Discover Arches: Forest Trails and Paper History

Arches can be explored through its forest trails and layered local history. Changes to the landscape, papermaking and former workplaces give the municipality a variety of themes to explore during a stay. For planning, two types of excursions are easy to distinguish: forest trails of varying difficulty and the 32-kilometre Boucle patrimoine n°19 – les deux cantons. The historical walking tour, with its explanatory panels, offers another focus. You can decide whether to concentrate on trails through wooded areas, a clearly described route or local history.

Forest Trails and Landscape

The Canal d’Alimentation du Réservoir de Bouzey crosses the municipality of Arches from east to west. Well-maintained forest trails run through the wooded areas, where you can explore the local flora. Some of these trails lead to quiet clearings. They vary in difficulty, with options for occasional walkers as well as experienced hikers. This lets you choose forest trails to match your preferred level of difficulty, rather than treating the entire trail network as having a single level.

The Boucle patrimoine n°19 – les deux cantons

This loop starts and ends in Arches. It is 32 kilometres long, is rated moderate and has an elevation gain of 300 metres. These three figures describe different aspects: its length, difficulty and elevation gain. When comparing the loop with the local forest trails, you can consider both their varying difficulty levels and this route’s specific figures. This clearly defined tour can therefore be considered as a separate option when planning your excursions.

The loop passes the Papeterie d’Arches and crosses the Canal d’Alimentation du Réservoir de Bouzey. The canal was completed in 1883. Here, the route and canal come together as different aspects of local history: the loop defines the course of the excursion, while the completion year provides a historical reference point for the infrastructure.

Historical Highlights in Arches

At the Château viewpoint in Arches, an information panel helps you trace changes to the landscape since the end of the 19th century. Arches also has a historical walking tour with explanatory panels. This offers two distinct ways to explore the area: focusing on changes to the landscape or taking a walking tour with historical commentary.

At the foot of the church hill, you can see an old scale that was once used to weigh cargo. At a junction on the Boucle patrimoine n°19 – les deux cantons, you can also see the manor house built in 1897 for the owner of the Kullmann weaving mill. The scale evokes the handling of goods, while the manor house is linked to the Kullmann weaving mill and its owner. Together, these places offer insight into different economic aspects of local history.

Papermaking as a Regional Theme

Arches lies in a papermaking region. The oldest paper mill in Arches dates back to 1492. Expertise passed down through generations continues to be taught at a school for papermaking professions. The history of papermaking thus brings together the heritage of mill work and the passing on of expertise. Combined with the Papeterie d’Arches, which the loop passes, this offers a specific point of interest for visitors interested in papermaking and the history of local work.

Discover more destinations: Fays, La Voivre, Vecoux, Bellefontaine, Bruyères, Vagney, Ainvelle, Damblain.

For the regional travel overview: Vosges.