Champagnole

The town lies at the foot of Mont Rivel. It is the entry point to the Jura plateaus region, a short distance from the Jura mountains and Switzerland.

remains of the past  The Church from 1755, the City Hall, the fountain, the clock tower as well as "Avenue de la Republique" are here to testify of the town development in the early 19th Century. They are the only remains of the past of the town, saved from the fire.

Lake chalain  At an altitude of 492 m it is the most beautiful and impressive of all. Located at the foot of a cliff, it is the largest natural lake in the Jura (3 km long and 1 km wide). Well suited for windsurfing, canoeing and swimming it is the best recreational area in of the Jura department. A great variety of fish makes it a fisherman's paradise as well.  A severe drought in 1904 revealed the vestiges of a lake community dating back to 5 millennia. Two Neolithic houses built on pillars have been reconstructed on the shores of the lake, using prehistoric techniques.

Museum of archaeology  The Gallo-Roman collections reveal the life of the pilgrims who came to the Mont-Rivel sanctuary. The rich Merovingian furniture found in cemeteries of nearby villages evokes the social life of the "last barbarians" and the development of Christianity in this region.

bellefrise park  Located at one end of the main street, its flowerbeds are remarkable. At its center, the music kiosque, from the end of the last century, stands across the futuristic fountain "Espace" and bronze greyhound statues.

Route des sapins (evergreen forest drive)  North of Champagnole, it is a 50 km (31 miles) stretch of road through the forest of "La Joux", one of the France most beautiful evergreen forests, with some exceptional conifers, like the two-centuries old "President", 45 m (148 feet) tall.

Les planches caves  5 km from Arbois, at the bottom of this blind valley, these caves were formed by the erosive action of water running between rock strata. The numerous eroded surfaces are unique in Europe. Two of the galleries have been set aside for tourists, to trace the underground path of the water as it flows through the rock. It also includes a gallery-museum and archaeological excavations.

nozeroy  This medieval town lies in a picturesque setting, on top of a hill overlooking a vast pasture-covered plateau. It still has some concrete traces of its past such as a 15th Century gateway and the vestiges of some ramparts. Every summer, the town hosts a medieval festival with an amazing parade.