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Park in the car park on Place Freihalden, opposite the medical centre. This route is signposted with hiking posts; yellow markings will soon be added to this walk.
(S/E) Turn right onto Rue Jean-Marie Vianney towards the basilica. As you pass, admire the Basilica of Saint Sixtus, a jewel of Neo-Byzantine architecture, and continue to the left. On your right, you’ll see the meadow by the 20th-century semi-underground church, Notre-Dame de la Miséricorde. Then, on your left , you’ll come across the Wax Museum: ‘The Life of the Holy Curé of Ars’, where the thirty-five wax figures created by Grévin will amaze you with their realism.
(1) Carry on straight ahead as you head down through the village.
(2) At the junction, go straight on, then turn right onto the Chemin du Château towards the Monument de la Rencontre. You’ll see the Château d’Ars straight ahead.
(3) At the inverted bridge, turn left towards the Monument de la Rencontre. From there, you’ll walk through the fields, with views of the Monts du Beaujolais and the Monts d’Or. At the junction with the Chemin de la Rencontre, turn left to admire the Monument de la Rencontre, a symbol of Jean-Marie Vianney’s arrival in Ars in 1818 and his encounter with the young shepherd.
(4) Retrace your steps and turn left onto the path opposite the one you came along. Cross the D88b carefully and carry on straight ahead until you reach the four-way junction.
(5) At the signpost, turn left towards Ars-sur-Formans.
(6) At La Rose, turn left again towards Ars-sur-Formans (basilica). You will pass close to the John Paul II International Seminary, a centre for the reception and training of priests.
(2) Turn right.
(1) Go straight on, pass the basilica again and continue along Rue Jean-Marie Vianney to return to the car park.
Tourist office
Moderate 
Visorando Member
