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.

Technical sheet

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

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 15 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 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

Practical information

Start: Departure from the Fontinettes boat elevator in Arques.

In the nearby area

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 44 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 26281817

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful route

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Spiat
Spiat

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : 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 walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Apr 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

pleasant, varied route, well signposted in blue

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GADEYNE
GADEYNE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Oct 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Aug 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Feb 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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 walk : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

very good

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Premgun
Premgun

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk with no change in altitude but with some interesting tourist attractions (canal, lock, ponds, hunting huts, forest, etc.). Outside the hunting season, we were able to add the tour of the Malhove pond.
We look forward to seeing the Fontinettes boat lift. (Restoration in progress)

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