Seille (Affluent de la Saône) walks

Discover the Baume-les-Messieurs valley, a family hike offering beautiful views from the viewpoints along the route, culminating in a visit to the Baume caves. Also worth seeing is the Tuffes waterfall.

Hike around Château-Chalon

Perched on the cliffs of Revermont, Château-Chalon, dear to the heart of writer Bernard Clavel, watches over the Jura vineyards. This village offers magnificent views of the vineyards and nearby valleys, and you will enjoy strolling among the old houses. Return via a Roman road and the Tuquière viewpoint with its cabordes (stone shelters).

This route will give you an overview of these great glacial valleys of the Jura.

It is undoubtedly the sand dunes that represent the most striking feature of the Nature Reserve. Shaped 5,000 years ago by the wind, these shifting sands are partially covered in mosses and lichens. Only species adapted to arid environments manage to colonise them. Just a few metres from this desert-like environment lies a waterlogged area stretching over 5 to 6 hectares: a wooded peat bog, the presence of which at an altitude of just 200 metres is surprising. A third, very different environment can be seen not far from there: Étang Fouget, whose surrounding marsh takes the form of a vegetative labyrinth and attracts numerous birds.

Sornay, a rural village of 2,000 inhabitants situated near Louhans-Châteaurenaud and Branges, is bordered by two rivers: the Sâne Morte and the Seille. The latter, popular with anglers and boaters, features a towpath perfect for exploring the wetlands and their characteristic flora and fauna.

This circular offers no difficulties other than its length and features varied landscapes. The hike is divided into three parts: a gentle climb to the gently sloping plateau; a nearly flat walk around the cliffs; and a descent back down.

The Échappée Jurassienne is an invitation to discover, step by step, the striking diversity of the Jura Mountains. This 15-day itinerary links the west to the east, from the plains to the mountains, crossing the unspoilt landscapes of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, far from the borders and close to the essentials. From the peaceful canals of Dole, the trail winds its way through the most iconic sites of the Jura: the Cirque de Baume, lakes, remote valleys, viewpoints and deep forests, before ending majestically in Saint-Claude, a town nestled in the heart of the mountains. Over the course of these 311 km, this itinerary becomes much more than a hike: it is a true distillation of the most exceptional things the Jura has to offer. The richness of the landscapes, the contrasts in altitude and the authenticity of the villages you encounter allow everyone to surpass themselves, immerse themselves fully in the wild beauty and reconnect with the essentials.

Eighth stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. This iconic stage gets off to a great start. From the bottom of the Blois-sur-Seille valley, you will climb back up to the plateau to reach the small village of Granges-sur-Baume, which overlooks the most beautiful valley in the Jura. From the Belvédère de Granges-sur-Baume, you will have a bird's eye view of the Baume-les-Messieurs valley and, after a steep descent, you will arrive in one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France".Dominated by vertiginous cliffs, Baume-les-Messieurs, home to a 9th-century Cluniac abbey, nestles in the middle of three secluded valleys typical of the Jura landscape.As you follow the Dard river upstream, you will discover one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Jura, the tufa waterfall of Baume-les-Messieurs, and, a little further on, the spectacular Baume caves.After another climb up to the plateau via the Crançot ladders and a walk through the Perrigny forest, you will end this stage not far from Lons-le-Saunier.

Seventh stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. After passing through the charming wine-growing villages of the Jura, such as Frontenay with its 12th-century castle and Menétru-le-Vignoble, you will discover Château-Chalon, a jewel of the Échappée Jurassienne. Listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", this village is the birthplace of Vin Jaune and offers magnificent views. Leaving Château-Chalon, you will descend into the remote village of Blois-sur-Seille, where you will discover a picturesque village with yellow stones and a peaceful river. Explore this charming village, admire its vernacular heritage (bridges, farms, shepherds' huts, mission crosses, oratory, fountains, etc.) and enjoy the Olympian calm. Don't miss the central square with its fountain featuring a statue of Joan of Arc, its horseshoe-making machine and its unique milk cable car.