GR 59
Encyclopedia
The GR 59 Grande Randonnée long-distance footpath in France
connects two mountain ranges across relatively low-lying terrain. In the north, it begins at Ballon d'Alsace
in the Vosges
at a height of over 1000m. It loses height rapidly, and runs south-south-west through the département of the Haute-Saône
to Besançon
on the River Doubs, in the département of the same name. It then follows a circuitous route, partly along the River Loue (a tributary of the Doubs) to Lons-le-Saunier
in the département of Jura. At St-Amour
just south of Lons, the GR 9
splits from the GR 59 and takes a more easterly route, near the Swiss
border, while the GR59 continues into the regions of Bugey
and Revermont in the département of Ain
, finally rejoining the GR 9 near Yenne
on the banks of the Rhône
; the GR 9 then continues to the Mediterranean at St-Tropez.
Towns and villages that the path passes through, with approximate heights and distances from the northern end of the path, include:
Detailed guides to the path (in French) are available from the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre in two sections: No. 510, "Des Vosges au Jura", and No. 901, "Tours et traversées dans l'Ain".
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
connects two mountain ranges across relatively low-lying terrain. In the north, it begins at Ballon d'Alsace
Ballon d'Alsace
Ballon d'Alsace is a mountain at the border of Alsace, Lorraine, and Franche-Comté. From its top, views include the Vosges, the Rhine valley, and the Black Forest.A road leads over a pass near the peak at ....
in the Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
at a height of over 1000m. It loses height rapidly, and runs south-south-west through the département of the Haute-Saône
Haute-Saône
Haute-Saône is a French department of the Franche-Comté région, named after the Saône River.- History :The department was created in the early years of the French Revolution through the application of a law dated 22 December 1789, from part of the former province of Franche-Comté...
to Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
on the River Doubs, in the département of the same name. It then follows a circuitous route, partly along the River Loue (a tributary of the Doubs) to Lons-le-Saunier
Lons-le-Saunier
Lons-le-Saunier is a commune and capital of the Jura department in eastern France.-Geography:The town is in the heart of the Revermont region, at the foot of the "premier plateau" of the Jura massif...
in the département of Jura. At St-Amour
Saint-Amour, Jura
Saint-Amour is a town and commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was .The estimation for 2004 was .-References:*...
just south of Lons, the GR 9
GR 9
The GR 9 is a long-distance walking route of the Grande Randonnée network in France. The route connects Saint-Amour, Jura with Port Grimaud.Along the way, the route passes through:* Saint-Amour, Jura* Lajoux* Culoz* Grenoble* Saillans, Drôme* Monieux...
splits from the GR 59 and takes a more easterly route, near the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
border, while the GR59 continues into the regions of Bugey
Bugey
The Bugey is a historical region in the département of Ain , France. It is located in a loop of the Rhône River in the southeast of the département...
and Revermont in the département of Ain
Ain
Ain is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
, finally rejoining the GR 9 near Yenne
Yenne
Yenne is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
on the banks of the Rhône
Rhône
Rhone can refer to:* Rhone, one of the major rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France* Rhône Glacier, the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the canton of Valais in Switzerland...
; the GR 9 then continues to the Mediterranean at St-Tropez.
Towns and villages that the path passes through, with approximate heights and distances from the northern end of the path, include:
- RonchampRonchampRonchamp is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.It is located between the Vosges and the Jura mountains.-Notre Dame du Haut:...
, 340m, 34Km - SaulnotSaulnotSaulnot is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:*...
, 370m, 52Km - AbbenansAbbenansAbbenans is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- Population:-References:*...
, 325m, 80Km - Hyèvre-ParoisseHyèvre-ParoisseHyèvre-Paroisse is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, 285m, 104Km - Baume-les-DamesBaume-les-DamesBaume-les-Dames is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, 291m, 112Km (plus 1Km off the path) - RoulansRoulansRoulans is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, 327m, 130Km - BesançonBesançonBesançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
, 247m, 155Km (plus 3.5Km off the path) - QuingeyQuingeyQuingey is a commune and canton seat in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Geography:Quingey lies southwest of Besançon and east of Dole in the department of Jura....
, 265m, 181Km - Salins-les-BainsSalins-les-BainsSalins-les-Bains is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.Salins owes its name to its saline waters, used for bathing and drinking. There are also salt works and gypsum deposits. In 2009 the historic saltworks were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites...
, 331m, 226Km - ArboisArboisArbois is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France. The Cuisance River passes through the town, which has some pretty streets lined with ancient houses...
, 306m, 242Km - PolignyPolignyPoligny is the name of several communes in France:* Poligny, Hautes-Alpes, in the Hautes-Alpes département* Poligny, Aube, in the Aube département* Poligny, Jura, in the Jura département...
, 332m, 270Km - PassenansPassenansPassenans is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 296.The estimate for 2004 was 300.-References:*...
, 320m, 286.5Km - Château-ChalonChâteau-ChalonChâteau-Chalon is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:*...
, 450m, 296.5Km - Baume-les-MessieursBaume-les-MessieursBaume-les-Messieurs is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.The village lies within the most extensive of the steephead valleys of the Jura escarpment, the Reculée de Baume. It is therefore almost surrounded by limestone cliffs about 200m high. The River Seille has...
, 305m, 319Km - PerignyPérignyPérigny or Perrigny is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:*Périgny, Allier, in the Allier département*Périgny, Calvados, in the Calvados département*Périgny, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime département...
, 350m, 333Km - Lons-le-SaunierLons-le-SaunierLons-le-Saunier is a commune and capital of the Jura department in eastern France.-Geography:The town is in the heart of the Revermont region, at the foot of the "premier plateau" of the Jura massif...
, 250m, 356Km - St-AmourSaint-Amour, JuraSaint-Amour is a town and commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was .The estimation for 2004 was .-References:*...
- St-Laurent-la-Roche
- TreffortTreffortTreffort is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France....
- Ambérieu-en-BugeyAmbérieu-en-BugeyAmbérieu-en-Bugey is a commune in the department of Ain in eastern France.It is the largest town in the arrondissement of Belley and the seat of the Ambérieu-en-Bugey canton, as well as the capital of the historic region of Bugey.-Geography:...
- YenneYenneYenne is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
Detailed guides to the path (in French) are available from the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre in two sections: No. 510, "Des Vosges au Jura", and No. 901, "Tours et traversées dans l'Ain".