1. Arrival
Arrival at our hotel in the heart of Franche Comté. Time to enjoy the beautiful hotel grounds and then it’s already time for the welcome drink and the first dinner. Pure pleasure.
2. Day Besançon – Baume-les-Dames 41 km
Transfer to Besancon, the former capital of the free county of Burgundy, Franche-Comté. At the foot of the mighty fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site), we stroll along the Grande Rue and then visit the citadel. From here, today’s route takes us through the green Doubs valley. The design of the church towers has always been very important in this part of Franche-Comté and characterizes the town centers. The river winds beautifully and after each loop, another magnificent view opens up. Baume les Dames welcomes you with its picturesque location on the bend of the river. For many decades, Baume les Dames was famous for its whistle production.
3. Day Vallée du Doubs 42 km
This cycling day has two highlights: the Grottes d’Osselle dripstone caves and the Arc-et-Senans salt pans, which are a World Heritage Site. But first, you cycle at a relaxed pace along the banks of the Doubs, accompanied by its magnificent mountain ranges. The stalactite cave of Osselle was discovered in the 13th century and is one of the most interesting in Europe. There are 15 halls of different shapes and colors. The extraordinary colors range from blue to transparent orange. Visit and then it is only a few kilometers to the royal salt works. The impressive complex was created by the visionary architect Nicolas Ledoux. He was appointed plenipotentiary of the Franche-Comté salt works. Salt makes you thirsty and makes you think about dinner, so it’s time for the transfer back to the hotel.
4. Day Le Vallée du Doubs – Montbelliard 51 km
Today’s cycling stage takes you along the Doubs. After breakfast, it’s time to get on your bike and head for the river. Pleasure cycling is the order of the day as the Doubs winds its way through the river valley in many loops. At the idyllic picnic area, there are once again many delicacies to choose from, so it’s good to get back on the bike afterwards. The destination: Montbelliard, a town closely associated with the House of Württemberg. The castle of the Dukes of Württemberg with its imposing round towers still bears witness to the time when Montbelliard was still called Mömpelgard. St. Martin’s Square and the oldest Protestant church in France, as well as the town hall, are part of the city tour at the end of the afternoon. Transfer back to the hotel.
5. Day Château d’Oricourt – 48 km
The Château d’Oricourt is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in France. A longer stay is planned here. Visit right at the beginning of the day so that you can climb the stairs in the many turrets with sufficient strength…. The lord of the castle himself is the guide and his passion for castle life is infectious.
From the castle, we ride through a very idyllic landscape with some forest paths and panoramic routes. The numerous wash houses in the individual villages are particularly striking. Each one is special in its own right, as people, livestock and laundry could be transported here at the same time…
The Vallée l’Ognon and its disused railroad lines make it easy to return to the hotel by bike at the end of the day.
6. Day Cubry – Ronchamp 38 km
The motto for the last day of cycling is “Relax and unwind”.A relaxed cycle route in an idyllic atmosphere.Pastures, picturesque villages and wash houses characterize the day.After breakfast, you cycle through the Ognon Valley and along a disused railroad line to Villersexel. The picturesque town center is soon crossed and makes way for an idyllic landscape which we continue to cross on a former railroad line
A special visit awaits at the end of the stage: the church of Ronchamp.Built between 1950 and 1955 according to plans by the French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier, the church is one of the most famous of its kind in the modern era. It is considered an icon of architecture due to its numerous visual metaphors, the richness of its spatial structure and its exemplary character. “When I built this chapel, I wanted to create a place of tranquillity, prayer, peace and inner contemplation. ”
7. Departure
Departure after breakfast
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