Jura travel guide

Natural environment and outdoor activities

The principal pleasure for visitors is the chance to enjoy the scenery and there are various popular highlights among the lakes, gorges and waterfalls of the department. As you would expect hiking, fishing and cycling are all very popular activities here and there are many places that offer spectacular viewpoints.

• Several important lakes are to be found in Jura, including the two lakes at Clairvaux, Chalain Lake and Vouglans Lake, the Lac d'Ilay and Lac de Bonlieu, the Lac de Coiselet... There are also many smaller lakes here in the centre of the department, and the area is known as the 'Région des lacs du Jura français'. The Lac de Vouglans is the largest and most popular of the lakes with visitors.
• Close to Doucier in the heart of the department you can follow a lovely path passed the Cascades du Hérisson series of waterfalls, best seen after recent heavy rain
• The cirque around Baume-les-Messieurs is very scenic and includes a small but very lovely waterfall.
• The journey along the Gorges de la Lemme to the east of Jura (at Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux) is also exceptionally scenic, with various waterfalls along the route.

Cycling the Jura: as a keen cyclist I have to say the Jura is almost the perfect French department to explore by bike, with endless miles of quiet roads passing through woodlands and next to lakes and if it isn't practical to bring a bike with you there are bike hire centres in many of the towns. See Jura cycling routes for loads of suggested cycling routes

Historic Monuments

• The Abbey of Saint-Pierre occupies much of the centre of the village of Baume-les-Messieurs
• The roman style abbey at Gigny in south-west Jura is one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in the world
• The 16th century Collegiale Church in Dole is the most imposing church in the region
• Other imposing churches can be seen at Clairvaux-les-Lacs and at Saint-Hymetiére.

Although the castles in Jura are generally rather low key, the hilltop ruins of medieval Chateau d'Arlay and its gardens are interesting (north of Lons-le-Saunier), and at Chateau Pécauld in Arbois you can visit the Museum of Jura Wine ('Musée de la vigne et du vin du Jura'). The Chateau du Pin in south-west Jura is another notable medieval castle.

The Chateau de Syam, really an Italian style 19th century villa rather than a castle, is near Champagnole in south-east Jura and is centred around an impressive domed gallery area. The garden around the villa is officially listed as a 'remarkable garden'.

Towns and villages

Both Chateau-Chalon and Baume-les-Messieurs are listed among the 'most beautiful villages in France'...

• The town of Lons-le-Saunier is the principal town in the Jura department
• The riverside path and the historic centre of Dole are both dominated by the collegiale church in the centre of the town
• The town of Salins-les-Bains was an important centre for salt production (with the Royal saltworks at Arc-et-Senans in nearby Doubs) and the historic factory is now a UNESCO listed monument
• There are several interesting monuments in Arbois and close proximity to various Jura scenic highlights
• In a valley surrounded by high cliffs, Baume-les-Messieurs is a small very traditional and unspoiled village
• Overlooking the vineyards in the valley below, the small village of Chateau-Chalon is very pleasant to stroll around
• In the town of Poligny you can see several important churches and convents.
• Les Rousses, on the south-east border of the department, is the main ski station in the Jura. Others include Métabief, Bellefontaine and Foncine-le-Haut.