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Parking at the Chapelle des Buis, on the square in front of Notre-Dame-de-la-Libération. White-red and yellow-blue markings.
From the car park, there is a magnificent view of the Besançon loop topped by its Citadel. Visit the crypt and walk around the statue of the Virgin Mary. Return to the car park, then walk down towards the village and, after the small bridge, turn immediately left onto the stony path.
(1) You will reach a wider forest path which you climb to the left in the direction of the Circuit des Buis.
(2) Immediately after a short climb, at a signpost, descend to the left towards the town centre via the Pré au Bœuf. At another signpost, you will reach a path continuing in the same direction. After a small pond, the road becomes stony and joins the tarmac Chemin de la Bro, which you descend on the left. You will pass under the Chapelle des Buis chapel with a view of Fort de Chaudanne.
(3) At the junction with Chemin des Mialottes, at the signpost, continue downhill to the right. You will soon reach Chemin de la Chapelle des Buis at a give way sign. Continue downhill to the right for 400 m. On the left-hand side of the road is the Roman road and on the right is an old medieval road with ruts carved into the stone. Turn right before the first house onto Chemin des Grottes de Saint-Léonard, a small path lined with old murgés (dry stone walls). You will arrive at the edge of the cliffs with a view of Montfaucon and its feudal castle, the Bregillle mountains, the Citadel and Besançon. Follow the fence to reach the caves.
(4) You then return to Chemin de la Chapelle des Buis and turn right. Leave Chemin de la Jourande on your left and continue downhill on the right, keeping the Citadel in your sights.
(5) After the Trois Chatels bus stop, look for the signpost and climb up the embankment via a small path on the right. After a nice little loop, you will return to the road. Descend about a hundred metres and, at a place called Le Petit Chamonix, turn left and climb up to the viewpoint 200 metres away. Turn back and climb back up, but this time via the road, until you reach the junction with Chemin de la Jourande
(6). Turn right until you reach the junction with Chemin de Claire-Combe.
(7) At the signpost, turn right (towards Beure via La Jourande). After the farm, you will enter the woods.
(8) You will reach a gravel path at another signpost (Circuit VTT 114, yellow-red sign) and go up to the left (towards Chapelle des Buis via Chemin des Crêtes).
(9) Soon, at another signpost, turn right despite the crosses to go to the viewpoint, leaving the paths on the left (white-blue markings not very visible).
(10) After 300 metres, look for a small opening in the trees on the left, where a path leads to the viewpoint over the Vallée des Mercureaux, the Vallon d'Arguel and its jagged rocks. Turn back to the signpost.
(9) Go up to the right along the Chemin des Crêtes, following the markings and crosses that will prevent you from taking certain paths.
(11) You will pass the ruins of the Fort de l'Ouest des Buis and shortly afterwards, at the fork marked by a signpost, climb to the right, still following the Chemin des Crêtes, which will lead you to the Chapelle des Buis, which you can visit.
(12) Viewpoint over the Citadel and Besançon. On the house opposite, there is a striking lion figure. After the chapel, turn immediately left, stopping at another viewpoint, then return to the car park (S/E).
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