THE MONTBEL BRIDGE

The Montbel Bridge is a very special  infrastructure located in the forest at an altitude of 903 metres.

It can be reached in several ways: from the village of Les Grandes Tailles via the forest path on the left, from the sectory of La Grande Goutte by following the red ring signpost via the path of the Two Chapels, or from sectory Les Neufs-Bois by passing the three ponds and taking the yellow ring signpost in the direction of the Three Musketeers.

Built in several stages:

• It was built in 1937 under the direction of the ONF (Office National des Forêts) by the deputy inspector de Montbel. Its construction was made possible because the material was brought in from the Grandes Tailles sectory using motorised trolleys. The construction was carried out by unemployed labourers who had to work for four hours in order to be entitled to meals.

• The bridge was built too close to the mountain. In 1945, when the forestry workers' oxen gave way to motorised machines, the path had to be widened as the lorries tore off the railings when turning.

• The railings were replaced in 2006 and earthworks were carried out on both sides of the bridge to improve the passage and manoeuvring of loggers.

• The plaque on the bridge was renovated in 2019 by the Creusot factories in Le Thillot (cleaning, painting of the inscriptions).