Gustave Courbet was born in 1813 in the city of Ornans, located in the Doubs. Through his works of art, Courbet forever defined the landscapes of his native Loue Valley as part of the French cultural heritage. It is now time for his country to pay homage to him by immortalizing his influence through the artistic centre being developed in the Loue Valley. The museum that is located in his childhood home is currently undergoing a vast expansion and renovation program and will re-open in 2009. In the meantime, you can follow his footsteps along the Route Courbet: a veritable pilgrimage to the places that inspired his paintings. Seven different stops look out on the original sites, and reproductions of his paintings are accompanied by education panels. Ornans is very attached to this cultural heritage and has placed art at the heart of their summer events: Painting expositions, sculptures, literary and musical events, craft fairs...everything reflects the memory of the Master of Realism... The Route Courbet A seven-stop drive around Ornans that visits the open-air studios of Gustave Courbet: The Source of the Loue (Ouhans), The Trout (Montgesoye), The Castle of Ornans, The Mirror of Ornans, Landscape Near the Puit Noir (La Brême), Landscape in the Jura (Scey en Varais), Towing Scene (Cléron). Travel the route while taking in the colours and relief of this sumptuous valley.