The Fontinettes boat elevator

The Sentier des Fontinettes invites you to discover the often overlooked natural riches of Arques: from the Étang de Beauséjour to the Étang de Malhôve, via the Forêt de Rihoult (forest) and the canal towpath, not forgetting the nautical base and boat lift.

Details

248911
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 15 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 15 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 26 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Departure from the Fontinettes boat elevator in Arques.

(S/E) Head West and take the towpath along the canal on your left-hand. Always continue straight ahead along the designated path.

(1) Follow the Écluse des Flandres (lock), then cross the marina access arm on a footbridge.

(2) At the foot of the railroad bridge, turn right, following the railroad line on your left-hand side, then the marina on your right. Go through a gate into Rue du Loucheur (Street). Continue straight on to the level crossing.

(3) Cross the railroad at the level crossing and turn left into Avenue François Mitterrand (Road). Take the first track on the left (Chemin de l'Étang). At the fork, take the left-hand path (go straight on). Follow the railroad line on your left and the Étang Beauséjour (former sand pit) on your right.

(4) Turn right and cross the pond on the seawall. At the end, turn away from the pond and follow the street, which first arcs to the right, then veers to the right.

(5) Turn left into Rue Michelet (Street) towards Étang de Malhove (Pond). After passing under the arch of the railroad bridge, you'll come to l'Étang de Malhove (Pond).

(6) Go around the pond to the right and, halfway along its east bank, turn right with the path. Continue along Rue de Montpellier (Street).

(7) Turn left into Rue de Bordeaux (Street). At the end, turn right. Cross the D210 road (careful) and continue straight ahead. After approx. 75m, leave the road turning right, continuing straight ahead on a dirt track along the "Vieux Fossé" stream on your right. When you reach a bridge, continue along the small road (do not use the bridge).

(8) At the entrance to the forest, turn right and follow a path along the forest edge for about 800m.

(9) Turn right and cross the Vieux Fossé. Cross a track, cross the railroad at the level crossing and cross a track again. After about 100 m, take the first path on the right (West-South-West). At the end, continue along Rue Parmentier 5road). At the next crossroads, turn left to reach Avenue Pierre Mendès-France.

(10) Turn right into the avenue and take the second left into Rue Pierre Curie (Street). Continue along the railroad line on your right-hand side. When the street bends to the left, turn right, carefully cross the railroad through the gate and find the boat lift (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 11 m - Ascenseur à Bateaux des Fontinettes (Arques)
  2. 1 : km 1.41 - alt. 7 m - Flandres lock - Canal de Neufossé
  3. 2 : km 2.13 - alt. 5 m - Railway bridge. Close to the - Aa (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 3.4 - alt. 9 m - Level crossing
  5. 4 : km 3.98 - alt. 6 m - Etang Beauséjour - Dyke
  6. 5 : km 4.41 - alt. 6 m - Rue Michelet
  7. 6 : km 4.82 - alt. 5 m - Malhove pond
  8. 7 : km 4.94 - alt. 6 m - Rue de Montpellier x Rue de Bordeaux
  9. 8 : km 6.39 - alt. 13 m - Rihoult-Clairmarais forest
  10. 9 : km 7.17 - alt. 16 m - Junction to cross the Vieux Fossé
  11. 10 : km 8.86 - alt. 24 m - Avenue Pierre Mendès-France
  12. S/E : km 9.43 - alt. 11 m - Top floor of the boat lift

Notes

Start: Departure from the Fontinettes boat elevator in Arques.

Worth a visit

Completed in 1887, the boat lift enabled barges to overcome the 13m height difference, thanks to a Roberval balance-type device and Archimedes' thrust.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 45 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 26573579

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike... well signposted at every junction! A varied walk that passes through a variety of places: towpaths, forests, fields... very few roads, always with pavements and little traffic...
why not visit the Fontinettes lift at the start/end of the hike?
Definitely worth doing again! 🤩

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User 26281817

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good. Very clear explanations. I will definitely use Visorando again.

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User 24623003

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route

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Spiat
Spiat

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The route includes many tarmac roads with frequent residential crossings.
The landscape is rather industrial, with unpleasant chemical smells.
In short, a disappointing route for our 1st hike of the season!
We'll soon make up for it with a selection of hikes in the heart of nature.

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colette colier
colette colier

I only watched

Circuit not made

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marie59640
marie59640

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

end of hike a little complicated because lack of marking especially arrived in town otherwise on the whole correct but to think of re-specifying especially at the strategic point the direction thank you in advance we had made this location to carry out this hike with our walking group good day

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riquita
riquita

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very varied route, with alternating townscapes, canal banks and forests. Sunday afternoon's short walk ended with a visit to the Fontinettes lift. It allowed us to discover other aspects of the town of Arques.

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Joe.douchet
Joe.douchet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

pleasant, varied route, well signposted in blue

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GADEYNE
GADEYNE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting and varied route.
The blue markings are a reliable and well-kept aid.
Numerous opportunities to "cut and run".
Using a staircase open to the public, you can climb to the upper level of the boat lift, to see the old boat access. The canal has been filled in but is clearly visible, and the mooring buoys are still there, with their rings.
In pink on the map, a path leads to Batavia Castle, and to the lock replacing the lift (Not tested).

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Manou59700
Manou59700

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied walk, from the canal to the ponds and the wooded area.
Follow the blue markings.

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Jean-Mi 62550
Jean-Mi 62550

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice circuit around Arques with a few tarmac roads with lorries passing through!
Nice walk around the marshes where we had a picnic!
A recommended walk if you're in the area ...
Be careful at point n°2 before the railway line, the path is not very visible on your right!

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Roromian
Roromian

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with varied scenery.
Blue markings have now been created for this walk.

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choubl
choubl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The bridge was being rebuilt, so we had to go from the Flanders lock to the Beausejour pond, as access to the railway bridge was closed to the public. Otherwise not many people. Very pleasant

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MAMIEJO
MAMIEJO

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Varied scenery: towpath, locks, ponds, forest. You can vary the distance and the route by walking around the ponds.
At point 9, I don't think the directions on the PDF are clear: after the level crossing, there's a house on the left. You need to take the path opposite (GR). It is slightly to the left.

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Daniel Tielie
Daniel Tielie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

very good

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