Jura

A mountainous lake district and wine country in eastern France, featuring the World Heritage Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains and the yellow wine town of Arbois.

The Jura department is located in eastern France, bordering Switzerland to the east, and is named after the Jura Mountains. It features a landscape of plateaus, lakes, forests, and vineyards. The Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains, which produced salt from underground brine, has a long history and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans. Arbois is the heart of Jura wines, famous for its Vin Jaune (yellow wine); Louis Pasteur spent his youth here, and the town is quaint and pleasant. Spring and autumn are ideal for wine tasting and hiking, while summer is perfect for escaping the heat in the lake district. Dole is the gateway city, and you can also drive in from Dijon, Geneva, or Besançon.

Destinations

• Lons-le-Saunier & Jura Valleys
• Besançon
• Geneva

Itineraries

• Classic Swiss Alps & Lakes: Zurich to Geneva – In via Zurich and out via Geneva, connecting Lucerne, Jungfrau, Zermatt, and Lake Geneva.
• Lyon, Annecy & Chamonix Rail & Bus Tour – Connect Lyon Old Town, Lake Annecy, and Mont Blanc without a car, departing from Geneva
• Geneva, Haute-Savoie Lakes & Mont Blanc Self-Drive Loop – Drive from the villages of Lake Geneva over the mountains to Mont Blanc, returning via the Col des Aravis to Annecy
• Lake Geneva Riviera & Gruyères – Travel east along the lake through the Lavaux Vineyards and Chillon Castle, and head to Gruyères for traditional cheese.
• Besançon & Jura Saltworks, Lakes, and Waterfalls Loop – Starting from Besançon, loop through the Loue Valley, Royal Saltworks, wine country, and Jura waterfalls.