The scenery
• From the
Mille étangs (a thousand lakes) in the Haute-Saône and the Territoire de Belfort, to the foothills around Revermont and Bugey, right up to the mountains of the
Jura, with their high-plateaux and secret coombs, their panoramic peaks and pastoral lakes, the region is one of nature undisturbed.
Fauna and flora • Water plays a major role here, as there is a wonderful collection of
cascades spectaculaires (the Dard, the Hérisson, etc.) and exceptional reappearances of some rivers (the Lison and the Loue), rivers that make fishing enthusiasts' dream come true,
natural and artificial lakes (Voglans sur l'Ain, Saint-Point sur le Doubs, lac des Rousses, etc.).
• The forest is the most characteristic feature of this region (it is the most wooded region in France with 42 % of its surface area covered in pine forests). Here, forestry work pays homage to the famous fir trees that are elected "president": the most venerable of all the trees.
Gastronomy and local produce• The
Jura mountains, with their northern temperament that is greatly appreciated in winter, also have much to boast about in the summer: the dairy cows graze peacefully on the plateaux; the cheese factories (cooperatives) with their amazing refining cellars (in former military forts) are proud of their tradition of the very well-known
Comté cheese. And the sun is the ally of the Arbois wine growers who use their skills to produce quality wines, such as the "vin jaune" (yellow wine) or the smooth
"straw" wine with the exclusive production method (the grapes are dried on racks before being pressed). Other specialities from the Franche-Comté are morels, very plentiful in spring and the traditional smoked charcuteries, like the famous
PGI Morteau sausage.
Hiking • A hike in the Franch-Comté is not only often broken up by gourmet stops but also by quieter atmospheres (the Risoux forest, the source of the river Doubs near Mouthe) or magnificent landscapes: the "landslide" cliffs known as "reculées", panoramic ridges stretching right up to an altitude of 1700 metres dominating the basin of Lake Geneva, etc. The GR 9 and GR 59 hiking trails criss-cross the region and the mountain range.
Cyclotourism • For
mountain-bikers, the Jura mountains offer a roads that hold all the major records, with all the cross-country ski trails covering hundreds of kilometres, which you can either do as a loop or just aim for the horizon For cyclotourists, the paths of
Eurovélo 6 are already operational in Franche-Comté.
Navigable waterways • Exploring the region from the water is every bit as appealing:
river cruises or barge-B&Bs sail down an unusual type of river, eventually reaching the famous waterfalls known as the
Saut du Doubs.
The Rhine-Rhône canal, which links the German river to the Saône, is ideal for boating. It passes through the towns of Besançon and Dole.