Refine your search for walks in Routelle
Routelle walks
Circular route from Routelle to Velesmes via the Bois des Saussottes
This short, easy family walk will take you through the woods from the Vaugrenans valley to Velesmes, before returning via the outskirts of Benusse and its mill.
Circular Bois d'Ambre starting from Saint-Vit
Explore the southern part of Saint-Vit, the Bois d’Ambre and its remarkable trees, the Rhône-Rhine Canal, the sand pits, the agricultural plain and the sports complex.
Along the Doubs beneath the castles, starting from Boussières
A lovely, easy little walk that takes you to the Couvent de Béthanie and along the right bank of the Doubs on the towpath. Along the way, you’ll pass beneath the castles of Thoraise, Torpes and Boussières.
Take the time to watch the birds on the Doubs. With a bit of luck, you may also spot coypu, beavers (and their gnaw marks on the trees) or chamois towards the end of the route.
Circular walk from Boussières to the Chouzelot monument via the Bois de la Taille
This short walk will take you through woods and meadows to the Chouzelot (or Mont Gardot) monument. After crossing the ridge, you’ll walk through a beautiful forest to return to your car park, passing vineyards and orchards along the way.
From Boussières to Busy via the Pierre de Vorges
This lovely walk will take you to Busy along pretty, undulating woodland paths to Vorges, after which the gradient reverses on the way to Busy. From there, the road surface changes. A very steep tarmac road will take you to the D083, where you’ll take a ridge path, then the Roman road and dirt tracks for the return journey. This route offers beautiful panoramic views of several spots in the Doubs Valley.
Circular walk around Boussières via the Caillet Mill and Notre Dame du Mont
A short family walk combining a tarmac road at the start, followed by long stretches through woodland before climbing up to the chapel to enjoy a magnificent view over the Doubs valley and Besançon.
The old Thoraise, the Notre-Dame du Mont viewpoint and the Canal Monsieur
Discover Thoraise, its narrow streets and ancient postern gates, its castle and the banks of the Doubs. Then climb up to the Notre-Dame du Mont viewpoint overlooking the valley and the keep of the feudal castle of Montferrand, ending finally at the Thoraise breakthrough and the Monsieur canal.
Notre-Dame-du-Mont Chapel in Thoraise
Visit the Notre-Dame-du-Mont Chapel in Thoraise. Superb view of the Doubs and Montferrand Castle.
Boussières: Notre-Dame du Mont
From Virgin to Virgin, not forgetting the big bad wolves, you will discover a superb panorama of the Doubs valley and its contrasting hills: warlike with the ruins of Montferrand Castle, peaceful with the protective Virgin of Notre-Dame du Mont, commercial with the Percée de Thoraise. As you climb the Éssart du Loup, you can dream of those distant times when the simple, tranquil beauty of our Comtois landscapes could be disturbed by sinister encounters.
The Marquis' Castle
This hike, following in the footsteps of Marquis Claude François Dorothée de Jouffroy d'Abbans, naval architect and designer of the steamboat, will take you between the Loue and Doubs rivers, from oratories to churches, in the heart of our devout Comtois countryside, leaving you time to meditate on the twilight paths of our wooded mountains.
Thoraise Plain Circular Route
A circular walk in the Thoraise plain, with no difficulty whatsoever. The first circular route takes you along the Doubs and past the military camp, then through the Monsieur Canal tunnel.
The second loop takes you upstream along the cycle route, followed by a visit to the picturesque site of La Pierre de Vorges, with a return route through the woods. You can also see the Convent of Bethany on the opposite bank and the site of the canal tunnel. There is also a fine view of the ruins of Montferrand Castle.
Around Dannemarie-sur-Crète
Hike in the forest around Dannemarie-sur-Crète
La Percée de Thoraise
Discover panoramic views of the Doubs valley, the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Mont and, dominating the valley, the feudal castle of Montferrand and its medieval keep overlooking the meanders. Then a picturesque steep path will take you down through a beautiful forest of slender trees to the Canal Monsieur dit la Percée de Thoraise, a 185-metre tunnel dating from 1810.
Circular loop around Dannemarie-sur-Crète
A lovely, easy walk around Dannemarie-sur-Crète. Beautiful views of the foothills of the Jura and the outskirts of Besançon. You’ll alternate between dirt tracks, forest paths and grassy trails.
The second part of the circular walk takes you through more rural landscapes, where you’ll discover an area created by schoolchildren (well worth a visit) and a disused wash house. You can therefore choose to do all or part of this walk, as you wish.
Circular walk around Villars-Saint-Georges via the Combe d’Arange
A lovely little walk around Villars-Saint-Georges that will take you through meadows and woods, across a pretty valley, to the banks of the Doubs before heading back up into the large forest. A family walk where you might (with a bit of luck) spot deer, foxes and a variety of birds.
Ferrières-Les-Bois, Berthelange, Cottier, Lantenne-Vertière, Ferrières
This is a short country walk in a wide open, peaceful setting where you can enjoy the sunshine if you feel the need.
Avoid after a period of rain, as the bottom of the valley tends to turn into a bayou.
The Grand Finale
Perched on its rocky outcrop, overlooking the Doubs valley, Abbans Castle likely replaced a Roman castrum. The oldest parts date from the 12th century. It was at the top of the keep that Claude Dorothée de Jouffroy d’Abbans set up his study and forge, where he built his steamboat. A short stroll through the countryside in this place steeped in history, taking in the cool Sentier du Ruisseau, the peaceful Grande Fin valley and the monument commemorating the long-forgotten rag-and-bone men of the 1870s.
Abbans Castle
On its rocky spur overlooking the Doubs valley, Abbans Castle was probably built on the site of a Roman castrum. The oldest parts date from the 12th century. It was at the top of the keep that Claude Dorothée de Jouffroy d'Abbans set up his study and forge, where he built his steamboat. Enjoy a short country walk in this historic setting along a pleasant ridge path, then through the Grande Fin valley, discovering the castle from different angles.