted along the route.

This stage is the first stage of the Grande Traversée du Jura (or GTJ). It is the easiest. It can be done in a morning and can be combined with the next stage, which goes to Saint-Hippolyte. Most of the route is through forest. The starting point is in Mandeure. A detour to the Gallo-Roman theatre allows you to start with a touch of history. After an hour's walk, the stage passes near the Mandeure viewpoint before continuing through the forest. There are a few open spaces, but they are rare. The descent to Pont-de-Roide is then short and quick.

A sandpit, ponds, viewpoint over Bourguignon and the new power station.

A short walk with views of Voujeaucourt, Mathay, Mandeure and, at the end, the Côte Roux fun trail, which will delight young and old alike.

A short walk of almost 8 km starting from the Resistance Monument in Écot. We begin by following a narrow path through the woods, then a wider path downhill. A very short stretch on the road, then back into the woods via a much more secluded path: be careful, it climbs a bit!

A walk on the Écot plateau offering a magnificent panoramic view of Lomont in the southern Vosges. This walk is best done on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, as the section running alongside the motorway will be more pleasant.

Discover the bridges in Voujeaucourt: Bridge over the Doubs, railway bridge over the canal. An easy hike.

This hike is the second stage of the Grande Traversée du Jura. Although a little longer and more difficult than the first, it is one of the easiest stages of this crossing. Starting from Pont-de-Roide, the hike begins with an ascent to the Tour Carrée, passing by the Fort des Roches, which offers a superb view of the region. The hike then alternates between meadows and wooded areas, touching on the theme of the Second World War, notably with the Passage de la Douleur. The descent to Saint-Hippolyte is pleasant, with stops at Chamesol and the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Mont. Of course, once you arrive, don't hesitate to take a longer break in the beautiful village of Saint-Hippolyte.

Hike accessible to all. Can be done in all seasons with superb views.

A circular loop that allows you to experience a variety of landscapes and atmospheres. The woods boast a rich variety of plant life; do take the time to admire it throughout the seasons. But remember, look but don’t touch! Be an observer, not a participant.

A lovely circular walk along the cliffs overlooking the Doubs valley. Breathtaking views and distant panoramas (you can see the Ballon d'Alsace 50 km to the north). At the fort, the League for the Protection of Birds organises an annual monitoring of migratory birds. This walk is best enjoyed in good weather for the exceptional views and the feeling of being in another world, far from the valley below.

Located in Franche-Comté, the town of Montbéliard has a strong heritage. Its most famous site remains its castle. But there is also artistic and natural heritage, such as the Près-la-Rose. This route passes close to numerous museums, such as the Pavillon des Sciences and its workshop, as well as Montbéliard Castle. This walk also allows you to discover Saint-Martin’s Temple, Saint-Maimbœuf Church, and Saint-Georges Lutheran Church. Of course, before returning to the car, don’t hesitate to pick up the famous Montbéliard sausage.

A walk along the water, springs and fountains in the valleys surrounding the promontory of the ancient castle of Blamont. Discover the cave of Tante Airie, the legendary Mother Christmas of the Pays de Montbéliard.

Enjoy a pleasant stroll through the Lougres Forest to discover the inter-municipal boundary marker.

At the start of the walk, there is a south-facing view of the Haut-Doubs mountains. Then, superb views of the town of Pont-de-Roide from the Haut des Roches, followed by views of the Montbéliard region, with the Belfort Gap and the Vosges as a backdrop.

This short 1½-hour hike will take you to La Damassine in Vandoncourt. Enjoy superb views of the Vosges, the Salbert towards Belfort and the Lomont wind turbines. The route mostly follows marked paths.

Hiking route starting from the Town Hall. It takes you to the beer museum; near Place de l'Europe, the Peugeot Adventure Museum, the temple and the Prince's house. Then the Citédo and the sports park. It leads you towards Fort Lachaux, where you can enjoy the scenery. Next, you will cross the undergrowth and an educational farm. On the way back, you will discover the church of Sochaux and the redesigned Avenue du Général Leclerc.

This route will allow you to admire the fountains and flower beds of the village of Goux-lès-Dambelin. Magnificent views of the wind turbines, the Doubs valley and the Vosges mountains.

View of the wind turbines, the Vosges mountains and the Roches de Pont de Roide. An easy hike through fields, which may be subject to change.

Easy walk along the Clémont cliff. Viewpoints over Motte de Clémont and Liebvillers. Access to a small, unusual cave.

Easy hike through pastures and undergrowth to the highest point that gave the village its name. Wide views of the French-Swiss Jura mountain range, the site of Clémont and the Doubs valley. Pass by the small monument to the Lomont maquis.

Circuit de randonnée, au départ de l’espace Jean Jaurès, il traverse le quartier des Vignoles. Au fort Lachaux, le belvédère Est offre une vue sur les Vosges, la trouée de Belfort. Un passage dans la Caponnière offre un aperçu des fortifications. À la ferme Jan Ross vous verrez des animaux. La traversée de Sochaux offre une vue des usines Peugeot. Au retour, vous croiserez peut être des canards ou des hérons sur les bords de la Savoureuse.

A loop around the Étangs des Princes, a series of ponds that bear witness to the former principality of Montbéliard. Abandoned in the 18th century, they were refilled with water in 1990 and since then have offered a landscape that changes with each season.

This is a good family walk to do outside of flood season, as the area along the Doubs river would not be passable. Apart from one or two poorly marked spots, the route is easy to follow, winding through fields and undergrowth. Most of the time, the paths are well marked (used by tractors) and widely accessible by mountain bike.

Walk offering multiple views of Saint-Hippolyte, exploring the Grotte du Bisontin, the Liebvillers Spring teeming with trout, and the Essarts Diot with another lovely viewpoint. Please note: parts of this route follow a ridge line, so you need to be careful!

Circular hike (figure of 8) with a shared section to the Réclère caves.

A short walk, suitable for families although the elevation gain may be daunting for very young children (at least 6 years old), best enjoyed on sunny days as the route is very shaded. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes as the route is also very stony

The Princes' ponds, named after the Württemberg family who ruled the duchy, are located in the heart of the Rupt valley. Drained two centuries ago, they were refilled with water in 1991 and then stocked with fish. Improvements have been made to secure the surroundings for visitors to this true haven of peace. After a tour of the ponds, the circular offers the opportunity to discover the heritage of Saint-Julien-lès-Montbéliard with a return trip through the villages of Issans and Raynans.

This is the last stage before the start of the Grande Traversée du Jura. The hike is mainly through forest, crossing the woods of Sochaux, Fays and Goutils. At the end of the stage, you can explore the village of Thulay. Halfway along the route, there are shops where you can buy supplies in Seloncourt. There are also some interesting viewpoints along the way.

From the castle ruins, you will climb up to the ledges where, like tightrope walkers from one border marker to the next, you will walk along the ridge line, neither in France nor in Switzerland. You will reach the Réclère Caves, considered the most beautiful in the world by the first explorers in 1886. From Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne to Conan Doyle's The Lost World, you will squeeze between dinosaur feet. The return journey, via the old farmhouse at Montavon, will be less adventurous.

Désandans, hike on the ridge, Chavanne side. Please note: at (4), as the path leading to Désandans is not currently maintained, you will need to return to Désandans via the same route you took to get there.