Position of Franche-Comté within France

Franche-Comté is a region in the east of France.

Cities

• Arbois
• Besançon
• Belfort
• Dole
• Héricourt
• Lons-le-Saunier
• Montbéliard
• Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne
• Saint-Claude
• Vesoul

See

The salt works of Salins-les-Bains

• Two historic salt production sites in the region are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List; the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans and the saltworks of Salins-les-Bains.

Rivers

• Doubs -a lovely river winding round the area - best known parts probably the Gorges du Doubs, the Saut du Doubs and the river's source, the last two being near the Swiss border.

• Loue - a beautiful tributary of the Doubs noted for its stunning source scenery, gorges and pretty riverside villages, particularly Ornans with its museum of Courbet in the house where the poet was born [1], Lods and Mouthier-Haute-Pierre.

• Lison - tributary of the Loue another river with a magnificent source in limestone cliffs.

• Hérisson - a smaller river but with the Cascades du Hérisson, a fine series of waterfalls - crowded with picnics on a Sunday.

Cirques

• Cirque de Baume - a fascinating horseshoe whose charms are increased by the villages of Baume-les-Dames and Baume-Messieurs, the latter with an abbey.
• Cirque de Consolacion
• Cirque du Fer a Cheval
• Cirque de Ladoye

All these provide spectacular viewpoints and they are not far apart so that a very enjoyable drive can encompass them all.

Itineraries

• L'Echappée jurassienne. Pédestre 

The route of the great sites of the Jura connects the plains of Dole to the heights of Les Rousses, a ski resort. Its 260 km of trails allow you to discover its forests, Grande Saline and Saline Royale classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, vineyard, refreshing lakes and waterfalls, spectacular landscapes shaped by a particular geology... You can choose a part of it or walk for 13 days or more.

L'échappée jurassienne from CDT Jura

Do

A must see is 'Region des Lacs' consisting of around 9 lakes of crystal blue water. Here motor-powered boats are prohibited and fishing regulated. It runs from Clairvaux-les-lacs, to Doucier Via Les Frasnois and the Cascades du Herisson. The lakes are a haven for locals on a hot weekend in June/July and a great place for a barbecue or picnic, water temperatures are usually around 20deg (depending on the time of year) and make for a very refreshing dip after a long hike.

The cascades (waterfalls), are a must see, while somewhat difficult in winter when the walking tracks can be frosty and slippery, it is a nature lovers heaven. Falls vary in volume of water with the rain, but range from 60m high to almost flat rapid filled rivers full of both wild and introduced trout, along the way you pass the ruins of ancient mills, which used the rivers constant flow to produce flour and other goods.

At the top of the Cascades du Herisson, is 'la Fromagerie' meaning cheese factory, there is no cheese factory here, however I believe there are plans to open a small sttore selling cheese from the region. here you will find free parking, (rather that the 5euro fee at the bottom), a wooden souviner store specialising in porducts from the area and a Friendly bar/coffee shop run by a young French/Australian couple with local dishes available. (if you ask nicely they will give you their WiFi Code.)They host concerts on the occasional weekend.

'La vache qui rit' (the laughing cow) was founded in Lons le Saunier, the capital of Jura, and has an interactive museum open to the public for those who are fond of the world famous Cheese.

Accommodation in this area consists of guesthouses and 'campings', however if you are travelling with a tent you can pitch it almost anywhere without concerning the locals (obviously discretion is to be taken) there are facilities for camper vans all over France and can be parked/slept in in most public parking areas.

Eat

A slab of Comté, a raw cow's milk cheese that is a speciality of Franche-Comté

• Comté cheese, a creamy local variety of Gruyère, is a speciality. Try it while you're in the area, as it can be very expensive when imported overseas.

High End: 'Le Eoilenne' - Le frasnois, (top of Cascades Du herisson) mains average 25 Euro,Beers from 4euro 250ml coming back after a period of 'distaste' among tourists and locals alike. Not the place for a quick eat, but a good place for the yes sir no sir of a traditional Jurassien restaurant.

Mid: 'Les Lezards' - Le Frasnois (top of Cascades du Herisson) recently opened next door to the above, run by a French-Australian couple and in a renovated barn dating to 1700s. Beautiful interior and 'brasserie' type meals. Mains Average 10 Euro, beers from 2.10 Euro 250ml. young and vibrant but family friendly with a beautiful outdoor area overlooking 'Chaux de Dombief' and the sunset over the mountains. Here you will find theme nights, local people and the occasional concert of a weekend. Don't miss out on the 'Morbiflette' a Jurassienne delicacy. Happy Hour friday afternoon at a time decided by the staff.

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