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The Jura

Accommodation
Further Information
Getting Around
Getting There
Things to See and Do
What to Eat
When to Go
Where to Go

Holidays by Destination Europe France The Jura Things to See and Do 

The Jura is still old-fashioned in its timings so it is impossible to spend a long day visiting tourist sites. Many, even in high season, only open at 10am or after, close again at noon for lunch and open again for two hours or so in the afternoon. If visiting outside July and August many open only on certain days and some close entirely for the winter season, which runs roughly from mid-October to the end of April.

Please note that any opening times listed here are indicative only.

Towns and Villages

Arbois http://www.arbois.com
A medieval town where Louis Pasteur grew up, his house now open to the public, complete with 19th century decor. Another attraction is Chocolats Hirsinger on the main square where the master chocolatier has apparently managed to design chocolates to go with wine (always a tricky combination). Children may be more interested in his much lauded ice creams.

Dole
Listed as a city of art and history, one of the most attractive towns in the region, effectively though not technically the capital of the region. There are a few sights - the house where Pasteur was born, a museum of art and a church with rather ponderous 73m tower among others, but the real pleasure is in wandering the old streets of gold stone buildings.

Salins Les Bains
A town which built its wealth on its saltworks. There are nowadays a heritage site, open for guided visits to see items like the 18th century hydraulic pump in the underground galleries where they worked the brine. Other equipment was still in use when the place closed in 1962 and the pumping system still supplies the current thermal baths. There are also forts (by the untiring Vauban) on either side of the narrow valley, designed to protect the precious salt, relatively high but good destinations for walks.

Poligny
An old fortified town known for its Romanesque buildings and boasting a dairy school and considered the capital of Comte to which there is a museum - Maison de Comte - though the pleasure is really just wandering gently.

Chateau-Chalon
One of the area's prettiest villages with lovely views, and remarkably untouristy. In terms of specific sites there is just the remnant of a castle.

Baume-les-Messieurs
Again very pretty but the reverse of Chalon, down in a reculee rather than perched on a hillside, but with striking scenery all around. In the heart of the village is a Cluniac abbey, open for guided tours.

Arlay
A small village not far north of Lons-le-Saunier with an 18th century chateau open to the public below the ruins of a fortress belonging to the Princes of Orange. The surrounding park is home to falconry shows.

Others
Lons Le Saunier is not particularly interesting though it boasts a clock which strikes notes from the Marseillaise, written by a local, whose statute was a forerunner of the rather larger Statue of Liberty. The town may appeal to some small children as home to the little Vache qui Rit cheeses. The old factory is now the town's archaeology museum which is wating for a larger home for its 300,000 objects gathered from the area. The spa, incidentally, is reputed useful in treating juvenile bedwetting. Moirans en Montage is a centre of French toy-making. Nozeroy, is a little medieval centre, the smallest town in France, retaining an clock tower and something of its old atmosphere. Saint-Claude is a lively working town, two traditional trades being manufacturing of pipes and cutting precious stones. A museum looks at both.

History

Chalain-Marigny Reconstituted Neolithic lakeside huts and the possibility of visiting the archaeological site covering an area used from the Neolithic through the Bronze ages in July and August. Finds are in the Lons le Saunier Archaeological Museum

Villards-d'Heria near Moirans en Montage A Gallo Roman site reported on the most important in France not far from one of the lakes including temples and a bath complex from the first century BC, open July and August.

Chateau de Rosay Almost destroyed during the French Revolution, laboriously reconstructed by an enthusiast who has dedicated 15 years to the job.

Chateau d'Arlay Belonging to the same family for almost 300 years, now the HQ of a family wine business with reception rooms furnished in 1830s style open to the public. A Jardin des Jeux (games) is a newer attraction.

The Outdoors and Natural Attractions

Its countryside is one of the Jura's biggest attractions where fields, hills and forests are punctuated by the mass of small waterways which work under, through and over the limestone and sandstone of the area with sometimes spectacular results.

The area also includes part of the Parc Naturel Regional du Haut Jura http://www.parc-haut-jura.fr, mountainous, heavily forested and home to around 110 types of bird as well as chamois goats and lynx. Hautes Combes is to the south of the Jura, a beautiful area, though the harsh winters have driven most people down from its heights. The uplands are the area to see unspoilt taiga forest where the close grain of the trees, required for survival, is prized for example for making stringed instruments.

Blind Valleys (Reculees)
Of these La Reculee des Planches is the deepest, with steep sides where white rock shows through the rich greenery, catching evening sun rather attractively. There are others at Baumes-les-Messieurs, d'Arbois for example.

Lakes
The lake district is made up of 15 or so lakes between forests and fields on a large plateau. The summer water temperature is 20-25ºc and there are various styles, with some more popular for fishing, others for swimming and water sports.

Waterfalls
There are a number of these, the best know the series called the Cascades de Herisson which can visited along a short 3km path which follows the various drops with total 280m over 12 falls, including one of 60metres and another known as the Fan because of its shape. Other waterfalls include Billaude and La Tuf, just behind the Moulin de Mere Michelle (see Accommodation), and one at Baume les Messiurs but there are at least 10 others, along with the springs for local rivers such as the Ain and the Lison.

Forests
Found all over the region but notably Joux, considered a particularly beautiful native pine forest with a Route des Sapins passing the 45m high �President' which is 200 eyars old. Chaux is among the largest forests in France, covering around 200 sq km and home to deer, boar, fox, badger, wood peckers and more. At La Vieille-Loye are the remains of the wood and dried earth homes of once busy communities which worked in and around the forest - charcoal burners and wood cutters principally. However, there are plenty of others which may be more convenient to wherever you are based.

Caves
The area's limestone has developed various caves featuring stalagmites and stalactites. There are organised visits to Grottes des Planches and Les Grottes des Moidons http://www.agglo-montbeliard.fr/tourisme, both close to Arbois. The first varies between summer and winter, depending on how much water is flowing and has a kilometre long trail. The second is set in a forest of the same name, only discovered in 1966 and considered to include the most attractive stalactites of the region and including a son et lumiere show at the end of the 45-minute visit. There are also Grottes de Baume-les-Messieurs near the village of the same name.

Museums and Tourist Attractions

In addition to the following there are other small museums and attractions, open just one or two days of the week or on application at the tourist office.

Ecomusee du Carton
Mesnay, near Arbois
In a former papermill dating back to the 19th century, a chance to see the different machines used to produce cardboard and the history of their use and their workers.
Musee de Jouet http://www.musee-du-jouet.com
5 rue du Murgin, Moirans-en-Montagne

In the capital of the French Toy Industry, a collection of 200 articles from 19th and 20th centuries. Begins with the story of toy making techniques up to the latest innovations.
There are videos of different toy making techniques, temporary exhibitions and a play area for example.
Syam Forge
Syam
A still working foundry, one of the last 19th century rolling mills still in use, complete with accommodation for the workers and families still used by 13 households, originally set up by an owner who provided facilities like a twice monthly medical visit and prensions for his employees. The layout gives an idea of what life was like as does a small museum and video of the work though the forge itself is closed to outsiders.
Chateau de Syam
Built in 1818 in a �Palladian Villa' home to the family who ran the forge. It hosts a programme of concerts and there are plans for it be rented out as holiday accommodation + 33 3 84 51 64 14.
Maison Lapidaire
Lamoura
Showing different techniques in cutting precious and semi-precious stones and stones for watch-making, with demonstrations, and a film.
Planete Aurochs http://www.ferme-auroch.com
Benoit Jaillet- Val Dessos, Doucier
A park with more than 80 rare breed cattle including highland cattle, bison and the like, plus a petting farm where in July and August children can help feed the animals, a children's play area plus restaurant and shop selling farm products.
Musee de la Boissellerie
Bois d'Amont
A restored hydraulic sawmill making boxes for cheese, pharmaceuticals and skis, offering demonstrations and videos and guided tours of an hour.
Moulin de Pont des Vents
Montfleur near Orgelet. A restored old mill operating since the middle ages, now an eco museum and the first mill classed as a historic monument which is still in working order. Visitors can help grind the flour and make bread.
The Vouglans Dam
Cernon, opened in 1968 and open for visits in summer.
Maison Michaud
La Combe des Cives, Chapelle-des-Bois
At 1,100m, a 17th century farm complete with wooden roof and chimney for smoking meats, wood bread oven working every Friday.
Bruno Tosi
Poligny
A glass worker offering guided tours of his workshop in July and August.

Cheese

Comte cheese, because of the nature of the processing, has remained the product of around 200 small production centres, some independent, some co-operatives. Most offer the option of visiting, at least on one day of the week. The morning is the best time to see cheese processing but sometimes visits are in the evening for reasons of hygiene.
Tthe most interesting are probably the following though there are others where visits can be arranged locally. Most are free on the principle that you will be buying at the end of the visit.

La Maison des Fromages du Haut-Jura
Les Moussieres +3 84 41 60 96
Open daily except lunch, with cheese-makers at work.
Fruitere 1900
Thoiria + 3 84 25 84 14
Described as a living museum of Comte with wood fires stoked for the morning work but best seen in July and August.
Fruitiere de la Vallee du Herisson
Doucier + 33 3 84 25 79 22
Fromagerie de Foncine-le-Haut
Foncine le Haut + 33 3 84 51 90 28
Morning visits Monday to Friday.
Co-operative Laitiere et Fromagere d'Arbois
+ 33 3 84 66 09 71
Visits July and August.

Activities

A water sports centre beside Lake Vouglans offers sailing, canoeing, rowing, mountain biking, climbing, caving, canyoning, archery, orienteering, roller skating, tennis, swimming pool, football/rugby pitch, sauna, Jacuzzi, athletics, volleyball, gym. An alternative is the Base Nautique de Bellecin Orgelet again on Lake Vouglans with further options on Chalain, Rousses, Clairvaux. There are also public swimming pools in small towns like Arbois, at Dole an Aquaparc, and at Doucier Les Lagons tropical water park.

The tourist offices can provide plenty of information on suitable walks - a real possibility with around 100km of marked paths to explore and tourist offices good at providing details of options for example on themed walks based round local flora and fauna. Walks to waterfalls include the one alongside the Cascades du Herisson a series of waterfalls over 15km with 31 drops with various points of access both at either end an in the middle. Particularly worth seeing are l'Eventail, the fan, with a series of fan shaped falls over 65m, and the Grand Saut (the big jump) on a single swoosh of 60m. There is also a circuit of just under 5km near Poligny visiting the �karstique' ie limestone formations, or the Cascade de la Billaude, a short walk to the falls and back from the road down a relatively steep drop; Cascade La Tuf in the Reculee de la Planche a nice easy stroll, very suitable for children.

Alternatively the Lize Farm has a fleet of friendly donkeys trained to carry packs or even children. The farm will arrange day walks or longer in which case they will organise the full itinerary including overnight accommodation in gites or hotels with meals, and will provide all the food you need, including grain for the donkey. For further information phone +33 3 81 86 52 64.

There are plenty of other tourist office publications about other options, notably riding and cycling, plus golf, and minority activities like caving and cliff climbing.

The lack of high mountains means there are few downhill skiing centres, though Les Rousses in the south does operate as one. Instead cross country and snowshoe is popular and there are winter horse rides and husky sledging.

Toys

Given that this is a toy manufacturing area, home to biggish names like Smoby and lesser known but quality ones like Vilac, you might expect to find toys on sale almost everywhere. There are some wooden toys sold in gift shops but for specialist outlets there is the Toy Museum in Moirans (musee-du-jouetgives an idea of what is on offer) plus another small outlet nearby, or if you are visiting the Cascades du Herisson you could take a look at the Boissellerie du Herisson which is a largish outlet of all kinds of wooden items, some kitschy but some not.

Should you be visiting before Christmas there is a Finnish Father Christmas Forest in Moirans, a Christmas market, Father Christmas's house and workshop to visit at the Toy Museum, and seasonal shows.


(updated 08 April, 2006)
         

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