Montigny-lès-Arsures: Wine and Heritage

Montigny-lès-Arsures is a destination for travelers interested in Jura wine-growing and the history of its structures. The village lies along the Route des vins du Jura. It is also home to the Sentier du Trousseau, wine-growing in the Arbois area, and the curved Viaduc de Montigny. When looking for a hotel, you can consider whether wine and tastings or local and railway history should be the focus of your trip.

Wine-growing and Trousseau

Montigny-lès-Arsures is the largest wine-growing village in the Jura. Winemakers cultivate 200 hectares in the Arbois and Côtes du Jura areas under AOC, along with a further 2.57 hectares of other wines. The figures distinguish the AOC area from the additional land used for other wines and indicate two different scales of wine-growing.

The Trousseau grape variety is also part of the local identity: Montigny-lès-Arsures is considered the capital of this variety. The Sentier du Trousseau passes through the vineyards of the Arbois area and showcases the built heritage of Montigny-lès-Arsures. The trail thus brings together two aspects of the village: its wine-growing landscape and historic buildings. If you are interested in both, the trail offers a specific point of connection between them.

Local wine tastings

Caveau de Bacchus – Aviet Lucien & Fils offers cellar tours and wine tastings. If a cellar tour or tasting is important to your plans, it is best to confirm availability in advance. This lets you take this specific activity into account without assuming that you will be able to participate during your visit.

Viaduct and local history

The Tour du Zouave Coco was fully restored in 1988. Associated with it was a circular mound of earth three to four meters high, bordered by dry-stone walls and topped with a narrow terrace. From there, visitors could look out over the Arbois valley and the Arsures corridor. Its height, enclosure, and terrace give a vivid impression of this historic structure and its described position in the landscape.

The Viaduc de Montigny is a curved railway viaduct measuring 230 meters long and 28 meters high, with eleven arches. It is part of the Ligne des Hirondelles between Dole and Saint-Claude. These measurements describe different aspects of the structure: its length, height, and layout. Together with its place on the line, they help situate the viaduct both as a structure in its own right and in the context of this railway route.

Another local monument is the Église Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand de Montigny-lès-Arsures, listed as a historic monument by decree dated March 2, 1981. The village’s history also includes an event on January 25, 1871: during the retreat of the French troops, Zouave Coco held off an enemy detachment near Montigny-lès-Arsures until he ran out of ammunition. This episode gives the village’s history a specific historical connection, while the church and viaduct are distinct examples of its built heritage.

Discover more destinations: Fay-En-Montagne, Grusse, Blois-Sur-Seille, Molamboz, Sirod, Cuttura, Coisia, Saint-Julien.

For the regional travel guide: Jura.