Things to see and do Franche-Comté

Not a postcard from here without seeing it enthroned, imperial and majestic, over the city. And for good reason... The emblematic monument of Auxerre, the Clock Tower has dominated the historic center for more than 500 years. It is impossible to pass by without admiring this superb monument decorated with its astronomical clock whose two hands indicate the solar and lunar movements. Built on the foundations of the Gallo-Roman city walls in the 12th century, it was used as a prison in the 14th century while continuing to serve as the city's clock. In 1825, a fire broke out during repair work on the spire and it collapsed. The tower was then partially rebuilt, at a lower cost. Its destruction was even considered. Fortunately, protected by its registration as a historical monument, it was finally rebuilt identically in 1890. Since then, in the heart of the pedestrian district, it marks with its superb architecture an admirably preserved city center. All the more so since its long and magnificent renovation completed in the summer of 2022. No doubt, the Clock Tower has never been so beautiful!

Note that you can still admire the bases of the ancient Gallo-Roman castrum in the tea room of the chocolate maker Gregory Ferret just next door. Finally, next to the tower, the covered passage used to be the house of the famous revolutionary bailiff Cadet Roussel, a great local figure of the 18th century. A commemorative plaque reminds us of this fact.

It can be accessed from Doucier via the D326. The landscape is superb, with lakes and forests reflected in the waters. After the receptacles of the waters of the Hedgehog waterfalls, here is the shattering and tumultuous torrent. He suddenly becomes silent. The 49-hectare Val surpasses its neighbour Chambly, which extends over 35 hectares. It is more marshy and its rush-lined banks are difficult to access. To admire them from above, we advise you to go up to the Dame Blanche lookout, accessible by a forest road, then a path, from the village of Saugeot. The view embraces the entire Hérisson valley. Great! Great!

Lake Den boasts more than one title. Its waters disappear in the ground and emerged at the Gallo-Roman sanctuary of Villards d'Héria, after an unknown underground journey of 12 hours. Was there a mysteriously disappeared city near the lake? Nothing is less secure. But a temple dedicated to Mars was erected in antiquity. In the th century, the hydrogeological specificity of the site was exploited: hydraulic machines are installed below the lake. Valves are opened and closed to regulate their operation. A beautiful walk on the GR 9 leads to the belvédère rock belvedere which dominates the lake at 961 m above sea level. Do not hesitate to take the climb, because if it is not possible to approach the banks by the bottom, this belvedere offers a superb view of the lake of Den, set in a dark setting of trees and cliffs. Beyond that, we also see the Jura peaks and, in clear time, to Geneva.

Two inland waterway companies, one French and one Franco-Swiss, leave the shores of the lake towards one of the most beautiful natural sites in the department. By going, about 7   km, the comments of the crew of the flight explain the geological richness of the canyons carved in the Jura mountains by the river. A landing at 400   m from the falls makes it possible to walk to the ground before the short walk near the Jump. Many possibilities for visits are offered to complete your trip (cheese maker, farm, horlogerie museum, machine machine, underground mills…).