Cycling from Belfort to Dijon along the Doubs river

You arrive in the beautiful city of Belfort. More than a beautiful Vauban citadel and the sculpture of the lion Bartholdi, which made the city famous, you will find a vibrant city with its wide shopping streets, its quaint squares, its Haussmanian buildings with handsome facades covered with geranium.

You leave Belfort along the banks of the Savoureuse river. You can choose to continue straight along the canal or cross the forest and follow along the Rhine to the Rhone Canal. Your bike route takes you to Sochaux and the Peugeot Museum. Discover this industrial epic before entering the small Renaissance town Montbéliard.

Climb to the castle of the Dukes of Württemberg, visit the Saint-Martin temple, the oldest religious building of the Reformation in France and stroll through the medieval streets admiring the houses with their colorful facades. Do not miss in the evening to taste the famous sausage of Montbéliard!

Today your bike ride leads you to discover the beautiful loops of the river Doubs. First you have to leave the city and Montbéliard to meander leisurely on bike paths the bucolic edges of this river. From Isle-sur-le-Doubs on the valley becomes majestic and very wild. You wind through the incised valley by steep cliffs, which are the delight of climbers. Very beautiful arrival in the small town Baume-les-Dames, labeled "City of character" at the foot of the rift of Babre.

The Doubs valley is particularly spectacular after leaving Baume-les-Dames. The bike route is very varied: green banks under steep karst cliffs reverberating in the peaceful waters of the Doubs, small villages with bell towers of colored tiles, towpaths lined with plane trees and old brick paper mills tending their chimneys to the sky. At the bend of a loop you arrive without even noticing at the foot of the citadel of Besançon. Big favorite for this student, vibrant and cultural city.

Leave Besançon riding leisurely on a bike path along the Doubs until the breakthrough of Thoraise: an amazing river tunnel under a waterfall. By bike you have to go up to the village to go down again with a beautiful view in the valley. Shortly after you can choose if you wish to continue along the meanders of the Doubs or to make a small detour towards the caves of Osselle.

At the small village of Ranchot you can make a detour through the forest of Chaux and reach the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Sénans. This 18th century saline is one of the first modern "factories". It was used to turn the brackish water extracted in Salins, 20 km away in salt.

Otherwise continue riding on the towpath of the canal, you pass under beautiful limestone cliffs and fortified villages. In Rochefort-sur-Néron you can climb on the cliffs and admire the beautiful view of the valley. The towpath lined with plane trees leads you to the marina of Dole at the foot of the cathedral. We were charmed by this historical city, birthplace of Louis Pasteur. You will admire the cathedral, the halls, but also at every turn of streets here a crest over a portal, there a carved door etc.

At Dole you leave the Doubs river and continue to follow the Rhine- Rhone canal to reach the Saône river just before Saint-Jean-de-Losne. The atmosphere changes as you leave the last foothills of the Jura to arrive in the plains of Burgundy. This change is not only visible in the landscape, but also in the architecture of bell towers or in the cuisine.

Saint-Jean-de-Losnes is at the confluence of the Saône and the Rhine - Rhone Canal and thus the capital of inland water shipping and especially the largest recreational river port in France. A little further in a dead arm of the Saone hides a small village on barges.

From Charrey on you cross the Citeaux forest to the abbey of Notre-Dame de Citeaux. A small guided tour is needed to better understand life in this Cisterian monastery. You continue through the plain to reach the wine road at Clos Vougeot, founded by the monks of Citeaux. You will learn about the distinct castle architecture, as well as the rites of the brotherhood of the Chevalier du Tastevin. This organization, sometimes known as the Brotherhood of the Knight’s Tasting Cup is a bacchanalian society committed to enjoying and promoting the wines and food of the Burgundy region of France. A detour via Nuits-Saint-Georges is also possible.

You continue to Dijon, former capital of the powerful Dukes of Burgundy. This gourmet and lively city warmly welcomes you to its remarkably well-preserved pedestrianized city center.

Described as the "city with the hundred bell towers" by François 1er, Dijon was the capital of the powerful Dukes of Burgundy. The city has inherited architectural gems such as the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, Notre Dame church with its famous carved owl or the mansions of the old city center. Dijon is also well-known for its food specialties such as gingerbread, mustard, blackcurrant liquor or nonette (pastry).