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A hike in the region Franche-Comté
Let's go on the way to Baerenkopf, the southern major summit of Vosges, which peaks juste above the Belfort Gap. In clear weather, the sight from up there encompasses all the first foothills of Jura: the Sundgau country. The ascent is by the south with a visit to the ruins of Rougemont castle that have been excavated and then set off with explanatory panels. In winter, you can use snowshoes. Note that the sections of the circuit are marked out, but the colours aren't the same in ascent and descent.
1- From the Place General Charles de Gaulle in Rougemont-le-Château, go to the street on your left. At the first intersection, turn to the left, "rue de la Bavière". Keep going on until the street ends, a track extending it.
2- Continue on the path which crosses a brook and rises on a steep slope At a path crossing, turn to the right.
3- At the junction of several paths, you will find a wide forest track. Take the track in front of you, and immediately fork right to rise to the ruins of Rougemont castle. The road goes along the ruins by the right side (southeast side) and continues on the ridge line up to a summit.
4- At the intersection, turn to the left. The road goes down 200 m to reach a pass. At the intersection, go to the left.
5- Turn on the first path to the right. After about half a kilometre, you will find a forest track on your left. Leave it, and continue to rise on the hillside of Sudel. At the end of the ascent, you reach an intersection. Go to the left (the right path rises to Sudel). Walk a bit more than one kilometer, on a quite flat path which runs along the ridge line.
6- Go to the right at the fork. The path joins the ridge line of "Ballon de Saint-Nicolas". After walking one kilometre on a flat path, you reach a fork. Go to the right on a track which rises towards the summit of Baerenkopf.
7- From Baerenkopf, go down southward, continuing straight at each intersection. The track reaches the flat area of Haquin, and then goes down towards the second flat area, Trou du Loup. Several tracks converge to this place.
8- At the location Trou du Loup, go to the left on the wide forest track. This track runs through a small valley. Then it meets the track which runs along the brook Saint-Nicolas. Continue downstream up to a hamlet.
9- At the entrance of the hamlet Saint Nicolas, fork right staying on the main road (you will see a pond on your right). At the end of the hamlet, turn to the right on a narrow road. Just after, turn to the left. Walk about 300 m up to find a track on the left.
10- Take the track and keep along the brook Saint Nicolas.
11- Once at the road D51, turn to the right to come back to Rougemont-le-Château. You enter in the village by the street Saint-Nicolas. At the crossroads with the street of Etueffont, go straight, then turn to the left to reach the place General Charles de Gaulle.
Information
General points
- Geographic situation. District : Rougemont-le-Château
(department Territoire de Belfort)
Road map with
 - Starting point : Place General Charles de Gaulle, Rougemont-le-Château.
- The length of the stroll is estimated at 16 Km and the walk duration is about 4 h 45 mn.
- The stroll is marked out all along
- Stroll form : loop
- Stroll relief : mountainous (alt. mini = 440 m ; alt. maxi = 1070 m)
- Maintenance : frequent (brushwood clearing at least annual)
- Exposure : shaded (in forest)
Noteworthy places
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Château de Rougemont. The castle would go back to the late XIIth century. The first mention about it is in a manuscript dated from 1295, in which it was stated that it belonged to Counts de Ferrete, a powerful Alsatian family. At the death of the last Count de Ferrete, the castle became the ownership of Habsbourg (1324). During the One Hundred Years War, it was destroyed in 1375 by Enguerrand VII de Coucy, who ravaged the region at the head of bloodthirsty mercenaries. During the visit of the ruined castle, you can note the access protected by a barbican (advanced work defending the entrance). A ditch was also dug all around. The site is classified Historic Monument.
Maps
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IGN 3620 ET.
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