Franche-Comté is a region in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. This region borders Switzerland and shares much of its architecture, cuisine, and culture with its neighbour. Between the Vosges range of mountains to the north and the Jura range to the south, the landscape consists of rolling cultivated fields, dense pine forest, and rampart-like mountains. Not so majestic as the Alps, the Jura mountains are more accessible and are France's first cross-country skiing area. It is also a superb place to hike, and there are some fine nature trails on the more gentle slopes. The Doubs and Loue valleys, with their timbered houses perched on stilts in the river, and the high valley of Ain, are popular visitor areas. The Région des Lacs is a land of gorges and waterfalls dotted with tiny villages, each with a domed belfry decorated with mosaic of tiles or slates or beaten from metal. The lakes are perfect for swimming in the warmer months. The summits of Haut Jura have wonderful views across Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) and toward the Alps.

'"`UNIQ--maplink-00000001-QINU`"'

Map of Franche-Comté

• 47.246.021 Besançon — Besançon has a beautiful old city, great art and architecture, with a Vauban-designed citadel which is surrounded by beautiful green hills, and the atmosphere of a university city as well as one of history and commerce.
• 47.0922225.4897222 Dole — mediaeval capital of the Free County of Burgundy
• 46.9766675.9988893 Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne — Jura mountain village with good local produce
• 46.3872225.8633334 Saint-Claude — known for its museum of diamonds, gemstones and pipes
• 47.6222226.1552785 Vesoul — an old town and fine arts museum

The region is divided into four departments:

• Doubs
• Jura
• Haute-Saône
• Territory of Belfort

The region is named after the Franche Comté de Bourgogne (Free County of Burgundy), which was separated from the Kingdom of Burgundy in the 10th century.

• Two historic salt production sites in the region are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List; the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans and the saltworks of Salins-les-Bains.
• Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, a chapel designed by the architect Le Corbusier. It's one of 17 buildings worldwide by Corbusier to be listed as a world heritage site.

Itineraries

[edit]

• L'Echappée jurassienne. Pédestre 

The route of the great sites of the Jura connects the plains of Dole to the heights of Les Rousses, a ski resort. Its 260 km of trails allow you to discover its forests, Grande Saline and Saline Royale classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, vineyard, refreshing lakes and waterfalls, spectacular landscapes shaped by a particular geology... You can choose a part of it or walk for 13 days or more.

In the summer, Franche-Comté offers a wide range of activities for hiking, road cycling (especially thanks to the Ballon d'Alsace), and mountain biking enthusiasts . Fishing is also popular along the region's rivers and lakes, as well as river tourism in the Saône Valley. There are relatively large campsites.

A must see is 'Region des Lacs' consisting of around 9 lakes of crystal blue water. Here motor-powered boats are prohibited and fishing regulated. It runs from Clairvaux-les-lacs, to Doucier Via Les Frasnois and the Cascades du Herisson. The lakes are a haven for locals on a hot weekend in June/July and a great place for a barbecue or picnic, water temperatures are usually around 20° C (depending on the time of year) and make for a very refreshing dip after a long hike.

The cascades (waterfalls), are a must see, while somewhat difficult in winter when the walking tracks can be frosty and slippery, it is a nature lovers heaven. Falls vary in volume of water with the rain, but range from 60 m high to almost flat rapid filled rivers full of both wild and introduced trout, along the way you pass the ruins of ancient mills, which used the rivers constant flow to produce flour and other goods.

At the top of the Cascades du Herisson, is 'la Fromagerie' meaning cheese factory. Here you will find parking, a wooden souvenir store specialising in porducts from the area and a friendly bar/coffee shop run by a French/Australian couple with local dishes available.

'La vache qui rit' (the laughing cow) was founded in Lons le Saunier, the capital of Jura, and has an interactive museum open to the public for those who are fond of the world-famous cheese.

Accommodation in this area consists of guesthouses and 'campings', however if you are travelling with a tent you can pitch it almost anywhere without concerning the locals (obviously discretion is to be taken). There are facilities for camper vans all over France and can be parked and slept in in most public parking areas.

The Montbéliard Christmas market also plays a major role in tourism during the month of December.

• Comté cheese, a creamy local variety of Gruyère, is a speciality. Try it while you're in the area, as it can be very expensive when imported overseas.
• L'épaule du Ballon, or balloon shoulder, originates from the Belfort region. It consists of a boneless shoulder of lamb stuffed with blueberries and then oven-roasted. This festive dish can be found on the menus of restaurants in Belfort, where it is prized for its originality and sweet and sour flavour. Traditionally served from September to May, it pairs perfectly with a good glass of red wine.
• The galette comtoise dessert is very popular in the region. It is traditionally made from choux pastry flavoured with orange blossoms. It's a simple cake sometimes decorated with chocolate chips.

• Vin Jaune (French for 'yellow wine') is an oxidative wine from the Jura wine-growing region. It is made exclusively from the white Sauvagnon grape variety . Its flavour is similar to sherry, except that it is not fortified. After fermentation, the wine must be aged in barriques for at least 6 years and 3 months. During this time, approximately 40 % of the volume evaporates, which also explains the wine's high price. It is bottled in a typical bottle, which  starts at €30. It doesn't have to be consumed immediately; it can be aged for 40 to 50 years.