Cyclists in the sky on the Trace du Courlis linking V50 and EV6 - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Cyclist |Maxime Naegely

Main roads of Haute-Saône

Haute-Saône has a vast network of cycle routes, covering much of the region. Enjoy the freedom of safe greenways built on former towpaths or railway lines, and cycle on routes linking major European itineraries.

All of these routes are accessible to all ages and offer ideal outings in an exceptional natural setting rich in heritage.

After discovering the charms of the Voie Bleue cycle route, the 21 cycle loops that criss-cross the département and the legendary ascent of La Planche des Belles Filles, let yourself be tempted by other unsuspected escapes!

The trace of the Curlew and the Vesoul-Besançon-Dole loop

EuroVélo 6, known as the river route, links the Atlantic to Alsace, following the courses of the Loire, Saône and Doubs rivers and the Burgundy and Rhône to Rhine canals. The Voie Bleue runs from Luxembourg to Lyon. The Courlis trail is the greenway linking Port-sur-Saône to Vesoul. At its start, it merges with the Voie Bleue, which heads south and crosses the EV6 not far from Dole. At the Chemilly footbridge, the Courlis track crosses the Saône, so cyclists coming from the Voie Bleue can aim for Vesoul.

A boat is about to enter the Saint-Albin tunnel, on the side a touring cyclist watches the boat - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©River tourism and cycling on the Saône|Maxime Naegely

A cyclist takes the Trace du Courlis, which links the V50 and the EV6. He is in the middle of nature on a dedicated site in the middle of maize fields - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Cyclist |Maxime Naegely

Once past the capital of Haute-Saône, the “chemin vert” (one of France’s oldest greenways – it replaced the Vesoul-Besançon railway line in 1980) stretches for around thirty kilometres. It’s enough to get you to Loulans-Verchamp, a Station Verte (green resort) that celebrates cancoillotte, finally recognised as a PGI (protected geographical indication) in 2022. At the “Au Gré du Pré” educational farm, it’s goat’s cheese that’s being showcased… along with yaks, llamas and zebus, which are more unexpected near the river Ognon.

The continuation of the cycle route points to EuroVélo 6 to the north-east of Besançon. This creates a loop between Vesoul, Besançon and Dole further down the EV6, bringing the Jura, Doubs, Côte d’Or and Haute-Saône closer together.

Discover the itinerary

The Voie Verte de la Vallée de l'Ognon : shared roaming

The Voie Verte de la Vallée de l’Ognon offers more than 50km of cycle routes, from La Côte to Fontenois-lès-Montbozon, via Lure, Villersexel and Bonnal. It passes close to a number of major heritage and leisure sites, including the Saline water sports centre in Lure, the Prieuré de Marast, the medieval château at Oricourt and the Bonnal site, with its lake open to bathing in season.

This itinerary is a family and intergenerational route par excellence. A gently sloping itinerary shared between walkers and those who enjoy a leisurely ride.

The Green Way

This is about the old rail link between Lure and Montbozon. In place of the wagon trains which, although they didn’t break speed records, criss-crossed the French countryside in all its intimacy, these spaces shared by cyclists, walkers and skateboarders are springing up all over the place. The Ognon valley, with its peaceful course and minimal difference in height, lends itself perfectly to this gentle exploration of the region.

Cyclists on the Vallée de l'Ognon greenway in Lure - Vallée de l'Ognon — ©Ognon Valley Green Route|Etienne Kopp

The Ognon on the Voie Verte Vallée de l'Ognon - Ognon Valley — ©The river Ognon|Both Better

Cyclists on the Vallée de l'Ognon greenway at Rougemont - Vallée de l'Ognon — ©Ognon Valley Green Route|Both Better

Aerial view of the Voie Verte Vallée de l'Ognon - Base de la Saline in Lure — ©Ognon Valley Green Route|OT Pays de Lure

The route starts in Lure and heads towards Villersexel. Past the town famous for its battle and one of the few French victories in the 1870 war, the route continues with a brief incursion into the Doubs via Rougemont. It then joins the Chemin Vert (Voie Bleue – EV6 link) at Fontenois-les-Montbozon.

On foot, by bike, on rollerblades, on your own, with friends or family… Take the time to admire the scenery, observe nature and simply enjoy.

To be seen on along the Voie Verte

The Butte de Vouhenans

If you like to get off the beaten track and get some height. A few kilometres to the south of Lure, a small village with a bulbous bell tower, which still retains some traces of past economic activity: lime kiln, vineyard, starch factory. And then there’s this viewpoint indicator with a breathtaking view of Lure and the Vosges mountains in the background.

The village of Gouhenans

A small community with a rich industrial past linked to the mining of coal from 1828 to 1921 and rock salt from 1831 to 1845. Remnants of these industrial activities can still be seen, including the workers’ housing estate, slag heaps and mine entrances. A signposted path, ” La voie du sel et du charbon “, keeps the memory alive.

The town of Villersexel

Villersexel is a real crossroads for all kinds of communication routes… The Pilgrim ‘s Way to Santiago de Compostela, the Voie Verte, the Monts de l’Ognon cycle route and the river of the same name all pass through Villersexel…

The Priory of Marast

Founded in 1120, the Prieuré de Marast is one of the few surviving Romanesque buildings in Haute-Saône. The priory is located on the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela, between Villersexel and Filain.