Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The N°6 pillar is one of the eight columns, called column-posts or Guidon columns, erected in the 19th century in the forest of Chaux. These terminals marked the main crossroads of the forest, aligned from west to east along its central road. Today, there are only seven remaining, with pillar 7 missing. They were listed as historic monuments in 2013 for their heritage value and role in local forest history.

The lime forest, France's second largest deciduous forest with 20,493 hectares, is a massif mainly composed of oaks, situated on horseback in the Jura and Doubs departments. Its historical exploitation, particularly for firewood, has shaped its landscape and economy, as evidenced by the royal saline of Arc-et-Senans (1775) or the glass factory of La Vieille-Loye (1295–1931). The column markers symbolize the methodical organization of this federal forest estate, managed by the NFB since the 19th century.

These columns are part of a broader context of forest management and territorial development. The lime forest, classified as ZNIEFF and Natura 2000, is home to remarkable biodiversity, with streams, wetlands and preserved ecosystems. The pillars, in addition to their practical function, recall the history of the coal loggers, blacksmiths and glassmakers who have lived and worked in this massif since the 12th century.

Terminal No. 6, near Chissey-sur-Loue, thus illustrates both the region's industrial and forestry heritage, and the conservation efforts undertaken since the 21st century. Its inscription in historical monuments underlines its importance as a material witness to local history and the evolution of forestry practices in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

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