Located in the east of France in the historic region of Franche-Comté, the Jura is a department made up of plains and a mountain range, and one of the best places to visit in Jura France. Depending on the era, the Jura has known the heights of glory or dark times.
The Jura, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, is a 4-season tourist destination that is both unique and amazing. It offers a diversity of landscapes, atmospheres, and cultures that make it a rich destination, full of resources and unexpected discoveries, that’s why is recommended as one of the best places to visit in Jura.
From West to East, various spaces are staged successively, like a staircase, from the plain of Dole and Bresse to the Jura Mountains, passing through the vineyards, the Pays des Lacs and the Petite Montagne. Sometimes the city, sometimes the countryside, secret remote places or great sites, you will find the holidays that suit you!
1. Hedgehog Waterfalls Jura, France
Listed in the Great Sites of France, the Hérisson Valley and the Plateau of 7 lakes are home to the pretty Hérisson waterfalls, in the town of Menétrux-en-Joux. The “Hérisson” is the torrent taking its source at Saut Girard, and is one of the best places to visit in Jura. It comes from the lakes of Bonlieu and Ilay.For the record, its name does not come from the animal but from “Yrisson”, which means “sacred water”. The best way to access the waterfalls is to go on a nature hike.
2. Lake Chalain Jura
Lac de Chalain is the largest natural lake in the Jura. A small paradise with turquoise waters, this exceptional site, located in the heart of the region of lakes and small mountains, 30 km from Lons-le-Saunier, will suit families and sports enthusiasts, for unforgettable holidays and moments. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and rivers, Lake Chalain, with an area of 232 hectares, offers peace and simplicity. You can go around the lake on foot or by bike on the path laid out.
3. Vouglans Lake
Vouglans Lake is the third artificial lake in France! 35 kilometers long, it offers a multitude of activities: swimming, pedal boating, canoeing, stand-up paddle, cruises, restaurants, etc. A real seaside resort, the site is perfectly suited for a moment of relaxation with the family, you should list it as one of the best places to visit in Jura.
4. Great Crossings of the Jura
Spanning the Jura Mountains, crossing the Jura, and crisscrossing the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park, the Grande Traversée du Jura is an invitation to itinerant hiking in summer and winter, in an authentic and preserved environment, through grandiose landscapes. and soothing, wild, and deeply humanized.
The Grandes Traversées du Jura is divided into 6 itineraries which allow you to approach 6 distinct hiking practices.
5. The Haut Jura Natural Park
Nature lovers will be delighted to visit the Jura. If the whole of France-Comté is full of sites as magnificent as they are wild, the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park reveals a very pleasant mountain atmosphere. We quickly reach the summits of the Jura chain, such as the Crêt de la Neige, located at 1720 meters above sea level.
6. Dole town in France
Former capital of Franche-Comté until 1678, Dole has preserved a rich architectural heritage. Classified as a “City of Art and History” since 1992, the Jura city offers an exciting route: that of the “perched cat”. Along the way, you can admire the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, the Hôtel-Dieu, rue du Collège de l’Arc. For all the art lovers this is one of the best places to visit in Jura France.
7. Jura Wines and Vineyards (Try unusual wine varieties)
It’s no longer a scoop… For several years, the Jura has been one of the most dynamic and exciting wine regions in France. Firstly, because there are more and more talented winegrowers there and are producing absolutely remarkable wines; secondly because this vineyard offers an immense variety of wines. “Unique and multiple”, this is how we can define the Wines of the Jura. Wine lovers Jura has the perfect place for you, as one of the best places to visit in Jura France.
8. Ilay Lake
This lake is a natural glacial lacquer lake with a saving aspect. This lacquer surpasses its cords with turquoise colors by clear time and its collapses in a range of funds.
9. Salins-les-Bains
Since the 8th century, Salins-les-Bains has acquired its prosperity by exploiting a unique natural resource: salt. The industry lasted until 1962, before hydrotherapy took over. Today, its Grande Saline, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the must-sees to visit in the Jura. You will discover an underground linking two old wells and the Salt Museum, very informative on the working conditions of the workers.
10. Chateau Chalon (Wine region in Jura France)
As one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”,and one of the best places to visit in Jura, the “City of Character” of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté celebrates above all the vineyards of the Jura. Its Château-Chalon (AOC) Vin Jaune is a delight for lovers of good food. Did you know that it is the Benedictines of Château-Chalon who are at the origin of this quality cru? It was in the Middle Ages that they cultivated the first vines of Savagnin, the Vin Jaune grape variety.
Best places to visit in Jura
- Hedgehog Waterfalls Jura
- Lake Chalain Jura
- Great Crossings of the Jura
- The Haut Jura Natural Park
- Try unusual wine varieties In Jura region France
- Ilay Lake
- Salins-les-Bains
- Wine region in Jura France