The Doubs, pronounced: doe, is a 430 km long river in the east of France. It has its source in the village of Mouthe in the French Jura, close to the border with Switzerland. The source of the Doubs is at an altitude of 937 m, the river flows into the Saône at Verdun-sur-le-Doubs, at an altitude of 180 m. The department through which the Doubs flows first is named after the river: the department of Doubs. The name comes from the Latin dubius = doubter. The name refers to the fact that the source and the mouth are only about 100 km apart, while the length is more than 400 km. First the river flows to the northeast, towards the Rhine, and then, a little further north, back to the southwest.
The Doubs is a partial border river between France and Switzerland. Near Morteau, the Doubs forms the Lac de Chaillexon, after which the river plunges 25 m down into a waterfall, Le Saut du Doubs. Along the border with Switzerland, the Doubs makes its way through a narrow valley, the Gorges du Doubs. Slightly past Goumois, the Doubs makes a loop in Swiss territory.
Before the town of Montbéliard, near Valentigney, the Doubs nods to the southwest. Shortly after, at Voujeaucourt, the Doubs joins the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, which comes from the northeast of the Rhine. This part up to Dole, the Doubs flows through a valley. In some places there are waterfalls of about 1 m over the width of the Doubs. After Dole the area becomes flatter. At Besançon, the Doubs takes a long loop around the old city center.

The route starts in Malbuisson at the Lac du Saint Point. This town has a number of hotels and is a great base for this route. Just outside the village you will pass La Source Bleue, a source worth checking out. The source can be reached from the parking lot within 10 minutes. Then it goes uphill towards Montperreux where just outside the village there is a viewpoint over the lake and the surrounding area. Near the village, the route leads to Chateaux de Joux, where there was a wooden fortification since the 11th century. In the 17th century, the old castle was transformed into a fortress with bastions and casemates. During the 19th century the castle served as a prison. After the Second World War, the castle lost its military function and became an open-air museum about the history of fortifications.

Just after the castle you pass the border with Switzerland, but after 15 km you drive out of Switzerland again and the route goes towards Villers le Lac. A few kilometers before this place you can visit Musée de la vie d'antan. A museum with old machinery from this region. The first refueling stop is planned in Villers le Lac, and you will pass the Doubs river for the first time. The route now follows the river, which also serves as a border between France and Switzerland here. At a number of points there are viewpoints for which you sometimes have to walk a few meters. The first coffee stop is planned at Saut du Doubs. You should definitely not miss this wonderfully narrow passage with waterfall. With a short walk you get to the viewpoints with a view of the waterfall. The route continues on beautiful winding roads to the northeast. Near Soulce Cernay you will pass a 15 meter high weir in the Doubs.

The lunch stop is planned in the town of Saint Hyppolyte. There are several terraces here on the water, so in good weather you can sit outside for lunch. After the lunch stop, the route heads southwest on lovely winding roads and then north to Clerval where you cross the Doubs again. You continue to follow the Doubs west to Baume les Dames, where the overnight stay and the second refueling stop are planned.

If you want to visit Besançon extensively and see the Citadelle, it is wise to leave on time on the second day, it is then only an hour to the Citadelle of Besançon and so you have plenty of time to expand this location with various museums. to watch. Places of interest in the city include this citadel, a World Heritage Site, and the cathedral. Other historic churches are the Église Saint-Maurice and the Église Sainte-Madeleine (in the Battant district, from the 18th century). In addition to the citadel, there are also fortifications in the historic city (Tour des Cordeliers, Tour de Chamars, Tour Notre-Dame and Tour Rivotte) and small fortresses around the city (Fort Griffon, Fort du Petit-Chaudanne, Fort de Chaudanne, Fort de Trois-Châtels, Fort Brégille and Fort Beauregard). The city also has several museums.

From Besançon the route continues along the Doubs and Loue a tributary. Another coffee or lunch stop is planned at Ornans. You can choose from various restaurants or terraces here. If you want to have your motorcycle in sight, choose La Table de Gustave, you can park opposite. At Pontarlier we pick up the Doubs again and the route goes towards Lac de Saint Point and the town of Malbuisson where the route ends.