The Loue flows through Ornans, where the picturesque houses seem to hang above the river. The town’s character is closely tied to a landscape you can explore along various trails and from scenic viewpoints. Museums and historic buildings also give your stay its own points of interest.
Riverside scenery and trails through Ornans
The Falaise de la BrĂŞme overlooks the confluence of the Loue and BrĂŞme rivers and offers panoramic views of both. Fly-fishing is also practised on the Loue in Ornans.
For a short stroll through town, the Balade urbaine au fil de la Loue is a very easy heritage trail. It is 3.2 kilometres long and runs along the Loue. The Sentier Courbet 1 is an easy walk of about 4.0 kilometres through Ornans; it 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 two trails differ in length and stated difficulty.
The Parcours des Roches is a longer, moderately difficult circular route, measuring 6.4 kilometres and taking about two hours and 30 minutes. From the viewpoints above the rocks, you can look out over Ornans. The route is part of the Vallées de la Loue et du Lison Natura 2000 site, where hiking and mountain biking are listed activities. Follow any local notices and trail rules.
The Voie Courbet also leads into Ornans. The 23.5-kilometre route reaches the town and connects the plateau with the Loue Valley. In Ornans, it crosses the Loue over the large bridge and runs alongside the Musée Courbet. Check the latest access conditions before setting off. This lets you consider a stroll through town, a scenic circular route and the longer connection between plateau and valley, depending on the distance you want to cover.
Museums and architectural history
The Musée départemental Gustave Courbet brings together around 400 works, including about 60 by Gustave Courbet; collection figures may change. The visitor guide works on smartphones or borrowed tablets. It offers texts in French, English and German, as well as audio description and content in French Sign Language. Alongside the collection, visitors can therefore benefit from a range of different forms of guidance.
The Musée de la vie d’avant depicts life in Franche-Comté between 1850 and 1930. Numerous scenes featuring dolls in period costumes bring this era to life and offer a different perspective on regional history. Guided tours are available for groups of ten or more by prior arrangement via email. Check the current arrangements before your trip.
The town’s architectural history can also be traced through specific dates: the Église Saint-Laurent was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century. Its four-bay nave and choir were built between 1546 and 1548. The war memorial on Place Robert Humblot has been listed as a historic monument since 19 December 2022.
The HĂ´pital Saint-Louis is partially protected as a historic monument. A significant tapestry donated by Juliette Courbet at the end of her life is still on display in the entrance hall. These individual architectural and artistic works add further perspectives on the history of Ornans to a visit to its museums.
When choosing Ornans as a destination, you can weigh up your priorities: riverside scenery and walking trails, the museums’ collections or the history of the town’s buildings. The trails vary considerably in length and duration, while the town’s cultural history can be seen at several named sites.
Discover more destinations: Villars-Sous-Écot, Fournets-Luisans, Rennes-Sur-Loue, Étupes, Abbévillers, Montferrand-Le-Château, Verrières-de-Joux, Geney.
For the full travel overview: Doubs.
