From the plain of the Jura Bresse to the "high" peaks, passing through the vineyards, the Jura is an immense staircase whose steps are wooded plateaus, cut into impressive secluded areas and criss-crossed by streams and lakes, from the most sleepy lake to the most impetuous waterfalls. The diversity of the landscapes and the authenticity of the know-how characterize this most endearing territory. Surprise yourself: there's something for everyone.
Territory and wines of character
Between the summits of the massif and the vineyards of the Jura, there is a whole world of multiple facets, united however by the singularity of the Jura character. An astonishing product of an unusual terroir and a very specific vinification, the vin jaune expresses this singularity magnificently. It is during its long maturation in barrels that the magic of this wine from the Savagnin, the most typical grape variety of the Jura, takes place, escaping the laws that govern all other wines. Because the Jura winegrowers do not "ouiller" the barrels of "jaune", i.e. fill them to compensate for evaporation. The legitimate pride of the latter, emblem of the Jura terroir, the "jaune" would tend to mask the incredible diversity of the wines of this vineyard. You have to discover the effect of the terroir on the Chardonnay, understand the Savagnin by starting with wines that are toasted, try the reds and in particular the Poulsard (or "ploussard"), a speciality of Pupillin, near Arbois, through classic or daring food-wine combinations. In this way, get in touch with the Jura until you know how to appreciate its flagship, the vin jaune.
Atmospheres from bottom to top
The Jura vineyards once stretched from the north to the south of the department. It is in the "Revermont country", around Arbois, city of Pasteur, Poligny, capital of the county, and Salins-les-Bains, spa town marked by the history of salt, that it is the most dense today: beautiful small towns of character, wine-growing villages, heritage activities, this country has earned the label "Art and History". Arlay, the gateway to the Jura, is said to have seen the first acres of the history of the Jura vineyards. You can also arrive in the department via Dole, the former capital of Franche-Comté, a beautiful town tiered above the Doubs and the canal dominated by the proud 16th century collegiate church of Notre-Dame. Dole has managed to preserve an impressive built heritage, to be discovered along a signposted footpath, named the circuit du Chat Perché in homage to Marcel Aymé who grew up within its walls and staged the Jura in his tales and novels. Another Jura novelist, Bernard Clavel, who also lived in Dole. Plains, vineyards, then successive plateaus: the Jura is an immense crescent-shaped staircase with steps facing north-east to south-west. Above the vineyards, the first plateau stretches between 500 and 600 m above sea level. At the very top, the summits culminate at around 1,700 m. At all levels, the water has carved chasms and caves along sometimes mysterious underground paths, and has cut deep and astonishing "recesses" into the plateaus, narrow valleys overhung by vertical cliffs. At the level of the first plateau, Champagnole is at the heart of the "Jura Monts Rivières", cradle of the Ain and other rivers sometimes precipitated in gorges, such as the Saine, whose upper valley is now a protected natural site.
Meeting our distant ancestors
At the same level and a little higher, lakes were eroded during the last glacial melt. At the edge of the largest, those of Chalain and Clairvaux, Neolithic men built their houses 5,000 years ago. Preserved underwater, the remains of these habitats have provided a better understanding of the way of life of these distant ancestors. Chalain and Clairvaux are classified as World Heritage Sites. Today, these large lakes mainly welcome summer visitors to their beaches, while other smaller lakes preserve the tranquillity of their banks and offer superb panoramic views from the top of their belvederes. A little further up, Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux and its surroundings were the starting point for the "rouliers", who, during the harsh winters of yesteryear, used to carry away in their enormous horse-drawn carriages the long-keeping cheeses, ancestors of the Comté cheese, and objects made in the Jura. For its inhabitants had no equal to turn wood into toys around Moirans-en-Montagne, pipes in Saint-Claude... Elsewhere, they turned spruce into light boxes: the boissellerie, which has its museum in Bois d'Amont. They also cut diamonds in Saint-Claude and precious stones in the Hautes-Combes. Thanks to the energy of the rivers that fed the forges, they still made various metal objects which, among other things, gave rise to the first spectacles, in Morez, which became the capital of eyewear. This industry now has its museum there, but also dynamic companies
In the land of know-how
The Jura is indeed the land of know-how. Whether it is cheese, wine, handicrafts or industrial products, the Jura people are attached to the quality of their work and their products, ready to share their passion with you if you show them your interest. Look for the "Made in Jura" label and start the conversation: dialogue guaranteed, even with the most reserved! It is no coincidence that, among the many sites to visit, grouped together in the Juramusées network, the most important category is called "Des métiers et des Hommes" (Jobs and People). It includes, among others, the Salins-les-Bains saltworks, the Maison du Peuple in Saint-Claude, the Atelier des Savoir-Faire in Ravilloles, the Pont-des-Vents workshop-mill in Montfleur...
Good plan for a complete discovery of the Jura and its natural, historical, cultural, craft and industrial heritage: the Juramusées Pass, free of charge, offers you discounts on more than 50 museums and sites in the network. Exploring them all is a vast programme: from the dinosaur tracks of Coisia and Loulle to the castle of the masters of the Syam forges; from the abbeys of Gigny and Baume-les-Messieurs, from where the founding monks of Cluny set off, to the Gallo-Roman sanctuary of Villards-d'Héria; from the Moidons caves or the Planches-près-Arbois to the House of the Laughing Cow?
Clever information
When? In spring for the waterfalls, the green of the meadows, the morels, the frogs... In summer for the coolness of the woods and the lakeshores. In autumn for the gold of the vineyards and forests. In winter for Nordic leisure activities and nature walks in the soft relief...
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