Clerval: Discover the Castle, Museums and Trails

Discover Clerval through its castle and town history, as well as through trails with views of the surrounding countryside. These themes can help guide your hotel planning: would you mainly like to explore the town’s history, or set aside time for hiking and enjoying the landscape? The attractions described here offer different ways to do both.

The Castle and the Town’s History

Over the centuries, Clerval grew around a castle into a fortified town surrounded by walls. The Château de Clerval was built in the 12th century by Hugues de Chalon, Count of Burgundy, on the left bank of the Doubs. It was intended to oversee passage through the gorge formed by the river in the Lomont massif. The castle, river and narrow pass are thus all connected to the history of the town.

Inside the château, you can see a monumental fireplace, an oven, loopholes, stairs and preserved graffiti. These details offer different insights into the building: the fireplace and oven sit alongside structural traces of its fortifications, while the graffiti are further visible signs of its history. The municipality renovated the château in 1987; today, it houses the Musée de la Mémoire et de la Paix.

Museums with Different Areas of Focus

The Musée de la Mémoire et de la Paix commemorates the resistance groups of the Doubs Valley during the Second World War. It also traces the history of the major conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum therefore combines a regional perspective on remembrance with a broader historical context. It offers a child-friendly tour, as well as guided and self-guided visits. Visitor services may change, so check the latest visitor information before planning your visit.

The Musée de la Cave de la Ville Haute has a different historical focus: it presents exhibitions on the history of Clerval’s foundry. The museum is located in a cellar beneath a half-timbered house opposite the town hall. It is also advisable to check the latest visitor information before your visit.

The Grotte de Milopet offers another sign of the area’s long history of settlement: traces of human habitation from the Neolithic period have been found there. The cave adds a much earlier period to the themes of the castle, the history of conflicts and the foundry.

Hiking Trails and Views

Clerval lies in a landscape between mountains and rivers. The Circuit de la Chapelle starts on Place du Gravier, next to an information board. After passing through open woodland, the trail reaches its highest point at 521 metres, offering a panorama over Clerval and the valley. It also crosses a slope that was once used as a vineyard by Clerval and Chaux. The area’s former use is therefore another part of the landscape’s story to discover along this route.

Another hike is La Chapelle du Reposoir: this circular route is 5.7 kilometres long, takes two hours, is of moderate difficulty and includes 257 metres of elevation gain. It leads through a forest to a viewpoint overlooking the entire municipality, the gorge and the valley. The two routes therefore offer different perspectives: the Circuit de la Chapelle provides a panorama over Clerval and the valley, while La Chapelle du Reposoir offers views of the entire municipality, the gorge and the valley. The distance and difficulty may change if the route is altered. Check the latest details before setting out; conditions at the viewpoint may also change.

EuroVelo 6 and the Doubs

There is also a specific route to note when planning a cycling trip: on the EuroVelo 6 section between L’Isle-sur-le-Doubs and Baume-les-Dames, the route between Clerval and Roche-lès-Clerval partly follows the road. Road surfaces and traffic conditions may change, so check the current route before setting off. There is also a campsite on the banks of the Doubs where fishing is possible. If you plan to visit, check access and operating conditions before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Mamirolle, Grand'Combe-Châteleu, Miserey-Salines, Montferrand-Le-Château, Sancey-Le-Grand, Chapelle-Des-Bois, Voujeaucourt, Arc-Et-Senans

For the broader travel overview: Doubs.