Vaire-Arcier walks

From the sumptuous Château de Vaire-le-Grand, the whim and ruin of Jean-Antoine Boisot, son of a close friend of King Louis XIV, you will climb towards La Roche Blanche. This is an unsecured viewpoint (caution!) over the Doubs valley. You will be taken by surprise by the rustic fountain of Les Tilleuls and descend via the beautiful sunken path lined with wild garlic at La Vacherie. You will then return along the riverbank, in the shade of the Rochers du Château Loriot, to discover the old paper mill.

A gentle forest walk to the Montoille viewpoint overlooking Deluz and its old paper mill. You'll no doubt find yourself whistling as you climb the beautifully named Impasse de Chantemerle, but you'll soon need to catch your breath for the strenuous climb to the Grotte de sous Roche and the Château-Loriot viewpoint over the Doubs valley and the Vosges mountains, which will reward you for your efforts. A peaceful, wooded return journey, framed by the mossy rocks of a superb sinkhole.

A short but challenging walk to discover the Arcier springs that have supplied the city of Besançon since the distant Gallo-Roman era. A gentle warm-up, accompanied by the music of gushing water. Then a lovely climb up the slopes of the Grand Bois, still accompanied by the murmur of the water.

At the gates of Besançon, the waters of the Arcier springs, naturally filtered by the Saône marshes, have supplied the city since the distant Gallo-Roman era. From their green and rocky settings, the babbling waters, gushing from all sides, will restore your bucolic spirit. You will then climb, at a more military pace, to the ruins of the Épesses battery, built in 1878.

A short walk, almost entirely through the forest, very pleasant, very close to Besançon but offering a complete change of scenery and plenty of variety.

Near Besançon, discover the beautiful hamlet of Arcier and its water sources, which contribute significantly to the water supply of Besançon and the valley overlooking them, and return via the heights of Chalèze and La Canaie via the Côte de Joux.

Aigremont overlooks the Doubs valley. Once crowned by a small fortified castle, legend has it that on these ruins, a shepherd intrigued by the behaviour of his flock—which was drawn to a patch of evergreen grass—discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary. Carried down to the village, it mysteriously returned to its rock, where a chapel was built. You will reach it by following magnificent jagged ledges, discovering from these heights the Jura mountains and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc.

Forest walk to the viewpoint of the Chapelle de Montoille sur Deluz and the Doubs valley, peaceful today but still echoing with the industrious sounds of the old mines and paper mills of yesteryear, to the Rochers du Château Loriot viewpoint, and finally down to the Grotte de sous Roche and the village.

This is a challenging hike offering three viewpoints over the Doubs valley and its meanders, the Val de Roulans, the Jura mountains and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc. You will visit the two villages in the valley, Laissey and Deluz, which are peaceful today but still echo with the industrious sounds of the old mines and paper mills, and enjoy their genuine and simple riches: here a naive war memorial, there an ancient forgotten cul-de-four oven or an old wash house.

On the outskirts of Besançon, this entirely woodland hike will take you from the outskirts of Thise to the summit of the Côte de Marchaux via the aptly named Sentier des Dolines, then along various roads and tracks to reach the highest point of the route. The return journey along the ridge line and then along some lovely paths presents no difficulty.

Follow the water’s path as it disappears into the underground channels (see ‘During’ section below) at Saône, Gennes and Nancray, only to reappear near Arcier. The footpath and small roads through the woodland will take you from one hillside to the other, offering alternating views of the plateau and the Doubs valley, before you reach the water again at the Arcier springs.

A walk through the forest along dirt tracks and local roads. Passing by the Moulin Neuf and the Source du Fontenis.

A short walk through the woods to discover these two batteries, which complemented the Fort de Montfaucon completed in 1878. They form part of the first phase of construction of the Besançon fortified camp and are named after the wooded localities in the midst of which they are situated.

Hike in the peaceful woods on the outskirts of Besançon.

A short walk east of Braillans, through its game-rich woods and past the memorial stone honouring the memory of Honoré Gressenbucher, known as Nono, who died for France at Les Combottes in 1944.

Explore Nancray, its water springs, its old mill, the Bois de la Côte, and finally return via the Forêt des Landes. And of course, take the opportunity to visit the Nancray Open-Air Ecomuseum of Comtois Houses, featuring around thirty typical rural houses from Franche-Comté.

This easy loop takes hikers on a journey of discovery through forests, pastures and preserved wetlands. You will pass through the typical hamlet of La Couvre, peaceful woods and pretty wooden pontoons will lead you to the ponds of Prés Neufs, La Vaivre, and Creux sous Roche, which drains water from the Bisontins to the source of Arcier. The route offers a variety of settings: old farms, romantic ruins, streams and clearings. Between the reflections on the water, the croaking of frogs and the rural landscapes, the walk charms visitors with its diversity and tranquillity. Accessible to all, it is an ideal nature walk for families.