This luxury hotel in the Port-Lesney countryside offers a natural pool, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a relaxing Caudalie spa. Explore the property on loaner bikes, brush up on your croquet, or set up a tasting with a nearby winery.
Where to Eat
Creative dishes and hard-to-find Jura wines make Le Grapiot one of the most beloved restaurants in the region. The team is committed to using local ingredients from nearby farms. Even the dishware comes from a local artisan: Besançon ceramicist Sylviane Humbert.
Fresh ingredients reign at this riverside restaurant in Arbois. Local mushrooms, fish, and vegetables are artfully combined for dishes that look as beautiful as they taste.
Indulge (and we do mean indulge) in the local fare at this three-story tavern just off the main drag in Arbois. Don’t overthink your order: take a cue from the boisterous long tables of locals around you and order the Savoie fondue made with local comté, escargots, and a bottle of Jura’s famous oxidative sweet wine, vin jaune.
This casual wine bar is equally cherished by locals, visitors, and winemakers alike. Choose a bottle of wine off the wall, order a simple mixte planche, and enjoy the view from the idyllic patio.
A street in the medieval old town of Château-Chalon.Photo: Getty Images
What to Do
Wine tasting
Jura makers are known for unusual techniques like intentional oxidation, biodynamic farming, and even playing singing bowls for happier vines. Importantly, they are also known for being difficult to reach. Many winemakers in Jura have no website or social media, but will offer tastings if the conditions are right. Thus, degustations in the Jura are a “choose your own adventure” affair. Ask your hotel, ask around town—the thrill of the hunt is all part of the fun.
For a more straightforward experience, you can schedule a visit to Fumey Chatelain or Tissot. Or, try Domaine de la Pinte, the first biodynamic domaine in the region and one of the best places to try the local sweet wine, vin jaune.
Village hopping
Jura is home to some of the most beautiful and culturally rich villages in the country, earning them a distinguished listing from Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Not to be missed are Château-Chalon, a 16th-century hilltop village that was the birthplace of vin jaune; waterfall-laden Baume-des-Messiers; colorful Arbois; and the capital of comté, Poligny.
Hiking
Flanked by the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Jura, Jura offers a hike for every skill level and desire. For a short, scenic trip, visit Reculée des Planches. It begins in the town of Baume-des-Messiers and passes the famous Cascades des Tufs waterfall along its serene trail. For a longer journey, head to Cascades du Hérisson, a there-and-back trail that passes seven stunning waterfalls.