Mention Jura around an oenophile and you’re bound to elicit a sly, knowing grin. Located off the beaten path between Burgundy and the Swiss border, Jura is France’s smallest wine region. With just 2,000 hectares of vines, its unusual and often natural wines are cult-followed worldwide.
You won’t find run-of-the-mill rosés or sauvignons in Jura—and it would be a mistake to order them even if you could. The real fun comes from experiencing distinctive local varietals like trousseau, poulsard, and savignin, and meeting the producers who treat making these obscure wines like an art form.
But it’s not just the excellent sips that make Jura, France worth a visit—the region’s natural beauty is as memorable as its natural wine. From stunning lakes and waterfalls to the thousands of mountain caves, there are endless opportunities to take in les grands espaces when not sampling the local grapes.
With charming villages, breathtaking natural hikes, and decadent local cuisine, Jura is an ideal under-the-radar getaway for rest-seekers and wine-lovers alike. Here, our guide to the best places to stay, eat, and explore should you decide to go to Jura, France.
Where to Stay
This renovated 17th-century maison-turned-boutique-hotel offers the ultimate R&R outside the village of Poligny. It boasts a relaxing garden pool and sauna, a Michelin-lauded restaurant, and nine charming rooms—each with its own unique decor and personality. For a real treat, book L’Observatoire, a circular suite with retractable floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the nearby Monts des Vaux.
For a walkable home base, the town of Arbois is the place to be. Set in a former convent just off the town square, Carmel 1643 is a chicly renovated hotel that makes exploring the town by foot a breeze.
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.
What to Do
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.
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.
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.
Of course, you’ll want to bring plenty of sustenance. Build a picnic in town with comté from Essencia (a local cheese shop with some of the best and hardest-to-find wines in town), fresh fruit from the market, and sweets from fourth-generation Arbois chocolatier, Hirsinger.
After a few days of wining and dining, you may find yourself in need of a detox. Hit reset with a trip to one of the region’s many thermal baths like Les Rives Sauvages in Malbuisson. There, you can decompress in the sauna, laze about in the Turkish baths, and lounge on the panoramic deck overlooking the gorgeous Lac de Saint-Point.