About
Jura is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. It takes its name from the Jura Mountains, whose limestone ridges and plateaus shape much of the landscape and give the area its character.
What to expect
The Jura is a place for slow, outdoor-minded travel. Its high plateaus, deep valleys and wooded slopes make it well suited to walking and to unhurried drives between villages. The scenery changes quickly with altitude and season, so a visit can feel quite different from one month to the next.
Food and wine
The region is known for two local products. The first is vin jaune, a distinctive yellow wine, notably from the Château-Chalon appellation. The second is Comté, one of France's most prestigious hard cheeses, produced across the area's farms and dairies. Many visitors plan their trip around tasting both, whether in a cellar, at a producer's shop or at a local market.
Planning your visit
- Allow time to drive between villages, since the roads follow the hills and valleys.
- Combine the countryside with a taste of the local wine and cheese.
- Bring walking shoes if you plan to explore the plateaus and valleys on foot.
Jura suits travellers who enjoy rural landscapes, regional food and quiet surroundings more than city sights. Its appeal lies in the mountains, the cellars and the cheese, and in the pace they encourage.
