Les Arsures in Arbois

From Salins-les-Bains, take the D105 road towards Arbois and arrive at Les Arsures a few kilometres from Salins. Parking is available in the centre of the village on the right, next to the town hall.

Random^GR® 59 markings in yellow and sometimes non-existent.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the D105 towards Salins for about 150 metres and turn right towards Montigny-lès-Arsures.

(1) At the three-way junction, turn left and continue straight ahead, ignoring the small paths on the left and right until you reach the railway line hidden by the trees. At the railway line, the path makes a first turn right then left. Follow it to pass under the railway line after about 250 metres. Continue along this path, which follows the railway line on the right, for just over 1 kilometre.

(2) Don't miss the passage under the railway line, on the right below (clearly visible red and white marker). Turn left after the passage and then immediately take the path on the right which leads to the entrance to the village of Montigny-lès-Arsures (a very pretty village).

(3) At the entrance to the village, take the path on the left, which climbs slightly, and follow it straight ahead (^GR® markings).

(4) At the end of the street, a yellow sign indicates two directions for Arbois. Follow the one on the left, which climbs steeply. After climbing for about 400 metres, cross over the railway line and continue along the road. Continue along the road and then along a path for about 1.2 kilometres, ignoring the paths that branch off to the left and right. At the three-way junction, almost at the top of the path, you will have reached the highest point of the hike.

(5) Be careful not to miss the wide path that descends to the far right (still on the^GR® but poorly marked at the junction) and joins a stony path after about 1 km and after passing under the railway line halfway. After passing a large, recently built hangar, you will reach a road.

(6) Follow this road downhill. At the next fork, ignore the small road on the left (Chemin Vinetier) and, almost at the end of the straight road, you will find the start of a small path that descends to the left at a right angle (^GR® markings).

(7) Follow it, walk along the gardens, then cross a road to continue through the vineyards. Cross these vineyards, continuing straight ahead (ignore the wide path that descends to the left) to the top of a small hill where you will reach a descending road in a residential area.

(8) At the bottom of this road, turn left onto Chemin Vinetier, which descends towards the town. Continue on the left until the next fork.

(9) Turn left again onto Rue du Château Pécaud, then take the^second left (signposted Église Saint-Just) which leads to the wine cellar. Walk along the side of the cellar via the small downhill street to reach the main street. Cross it and continue straight ahead along the car park, then take Rue de la Tour to the tower and the river.

(10) There are two benches and a low wall where you can picnic by the Cuisance river. Then set off again, taking the pretty stone bridge that leads to Place Faramand. Follow Rue de Faramand to the right to reach the Église Saint-Just. Take the time to read the various information boards. Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville leads to a square with an old fountain in the centre. Cross the square and continue straight ahead along Avenue Général Delort. After about 400 metres, you will come to the junction with Rue du Château Pécaud.

(9) Turn left onto Rue Saint-Roch and walk along a stream. After 300 metres, continue slightly to the right onto Rue du Petit Changin.

(11) At the three-way junction, turn right onto Rue de la Tour Canoz. Follow this street, which turns left after 250 metres to reach a crossroads. Turn right towards La Corvée (yellow sign). After less than 100 metres, continue left towards Montigny (yellow sign). This path leads to the entrance to the village of Montigny, which you will soon see. At the entrance to the village, after the first houses, join a tarmac road.

(12) Take the road on the right. After 250 m, turn left and continue straight down into the village towards the cemetery. Before reaching the cemetery, turn right onto Rue du Château until you reach a four-way crossroads. Turn right at a right angle until you reach the small square with a fountain. Turn left and then immediately right onto Rue de la Boutière (D249), towards Les Arsures. Follow this departmental road for 450 m until you reach the entrance to a slight left-hand bend and two paths on the right.

(13) Ignore the first path and follow the one that goes straight up through the vineyards (it's steep for 150 metres!). At the end of this wide path, turn left onto the path that goes downhill and follow it until you reach a cross path.

(14) First turn left then right to take the path slightly to the right. Join a gravel road. At the next three-way junction, turn left (yellow marker). Join the D24 and follow it to the right to the village and the car park (S/E).

(4) On the hill to the right of the road, there is a picnic area (poorly maintained).

In Montigny, take the time to stroll around the village to discover the old houses, some renovated, some not, which are typical of the region. To do so, take the path on the right at the entrance to the village and, after wandering around, rejoin the route at (4) by going up the main street.

In Arbois, as in Montigny, the cellars and wine tasting rooms of the Jura wines await you.