Open-air museum of Comtois houses

Located in Nancray, it presents the heritage of Franche-Comté in a 16-hectare park: rural housing from the 17th to the 19th century, gardens and vegetable patches, animals, entertainment… A must-see as soon as the good weather arrives.

Ornans

Ornans, the Little Venice of the Franche-Comté, invites you to discover its houses along the Loue River, its old mansions, its bridges and fountains…
Nature is also in the spotlight… Mountains, cliffs, rivers, waterfalls, caves…
A whole heritage to discover throughout the seasons.

The Courbet Museum

It’s no surprise that Gustave Courbet, a great 19th-century painter and master of the realist movement, born in Ornans and deeply attached to this land, painted the landscapes of the Loue and Lison Valleys throughout his life. A magnificent museum is dedicated to him. Located 500 meters from our establishment, it is a must-see. Discover or rediscover the sulphurous history of this great painter as well as his works, from the most famous to the most confidential.

The source of the Loue

The source of the Loue near Ouhans is located at the bottom of a valley dominated by impressive cliffs that repeatedly inspired Courbet.
As for the source of the Lison, near the village of Nans sous Sainte Anne, it gushes forth in a lush green pool before cascading into a pool that feeds the river. The spectacle is fascinating after a period of heavy rain.

The Dino-Zoo

If you have kids, they’ll love the Dino-Zoo! As its name suggests, it’s a park featuring life-size dinosaurs!
Over a 2.5-km trail, discover no fewer than 80 dinosaur sculptures with their explanatory panels.

The Poudrey Chasm

Also consider visiting the Gouffre de Poudrey, the largest constructed chasm in France and one of the 10 largest in Europe. The tour follows a specially designed trail with a magnificent sound and light show highlighting the richest part of the cave. Amazement guaranteed!

Architectural heritage

History buffs, the Doubs offers exceptional architectural heritage with two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Between fortified military architecture and a utopian city dedicated to salt mining, these two sites are a testament to the grandeur of the city. The majesty of the Vauban Citadel of Besançon, perched above the capital of Franche-Comté and defying invaders with its sheer size, is matched by the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, a former salt factory designed and built by the utopian Claude-Nicolas Ledoux between 1775 and 1779.

Sport and sensations

If you love thrills and nature, via ferratas are for you! In our area, two rock climbs have been developed: “Les Baumes du Verneau” in Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne and “La Roche du Mont” in Ornans. Both are freely accessible and offer exceptional views of our valley.

Hiking

Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the Loue Valley’s many hiking trails, from family walks to challenging trails.

Fishing

Whether you’re a beginner, experienced or expert fisherman, you’ll enjoy fishing for the Zebra Brown Trout, one of the last wild strains of the old continent, in the waters of the Loue!

The Château de Joux

A landmark of history and military architecture, the Château de Joux is an emblematic monument of Franche-Comté. Located 5 km from Pontarlier and 15 km from the Swiss border, the castle dominates by a hundred meters the Cluse passage, a narrow natural passage that allows crossing the Jura Mountains. This military and commercial route connects the roads of Champagne, Flanders and Haute-Saône to Italy and Switzerland.

The Museum of Cut-and-Made Tools

Located in Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne, a technical heritage site listed as a historic monument.
A major center for scythe production in Franche-Comté, this tool and die shop operated from 1828 to 1969.
For nearly 50 years, thanks to conservation work, this complex has remained unchanged. It received the Masterpieces in Peril award in 1981 and was subsequently listed as a historic monument.
All of the hydraulic mechanisms are still in operation, including a unique blower system.