Raynans walks

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.

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.

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 short hike that is suitable for families, with no difficulty in terms of distance, elevation or risk of getting lost. It mainly follows the yellow-blue marked trails created by the Rupt Valley Hiking Association. It can be done by mountain bike, with a few sections where you will need to dismount.

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.

A short, easy country walk for the whole family with views of the Lomont wind turbines, the Chasseral massif in Switzerland (on a clear day) and a visit to the Brevilliers dolmen.

Hike in the Héricourt area. You can explore the Fort du Mont Vaudois and its defences. You will descend the inclined plane that was used to build the fort. You will continue through an unusual landscape of old abandoned orchards along the Bois du Mont Vaudois with some very pretty views.

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 short country walk takes you through the village of Chagey with its temple, church and war memorial to the 1870-71 war: the Diaichotte. During the walk, you will discover a rolling landscape with crops, livestock and a beautiful forest. You will also discover the Virgin Mary of the Geais and, next to it, a menhir or Pierre de Saint-Desle. The route is signposted.

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.

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.

Old buildings, forts, churches, chapels... discover the heritage of the peaceful commune of Bermont in the heart of a beautiful green setting on this family walk. Superb viewpoint offering an exceptional 360° panorama of the Vosges mountains, Belfort, the Trèvenans Hospital and the Jura mountains. Superb views of and beneath the TGV viaduct. The route is signposted.

A pleasant hike in Trévenans, 10 km south of Belfort. It takes you on a beautiful climb through the forest with lovely views. It joins the Sentier Historique des Bornes de la Principauté de Montbéliard (Historical Trail of the Boundaries of the Principality of Montbéliard). It ends by taking the Coulée Verte (Green Corridor) along the Haute-Saône canal with a very pretty view of the Southern Vosges. The hike is marked with a yellow ring.

Cette jolie balade forestière offre de belles ambiances et vous permettra de découvrir un petit oratoire en sous-bois, non loin d'une borne de l'ancienne principauté de Lure, portant des croix de Templier.

You may be surprised by the siren that, according to legend, haunts the ponds along this route. A superb hike 15 km from Belfort and 10 km from Héricourt. You will also discover a pretty village with its church and temple, beautiful countryside and forest landscapes with numerous ponds. Along the route, information boards describe part of the history of this region and the legend of the mermaid.

A pleasant walk just a stone's throw from Belfort, in the vicinity of Châlonvillars and Evette-Salbert. You can discover beautiful countryside and forest landscapes, as well as the village of Châlonvillars with its church and beautiful wash house. Along the way, you will have superb views of the Southern Vosges with the Planche des Belles Filles and the Ballon d'Alsace.

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.

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

The aim of the walk is to discover the historical and natural features of the Bosmont Forest and the forestry operations managed by the Office Nationale des Forêts (ONF). You will be able to see the marks left by the work carried out between 1874 and 1880, after the Franco-Prussian War. The Belfort-Réchésy railway line through the forest is also still visible. This hike is signposted.

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.

This route passes by Fort des Basses Perches, which is part of the fortified belt around Belfort. An easy hike with superb views of Belfort, the Haute Saône and the Vosges mountains. This hike is signposted.

From the port of Frahier, stroll along the old canal, then discover the Grands Hauts and the panoramic view of the Ballon d'Alsace and the Planche des Belles Filles.

This hike is the first of two stages linking the end of the Vosges crossing in Belfort to the start of the Grande Traversée du Jura (or GTJ on maps), located at the start of Mandeure. This hike is very cultural, starting in the historic town of Belfort. The first part takes you past three forts: Belfort, Basses Perches and Bosmont. The hike is never very far from urban areas and it is even possible to get there by TGV as the high-speed train passes through. It is a hike that alternates between woods, agricultural plains and villages of varying sizes, including Bourogne and its charming wash houses. The end of the hike is the most pleasant part of the route, crossing the dry grasslands of Bourogne and walking along the Rhône-Rhine Canal.

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.

Between the Vosges and Jura mountains, discover the Salbert massif overlooking Belfort on a varied hike through forests, wide panoramas and interesting sites. At the summit, enjoy a superb 360° view of the Haute Saône, beautiful ponds at the foot of the Vosges mountains, the city of Belfort and the Alps in good weather. The route is signposted.

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.

Climb up and enjoy the panoramic views of Belfort and the Vosges mountains as you explore the fortifications created by Vauban.This route is signposted.

Circular in short version with limited elevation changes, the fortifications overlooking the old town of Belfort passing by the Tour de la Miotte, the Porte du Vallon then the Fort de la Justice and its dovecote, the top of the Glacis, the national cemetery, then the Citadel Tower and passage at the foot of the Lion before crossing the Brisach Gate, all enhanced by magnificent views of the city, its monuments and its surroundings.

Discover part of the Champagney Canal, which was started in 1884 and abandoned in 1909.

This country walk starts in Lanthenans, a small village in the Comté region hidden away in the countryside, and takes you over hills and through valleys to the Roche du Châtelard viewpoint overlooking Lomont and the Doubs valley. The return route takes you through airy woods, which Marcel Aymé might have described as "the forest is still a little bit of paradise lost. God did not want the first garden to be wiped out by the first sin."

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.

Walk among the many ponds in the municipality of Evette-Salbert.

History and nature come together along this route around the Étang des Forges near Belfort.

History and nature come together along this route around the Étang des Forges. This trail is marked with red rings.

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.