Country:
City:
Park in the car park at the Salins-les-Bains thermal baths.
(S/E) Walk to the far end of the car park and take the small path leading down towards the road. Cross the road and head down the street opposite – this is Rue des Barres. Continue along this road until you reach the second bridge.
(1) Cross the bridge on the right. Head uphill following the yellow markings. Ignore the first path on the right and continue along this stony path until you reach a Y-junction.
(2) Turn right at the sign for the Fort Saint-André alternative route. The climb is steep, winding and punctuated by small flights of steps. You’ll reach Fort Saint-André by walking alongside its impressive fortifications, which provide shelter for a break.
(3) Follow the road, walking round the fort. Pass between two treetop adventure parks. Once past the parks, walk 100 metres off the road to reach the first viewpoint in Salins, with a direct view of the salt pans and the casino.
(4) Return to the road, turn left onto it – this is theGR®®59, known locally as the Échappée Jurassienne. At the next bend, leave the road and turn left onto theGR®®. Return to the junction you passed on the way out.
(2) Turn right and follow the route back in the opposite direction to reach the first crossroads.
(1) Turn left onto Rue des Barres, continue along Place des Bains to reach the rehabilitation centre and the former thermal baths, before arriving at the charming Place de la Mairie.
(5) Cross the road to reach the street opposite, which is marked with the GR®® signs. At the next junction, keep to the right to leave theGR®® and enjoy the backstreets this town has to offer. Follow Rue Considérant. At the next junction, keep to the right, then take the stairs on the left – these are the Escaliers d’Arcon. You’ll come to a church.
(6) Follow the road, first turning left then right; start climbing, leaving the church on your right. Continue straight on, take the second road on the right and follow the signs for L’Ermitage. Be careful here: leave theGR®® on your left and follow the yellow-markedPR®® to the right. You’ll reach L’Ermitage.
(7) Follow the road to the right which passes above the hermitage. Carry on straight ahead until the road turns into a path. Continue up a steep climb to reach Fort Belin.
Please note that the track leads to a gate here which gives access to the fort; unfortunately, it is not always open.
(8) Begin the descent here. At the junction after the last hairpin bend, go straight on – the path is in good condition. At the next junction, keep to the right and join a road. Turn right and take the dirt track at the end. Continue up a gentle, gradual climb through the Bois de Saint-Jean, always following the yellow markings ofthe PR®®. At the top, you’ll come to a small memorial stone for a lieutenant who fell in battle, and a little further on, a wooden cross with an unobstructed view of Mont Poupet. You’ll reach the end of the path in a field.
(9) Turn left onto the path; there is a large yellow arrow on a fir tree.
N.B.: This path is rather overgrown and may require the use of a machete, hence two options:
- continue along this path to reach the chapel,
- if you cannot get through, take the road on the rightand rejoin theGR®® further on. At the next junction, turn left onto theGR®® to reach the chapel.
(10) Turn left onto theGR®® towards Saizenay. Continue to the junction where a small farm is accessed on the right.
(11) At the next signpost, follow the sign for La Croix du Mont Poupet; at the next one, follow the sign for Salins. From here, walk along the old Roman road.
A gentle descent; you’ll soon reach the road leading to Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne.
(12) Take the path on the left at the bend. Follow the signs and the yellow markings. Pass through the Tout Vent farm, then continue straight ahead at the crossroads, still on the old Roman road. You’ll reach the Barbarine neighbourhood. Continue straight ahead along the Chemin de la Plaine. At the next junction, turn right onto the Chemin de la Tour Ronde. When you reach the roundabout, turn left to reach the car park at the Salins thermal baths (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
