If you love regions where food, wine, historic villages and scenery take centre stage without the crowds, France's Jura might be your perfect match.
Our guide of 11 fun things to do in Jura, France, comes straight from our own experience exploring the region - driving its mountain roads, sitting in village squares, and eating Comté in all its forms.
From the perfect picnic spot to relaxed wine tastings and scenic drives through the Haut-Jura, this guide brings together what we loved most.
11 Fun Things to Do in Jura, France
1. Learn and taste your way through the Comté Museum
Poligny is the historic heart of Comté cheese, and we had no idea how fascinating Comté-making actually was until we went to La Maison du Comté.
The museum walks you through everything, from the Montbéliarde cows grazing in the Jura hills to the centuries-old traditions that still shape the cheese today.
After a short theatre presentation, you get to try scent quizzes before ending with a cheese tasting. At €9 per person, we felt it was great value for the experience.
One of the most interesting things we learned is how Comté changes colour with the seasons. It's golden and deeper in summer when cows eat grass and wildflowers, and paler in winter when they switch to hay.
2. Enjoy a slow coffee in Poligny's main square
After your museum visit, enjoy a coffee in Poligny's main square. It's an unfussy, relaxed spot that’s perfect for sitting back and watching everyday town life unfold.
3. Pick up picnic ingredients in Poligny - the capital of Comté
After your coffee, wander around town and stock up on cheese from the fromagerie, saucisson from the deli, and a still-warm baguette from the boulangerie.
BADOZ Vins & Fromages was one of our favourite stops - it’s a long-standing family operation producing classic Jura cheeses and wines tied closely to the region's heritage.
We picked up three ages of Comté and a Morbier, a local cheese marked by a thin ash line down the centre.
4. Enjoy your picnic with a view at the Château-Chalon Lookout
Château-Chalon is one of the most breathtaking villages in the Jura.
Perched high on a limestone cliff, it’s the birthplace of Vin Jaune, the region’s famous long-aged Savagnin wine first crafted by the monks who lived here.
Bring your picnic spread to the Château-Chalon viewpoint and use the broad, flat stone ledge as your stand-up table, with the vineyards and valley unfolding below.
5. Make a sweet stop at La Maison d’Eusebia
Just a few steps from the Château-Chalon lookout, La Maison d’Eusebia has a peaceful garden space offering drinks and ice cream in the afternoon.
The €2.50 scoops are a great deal.
6. Explore Jura wines in Arbois’ tasting rooms
Arbois is Jura's oldest wine town, and where you'll find a good concentration of tasting rooms, all within walking distance.
Visits are relaxed, and reservations aren't required. It’s an easy, fun way to get to know the wine region. We had a really fun and informative tasting at Vins Stéphane Tissot.
We tried Jura’s signature styles: Vin Jaune, sous voile and ouillée-method whites, and reds like Poulsard and Trousseau.
Ouillée means the wine is “topped up” during ageing, so the barrels stay full. This prevents oxygen from getting in, giving the wines a fresher, cleaner, more classic profile.
When the wine isn’t topped up (the traditional Jura method called sous voile), a thin layer of yeast called voile forms on top. This natural ageing creates a nutty, oxidative character that tastes a bit sherry-like.
If you’re into funky natural wines, the sous voile style might be your thing, but it’s definitely an acquired taste for many.
7. Eat artisan chocolate in Arbois’ beautiful town square
In Arbois, make a stop at Édouard Hirsinger, the town’s beloved chocolatier and a long-standing Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) - one of the highest honours in French craftsmanship.
The chocolates are carefully made with balanced flavours that aren’t overly sweet. Pick out a few pieces and enjoy them on their outside terrace overlooking the square.
8. Warm up with alpine comfort food at La Finette
Bubbling Comté fondue at La Finette in Arbois
Dinner at La Finette in Arbois feels like stepping into a classic mountain tavern with its dark wood, vintage details, and the smell of melted comté cheese drifting out of the kitchen.
Opened in 1961, La Finette has built its reputation as one of Arbois’ classic spots for traditional Jura cuisine.
We’ve had plenty of Swiss fondues made with Gruyère and Emmental, so we were excited to try a bubbling Comté fondue. It had a satisfying, rich flavour and paired perfectly with their French onion soup.
Everything is hearty, homey, and perfect after a day of exploring. Reservations are recommended.
9. Take a scenic drive through Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park
Driving through Parc naturel regional du Haut-Jura and picking up Bleu de Gex and Comte for a roadside snack
Set out on a drive through Parc naturel regional du Haut-Jura, a scenic route known for its winding mountain roads, alpine villages, deep forests and big open valley views.
Driving the D436 from Saint Claude to Les Rousses felt like driving through the French version of the Swiss Alps.
Stop in at Saint-Claude, a mountain town once built around a major monastery and later famous for its pipe-making and artisan workshops.
Nearby, you can visit Fromagerie de Montbrillant, a producer of Bleu de Gex, a mild, creamy blue cheese that has been made in the Haut-Jura for centuries using traditional methods and local mountain milk.
10. Stay in a beautifully restored 17th-century manor house
Our stay at La Closerie des Capucines in Arbois
Out back, the garden opens to a pool surrounded by greenery. After a day of exploring, we loved sitting here with a glass of Jura wine, playing Scrabble until sunset.
With only five rooms, it felt very private. It's a special guesthouse and definitely one of our favourites!
🛏️ Browse more hotels in Arbois11. Shop pieces from local artisans at La Fabrik
Don't miss La Fabrik, a lovely shop filled with handmade ceramics, textiles, jewellery, and home pieces from local artisans.
Everything feels one-of-a-kind, making it a great place to find gifts.
We hope you enjoyed this list of fun things to do in Jura, France!
Get started on booking your trip to France
- 🛏️ Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚗 Car rental: see DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices across different companies.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Don't miss our other France travel guides:
- 7 Day Paris and Provence Itinerary
- 4 Day Provence Itinerary
- 7 Most Charming Luberon Villages to Visit
- How to Spend 1 Day in Paris
- 12 Day France and Italy Itinerary
- South of France and Italy Road Trip
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