Tarcenay walks

A walk through the countryside and woodland to discover the untamed charms of our karst forests and their sinkholes and sharp limestone pavements, which some would like to believe are dolmens. Along the way, beautiful wash-house fountains, a viewpoint over the Saône plain and the Chapel of Saint-Maximin, where medieval pilgrims led a joyful life.

A short walk through the forest takes you from the very Catholic hermitage of Saint-Maximin to the prehistoric pagan dolmens. Then there is the viewpoint over Le Gratteris, whose name comes from the Celtic word kratt, meaning a stony field where you had to scratch hard to earn your livelihood. Return via the top of Mamirolle through the pastures.

A short walk through the forest takes you from the very Catholic hermitage of Saint-Maximin to the prehistoric pagan dolmens. You will end up at the viewpoint overlooking Le Gratteris, whose name comes from the Celtic word kratt, meaning a stony field where you had to scratch hard to earn your livelihood.

A short walk through the woods will allow you to discover a limestone landscape dotted with caves, chasms, sinkholes and sharp limestone pavements. Over thousands of years, water has chemically eroded the rock to create this surprising landscape. Cool temperatures are guaranteed, even in hot weather.

A wild getaway to discover the entire Loue valley from the top of the Malbrans plateau, from the Hautepierre rock to Mount Poupet, then from an equally wild viewpoint, the Scey en Varais valley and, silhouetted against the sky, the outline of the Saint-Denis castle.

It is difficult to walk through our Loue valley without mentioning Gustave Courbet, who made this stream famous with his painting The Deer Slaughter at the Plaisir Fontaine Stream. He is also said to have painted his Self-Portrait with Black Dog here. Once again, you will follow in his footsteps to climb the Rocher du Tourbillon for superb views of the steep-sided Brême valley and finally return via the Ancien Prieuré de Bonnevaux, of which only the 12th-century bell tower remains.

Walking along the banks of the emerald-green Brême, you will enter a dense forest until you reach the Ravin du Puits Noir, a dark, hidden, impenetrable and wild place where Gustave Courbet set up his easel more than fifty times. You will emerge at La Gouille, where goats once drank, and return peacefully via the old Tacot road and its viaduct, passing by the Puits de la Brême, the entrance to the underworld or the crystal palace of the fairies.

From a beautiful pine forest, sheltered by beautiful rocks and crossing large boulders detached from the cliffs, you will arrive at the Belvédère de la Roche du Grand viewpoint at the head of the valley, overlooking Ornans and the Val de Scey. Continuing towards the Fontaine aux Vipères, where Courbet's cancan dancers once performed, then to the castle overlooking the town, you will return through meadows overlooking the upper Loue valley, finally descending into the Brême valley through a beautiful, light-filled rocky forest.

Following in the footsteps of Gustave Courbet, the Ravin du Puits Noir was one of the painter's favourite places. You will follow the course of the Brême, walk peacefully along the old Tacot road, climb the Roche du Tourbillon for superb views of the picturesque and steep-sided Brême valley, and finally end at the Prieuré de Bonnevaux, of which only a charming chapel and its 12th-century bell tower remain.

This is a country walk whose great merit is that it is... in the countryside. However, it will take you along beautiful forest paths to the Virgin of Malbrans, offering a magnificent 360° panorama: to the south over the Loue Valley, from Roche de Hautepierre to Mont Poupet, and, lost in the greenery, Castel Saint-Denis and perhaps the summit of Mont Blanc on a clear day. After this short walk, tables await you for a picnic while you enjoy the breathtaking view.

Descend towards the corniches of Scey-en-Varais via the aptly named Chemin de Bellevue, a pretty balcony overlooking the Loue Valley. Then climb back up to the Vierge de Malbrans, which offers a magnificent panorama of the Roche de Hautepierre and Mont Poupet and, lost in the greenery, the Castel Saint-Denis and perhaps the summit of Mont Blanc on a clear day. There are tables where you can picnic while enjoying the breathtaking view. Return through a cool and peaceful forest.

This is a fairly easy circular route through the communes of Malbrans and Scey-Maisières. It begins with a superb view at the Vierge de Malbrans, followed by pretty trails through forests, meadows and woods. It then continues along a beautiful path running along the limestone ledges, offering beautiful views of the villages of Ornans, Maisières, Scey-en-Varais, Cléron and the Loue valley.

Au départ de l'Ermitage de Notre-Dame du Chêne, une petite balade facile sans prétention sur les coteaux et le plateau de Narpent. Le retour s'effectue par l'ancienne voie ferrée Ornans-Hôpital du Grosbois, aujourd'hui Voie Verte et un court crochet au passage pour aller voir le Puits de la Brème.

Crossing the Brême via its old bridge, you will descend to its mysterious well, gateway to the underworld or the fairy kingdom, and climb back up more prosaically to the industrious tile factory. The cornices of Narpent offer another kind of magic, with their rocky crevices silhouetted against the sky and the outline of Castel Saint-Denis, ending at the sanctuary where, long ago, a little girl discovered a small statue of the Virgin Mary, placed there and forgotten, in the hollow of an oak tree.

Starting from the bell tower of the former medieval priory, you will cross the cool Brème valley, so often painted by Courbet. Then, climbing back up to the Saut du Chevalier viewpoint, you will descend into the valley via a picturesque mule track.

Starting from the bell tower of the old medieval priory, you will cross the cool Brême valley, so often painted by Courbet. You will climb up to the Saut du Chevalier viewpoint to reach the Vierge de la Roche du Mont, continuing along the cornices towards the Roche des Pins and its views over the Loue valley. You will climb up to the Septfontaine plateau and its views of the Jura mountains, before finally descending towards the Brême via a picturesque mule track.

From the old priory, you will climb to the Rocher du Tourbillon viewpoint overlooking the charming little valley of La Brême, then walk along an old railway line converted into a footpath, before climbing back up to the wild cornices via sunken paths reminiscent of enchanted forests, and finally descending to the foot of the rocks towards the Plaisir Fontaine caves.

Starting from the bell tower of the old medieval priory, you will cross the cool Brême valley so often painted by Courbet. Then you will climb through a beautiful fir forest sheltered by stunning rocks, passing large boulders detached from the cliffs, towards the Grand viewpoint overlooking the upper Loue valley, Ornans and the Val de Scey. Continuing towards the Fontaine aux Vipères and then the castle overlooking the town, you will descend into the valley via a picturesque mule track.

Starting from Ornans Castle overlooking the old town, after a detour to the Fontaine des Vipères, a meeting place for gossips in Courbet's time, you will walk along the superb line of cornices indented with small recesses and dotted with numerous viewpoints overlooking the upper and lower Loue valley. A round trip that will not exhaust all the attractions of this walk.

From the site of the former castle of Ornans, which overlooks the old town, the route climbs towards the pastures offering beautiful views of the upper Loue valley and Mont Poupet. The return journey takes you along cool, pleasant forest paths to La Roche du Grand, a viewpoint overlooking the lower Loue valley, then to the Fontaine aux Vipères, where you can still hear the gossip of our Franche-Comté "cancouaines" (local women).

This circuit will allow you to discover the setting of our small Franche-Comté town from three viewpoints: the Belvédère de Notre Dame du Mont, the Château d'Ornans and the Château du Grand, offering sweeping views of the Loue valley. This is a major site on the Courbet Trail, thanks to the famous 1855 painting Le Château d'Ornans, an oil on canvas kept at the Minneapolis Museum. You will discover the Fontaine aux Vipères (Viper Fountain), which still echoes with the gossip of our cancouaines (local women).

You will climb from the small Franche-Comté town to the Fontaine aux Vipères, a major site on the Courbet Trail thanks to the famous 1855 painting "Le Château d'Ornans", where the gossips of Courbet's time used to gather. Then, from the castle overlooking Ornans, you will return along the cornices with their many viewpoints, via the charming little valley of La Roche des Pins.

A short forest walk to discover the Rocher de Colonne, a superb viewpoint over the Loue valley. The first viewpoint is over Cléron and its castle. The second overlooks Scey-en-Varais, topped by Castel Saint-Denis, the start of the upper Loue valley and its cliffs, the Valbois ravine and the luminous Hautepierre rock. You will return via the Chapelle du Croc chapel and its old house lost in the woods.

A short, easy walk to stretch your legs after a visit to the Courbet Museum. It is a shortcut variant of the "La roche des pins" route available in Visorando.

Hike north of Ornans with many points of interest and viewpoints. On the programme: the Château viewpoint, the Puits de la Brême, the Gouille aux Chèvres, the Grotte du Plaisir Fontaine, the Rocher du Tourbillon, the Saut du Chevalier, Notre-Dame du Mont. The hike can end with a visit to the town centre (§ Practical information). This is a very difficult hike due to its length and elevation gain. You need to be in good physical condition, as some sections are reserved for experienced hikers (ladders, passages requiring the use of your hands, etc.) with areas that are more or less wet and rocky. However, the route is varied and the views are magnificent. In autumn, this route offers a festival of colours.

Dominating Cléron with its massive limestone cliffs, the Rocher de Colonne is a beautiful landscape, characteristic of the upper Loue valley. From its summit, you can see the Château de Cléron, the Castel Saint-Denis, the Ravin de Valbois valley and the start of the upper Loue valley lined with its corniches.