Description of the stage

Between Dôle and Basel, cycle tourists can immerse themselves in the deep vales, lush valleys and brightly coloured villages of Franche-Comté, Belfort and Southern Alsace.

From Dôle to Basel, from Franche-Comté to Switzerland, EuroVelo 6 follows the wild and steep-sided valley of the River Doubs, with its culinary delights and architectural jewels, such as the citadel of Besançon. It is an enchanting route for cycle tourists, despite the poor condition of the soon-to-be-resurfaced towpath along the Rhone-Rhine Canal, and the area’s extremely quiet country roads are ideal for cycling. A detour along the cycleway through the La Chaux Forest takes us to the Saline d’Arc and Senans. This 18th-century saltworks, built by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. After Senans, we come to the “Territoire de Belfort”, between the Vosges and the Jura, and then Sundgau, with its half-timbered farmhouses. The area between Dannemarie and Mulhouse is dotted with traditional Alsatian villages, such as Illfurth and Zillisheim. A 5-km detour takes us up to Altkirch, the capital of Sundgau: a lively town with a museum dedicated to the area’s culture and traditions.

Mulhouse is the last French city along EuroVelo 6 and its Automobile Museum is well worth a visit. From here, the route continues through the verdant Harth Forest to an industrial region that provides a stark contrast with the agricultural landscapes we have just left behind.

The stage is divided into several sections

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  Dole - Besançon >> 59 kms

  It is such a pleasant stroll along the towpaths, exploring the Doubs valley. This is a very beautiful stage, scattered with a great many pretty villages on the banks of the river, working the landscape of the Franche-Comté region since time immemorial.

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  Besançon - Montbéliard >> 92 kms

  A magnificent track, running between the Doubs and the Rhône-Rhine Canal. From Besançon to the sumptuous town of Montbéliard, passing through Baume-les-Dames, at the heart of some astonishing natural and architectural heritage - this stage is a real delight for riders.

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  Montbéliard - Mulhouse >> 61 kms

  We gradually leave the Franche-Comté to go downhill into timeless Alsace, with its picture-postcard woodland and storks' nests along the canal. This is a truly enchanting sight for riders on the Eurovélo 6. It is impossible to tire of this broad range of riches, both urban and rural.

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  Mulhouse - Bâle >> 40 kms

  Eurovelo 6, running along the Rhine, wavers between the border between Switzerland, Germany and France. This is an opportunity to discover Mulhouse and its beautiful historic centre, as well as Basel and its museums, whilst taking in a rewarding mixture of languages and cultures!