La Vieille Loye - Arc et Senans

Second stage of the Échappée Jurassienne. The first 12 kilometres of this route are sheltered by the Chaux forest. Pay close attention to the signposts so you don't get lost! As you leave the edge of the woods, you will discover an architectural gem: the village of Arc-et-Senans, home to the Royal Saltworks, which will take you on a journey through the history of salt in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: L'Échappée Jurassienne

Details

68784803
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 164 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 164 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 850 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 748 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: La Vieille-Loye (39380)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 47.041075° / E 5.630426°
  • ⚑
    End: N 47.033635° / E 5.781298°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare d'Arc-et-Senans.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3224E, 3324ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Red and white GR®59A markings and specific signs bearing the symbol "J"

(S) From the cemetery, head to La Vieille Loye church, then turn left onto the D240. At the stop sign, turn right onto the D240, following the signs for Barraque du 14. Walk along Rue des Turots heading northeast until you reach the edge of the Fôret de Chaux.

(1) Continue to the right, first following the edge of the forest, then gradually entering it. Continue until you reach a fork.
Please note: you are entering the third largest forest in France and the second largest deciduous forest. It covers approximately 22,000 hectares and has been wooded for around 6,000 to 8,000 years. Pay close attention to the signposts so you don't get lost!

(2) Follow the path on the left, which heads south-west, and continue until you reach the intersection with the Gilardoni forest path.

(3) Cross it and continue east until you reach the signpost at the intersection with the Marizy forest road.

(4) Follow it to the right (southeast), then after about 200 metres, turn left, heading northeast, following the signs for Arc et Senans. Walk to the signpost at the intersection with the Route Forestière de Cuiseul.

(5) Continue left (northwest), then quickly turn right. After passing the Tanche stream, turn left, then quickly right. Continue northeast until you reach the signpost at the intersection with the Route Forestière Dubois de Patellière.

(6) Turn left onto this road, then quickly right (east), then, after a slight bend, continue northeast until you reach the intersection with the Route Forestière Sommière Louvrier.

(7) Cross it and continue northeast until you reach the crossroads.

(8) Turn north-northwest and continue in this direction for about 300 metres.

(9) Turn right at the signpost, following the direction of Arc et Senans. Stay in this direction on this forest path until you reach the intersection with the Forestière Brenot road.

(10) Turn right (south) onto the paved road, then quickly left (east), and continue on the wide forest path until you reach the crossroads.

(11) Continue right, heading south, and walk along this path for about 300 m. Please note: if you reach the Tanche stream, you have taken a wrong turn!

(12) Turn left to continue east and walk to the signpost at the intersection with the Route Forestière du Carabinier.

(13) Cross this forest road and continue north-east until you reach the Route Forestière du Défais.

(14) Keep right on this road (southeast) until you reach the edge of the Chaux Forest, where you will arrive at Rue du Deffois, in front of a large meadow.

(15) Turn left (southeast) onto the paved road. Ignoring the side roads, continue to the picnic area and the sign for the entrance to Arc-et-Senans.

(16) Continue straight ahead on Rue de Deffois until you reach the fork with a cross on the median strip.

(17) Keep right on Rue du Canton d'Aval and continue to the level crossing.

(18) Cross the railway line carefully and continue along Rue de la Grande Vye until you reach the stop sign.

(19) Keep left on the D17 and, after crossing the Lons-Dôle railway line, you will arrive at the entrance to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans. (If you arrive well before 6pm, feel free to go in and visit. Allow €13 for the tour.

Red and white GR®59 markings

(20) Leave the Échappée Jurassienne markings temporarily and continue to the town hall, where you can set up camp near the motorhome area or head to the campsite (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 771 ft - Cemetery - Fontaine de la Chapelle (La Vieille-Loye)
  2. 1 : mi 0.92 - alt. 807 ft - Chaux Forest
  3. 2 : mi 1.38 - alt. 781 ft - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : mi 1.84 - alt. 761 ft - Junction with the Gilardoni forest track
  5. 4 : mi 2.58 - alt. 781 ft - Signpost for the Marizy forest road
  6. 5 : mi 3.36 - alt. 774 ft - Signpost for the Cuiseul forest road
  7. 6 : mi 4.02 - alt. 784 ft - Signpost RF Dubois de Patellière
  8. 7 : mi 4.55 - alt. 794 ft - Junction of the Sommière and Louvrier forest roads
  9. 8 : mi 4.87 - alt. 787 ft - Crossroads
  10. 9 : mi 5.03 - alt. 807 ft - Signpost
  11. 10 : mi 5.33 - alt. 823 ft - Junction with the Brenot forest road
  12. 11 : mi 5.71 - alt. 830 ft - Crossroads
  13. 12 : mi 5.86 - alt. 814 ft - Before the Tanche stream
  14. 13 : mi 6.22 - alt. 807 ft - Signpost Carabinier forest road
  15. 14 : mi 7.1 - alt. 843 ft - Défais forest road
  16. 15 : mi 7.94 - alt. 827 ft - Rue du Deffois
  17. 16 : mi 8.28 - alt. 840 ft - Arc-et-Senans picnic area
  18. 17 : mi 8.8 - alt. 804 ft - Cross
  19. 18 : mi 9.21 - alt. 771 ft - Level crossing
  20. 19 : mi 9.53 - alt. 764 ft - Stop
  21. 20 : mi 10.2 - alt. 774 ft - Gare d'Arc-et-Senans
  22. E : mi 10.94 - alt. 774 ft - Town Hall - Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans

Notes

Please note: there are no places to buy food or drink until you reach Arc-et-Senans.
Picnic areas along the route.
Camping available:
- at La Saline 3-star campsite, Les Bords de Loue. Tel: 0381575028 Info: http://www.campinglasaline.fr/
- at the motorhome site behind the town hall
Accommodation options:
- Hôtel de la Saline Royale: Tel: 0381544517
- Arc en Sel: Guesthouse and table d’hôte. Tel: 0601119008
- Le Relais d'Arc-et-Senans. Tel: 0381574060
- Le Petit Roche. Tel: 0672850535

Hike undertaken by the author on 07/06/2025

Worth a visit

From (S) to (15) The Chaux Forest, France'ssecond largest national forest.
(20) The Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans (UNESCO).
(E) Arc-et-Senans.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

christianmarche
christianmarche

Hello, partially completed on 08/10/2025, but the GR crosses private woods where, in addition to the white/red markings, there are signs saying "private property, no trespassing, etc." as a result, we did a circular at the start, from Arc-et-Senans to Fourg, passing through the forest, stopping for a snack at the Fourg wash house, and returning via the GR59A.

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