Villages & Cités de Caractère

Arlay

A town of character in Burgundy Franche Comté, Arlay lies on both banks of the Seille River. Its hills offer superb views of the surrounding area. Inhabited since ancient times by Celts, then by Gallo-Romans, the village still preserves traces of past centuries: you can't move the ground without finding the foundations of buildings, medals, coins, statuettes, vases, columns, mosaics, inscriptions, sarcophagi, fragments of precious marble and all manner of ancient objects. These debris, like mute witnesses, attest to the past grandeur and prosperity of this small city. The long period that began in the Middle Ages and ended with the conquest of the Franche Comté region was marked by the rise to power of the Chalon-Arlay family, of which Arlay was the principal possession.

Discover Arlay in the Jura, a village full of history, on the banks of the Seille. You can discover its cultural heritage through a guided tour or an escape game.

La Seille

The Seille, which rises not far from Arlay in the remote village of Ladoye-sur-Seille, is a landmark in the landscape of this picturesque town. There are several ways to enjoy the river, depending on your preferences:

  • Follow the current as it takes visitors from mill to mill to learn more about the village's history.
  • Enjoy a picnic on the banks or a relaxing afternoon in the Gravel Pit Park.
  • Set off in search of water along the whitewater trail.

CAPITAL OF STRAW WINE

Early on, man settled in Arlay and soon began to cultivate vines. In fact, it was Jean1er de Chalon, Count of Arlay, who was responsible for the earliest known regulation of the wine market. His aim was nothing less than the best selection in the pursuit of the highest quality.

Today, the vineyards of Arlay continue to be renowned for their quality products in the Jura, France and abroad. These include Vin de Paille, a sweet wine that goes perfectly with chocolate desserts and blue cheeses.

To taste and buy wine in Arlay :

LE CHATEAU D'ARLAY

In 1773, after 10 years of work, Arlay was transformed into a vast estate, thanks to the Countess de Lauraguais, before she was guillotined during the Revolution.

In 1825, his grandson, the Prince d'Arenberg, took over the estate, revitalizing the vineyards and calling on the finest craftsmen to decorate a house that had been found empty.

From the majestic ruins of the medieval castle to the current 18th-century château, a visit to Château d'Arlay and its romantic 8-hectare park will take you back in time.

DISCOVER THE CASTLE

  • Castle of Arlay, Jura
    Château d'Arlay
  • Ruins of Château d'Arlay, Jura
    Ruins of the medieval castle of Arlay
  • Château d'Arlay, Jura
    Château d'Arlay

GUIDED TOUR & ESCAPE GAME

The JurAbsolu Tourist Office offers two ways to find out more about this village.

The guided tour

From the Château to the Bourg-Dessous, come and discover all the facets of this multi-faceted village. Escape Game available. Information and reservations at the JurAbsolu Tourist Office.

DISCOVER

Escape Game Outdoors

1479, Louis XI, King of France, had already succeeded in seizing the Duchy of Burgundy just a few leagues from Arlay. He wrote a letter to the Duke of Craon, instructing him to attack the fortress of Arlay. Armies were soon to arrive, and the knight in charge of defending the fortress, Aymé de Boujailles, had been kidnapped and imprisoned by Louis XI. You must find him before they arrive, or Arlay will be lost. You have 1h30 to find Aymé de Boujailles!

DISCOVER