Discover Ornans on the Loue
Accommodation in Ornans
Ornans is best discovered through the Loue: the river runs through the town, whose picturesque houses seem to hang over the water. Above the confluence of the Loue and BrĂŞme rivers stands the Falaise de la BrĂŞme; from there, the panorama takes in both rivers. The townscape thus offers two perspectives side by side: the houses above the river and the view from the cliff over the confluence. Plan your stay around the riverside landscape, walking trails and cultural sites.
Walking trails by distance and difficulty
The Balade urbaine au fil de la Loue is a very easy, 3.2-kilometre heritage loop through Ornans, following the Loue. The Sentier Courbet 1 is an easy walk through the town: it is about 4.0 kilometres long and takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes. It starts at the Musée Courbet, crosses the Passerelle sur la Loue and ends at Place Gustave Courbet.
The Parcours des Roches offers another option: this moderate loop is 6.4 kilometres long and takes about two hours and 30 minutes. From the viewpoints above the rocks, you can look out over Ornans. Compare the routes by distance, difficulty and duration: the shortest of the three is rated very easy; the Sentier Courbet 1 is longer and easy, while the Parcours des Roches is the longest and has the longest stated duration. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
The Parcours des Roches is located in the Vallées de la Loue et du Lison Natura 2000 site. Activities associated with the area include hiking and mountain biking. Follow the latest environmental guidance and trail rules there.
Museums and local history
The Musée départemental Gustave Courbet houses around 400 works, including about 60 by Gustave Courbet; collection figures may change. The visitor guide can be used on smartphones or borrowed tablets. Its texts are available in French, English and German; audio description and content in French Sign Language are also available.
The Musée de la vie d'avant depicts life in Franche-Comté between 1850 and 1930 through numerous scenes featuring dolls in period costumes. Guided tours are available for groups of ten or more by booking in advance by email. Confirm the current arrangements before your visit.
The Église Saint-Laurent also tells the story of the town’s architectural history: it was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century, and the nave and choir were built between 1546 and 1548. The nave has four bays. The war memorial at Place Robert Humblot has been listed as a historic monument since 19 December 2022.
The HĂ´pital Saint-Louis is partly protected as a historic monument. A significant tapestry donated by Juliette Courbet towards the end of her life can still be seen in its entrance hall. This stop connects a specific work of art with the history of the hospital.
The Loue as a guide to your stay
The 23.5-kilometre Voie Courbet reaches Ornans and connects the plateau with the Loue Valley. In Ornans, it leads into town, crosses the Loue over the large bridge and runs alongside the Musée Courbet. This identifies both the connection between the plateau and the valley and key points along the route in Ornans. Check the latest access conditions before planning to use it.
Fly fishing is also practised on the Loue in Ornans. Together with the walking trails and viewpoints, the river gives several of the experiences described here their local setting.
Discover more destinations: Clerval, Valoreille, La Chenalotte, MĂ©tabief, Rougemont, Chaux-Neuve, La Cluse-et-Mijoux, Charquemont
For the regional travel overview: Doubs.
