Terre du Jura
HeritageEasyFrom April to October

From the Royal Saltworks to the remote corners of the Jura (demonstration)

Four nights amongst UNESCO World Heritage sites, hilltop villages and abbeys, from Arc-et-Senans to Lons-le-Saunier.

in stages
4 nights
in stages
at your own pace
No hiking
at your own pace
between stages
By car
between stages

Overview

Sample itinerary: the accommodation listed is fictitious. A holiday without hiking, exploring the Jura’s heritage: two saltworks listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Arbois and the house of Louis Pasteur, the wine route to Château-Chalon, then Baume-les-Messieurs Abbey at the head of its valley. You’ll travel by car from one stop to the next; check opening times with the sites directly.
Start
Arc-et-Senans (Doubs)
Season
From April to October
Getting there and back
Travelling by car, with distances of 15 to 40 km between stages. Arc-et-Senans has a TER station (check timetables).

Map and profile

Approximate line between the stage villages.

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  • 1 Stage village
  • Partner accommodation

The stages

  1. 1
    Stage 1: Arc-et-Senans

    Night in Arc-et-Senans

    Easy

    Arc-et-Senans (Doubs) → Arc-et-Senans

    A tour of the Royal Saltworks, a masterpiece by the architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its gardens.

    Highlights
    Royal salt works; gardens; the Loue Valley
    Food and supplies
    Restaurants in Arc-et-Senans
    Access
    Arc-et-Senans railway station
  2. 2
    Stage 2: Salins-les-Bains

    Night in Salins-les-Bains

    Easy

    Arc-et-Senans → Salins-les-Bains

    Route to Salins-les-Bains and its Grande Saline, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site: underground galleries and a water wheel.

    Highlights
    Grande Saline; Fort Saint-André; thermal baths
    Food and supplies
    Shops and restaurants in Salins-les-Bains
    Access
    Approximately 20 km from Arc-et-Senans
  3. 3
    Stage 3: Arbois

    Night in Arbois

    Easy

    Salins-les-Bains → Arbois

    Arbois, the wine capital of the Jura: Louis Pasteur’s house, wine cellars and ‘vin jaune’ tastings.

    Highlights
    Louis Pasteur’s house; the Reculée des Planches; vin jaune and Savagnin
    Food and supplies
    Plenty of restaurants and wine cellars in Arbois
    Access
    Approximately 15 km from Salins-les-Bains
  4. 4
    Stage 4: Lons-le-Saunier

    Night in Lons-le-Saunier

    Easy

    Arbois → Lons-le-Saunier

    Wine route via Château-Chalon, a hilltop village listed amongst the Most Beautiful Villages of France, then the abbey and the cirque at Baume-les-Messieurs, before Lons-le-Saunier, the birthplace of Rouget de Lisle.

    Highlights
    Château-Chalon; the abbey and cirque at Baume-les-Messieurs; Rue du Commerce and its arcades
    Food and supplies
    All local shops in Lons-le-Saunier
    Access
    Approximately 40 km from Arbois

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