Jura l A beautiful region

JURA REGION

Located in the heart of the Haut Jura Regional Park, the holiday cottages La Cheminée welcome you all year round.

The Haut-Jura is made of expanses of combes and plateaux interspersed by valleys, home to various type of know-how (the most emblematic being smoking pipes and diamonds). This is a land of contrasts, the area offers a life-size, nature playing field for all ages and tastes in every season of the year. We listed here a few activities you can easily do while on holiday in the region.

Whether you like snow, ski or taste the local gastronomy, learn about the traditions, you will have plenty of things to keep you busy in the Jura! Feel free to ask us for more information as this list is not exhaustive.

MUST DO IN WINTER

WINTER

Nordic Ski The area is ideal for nordic skiing excursions. There is a network of about 150km long itinerary of sign-posted, double-marked and groomed tracks, starting just on our holiday cottages's doorstep! Please note that to use the groomed pistes, a “Pass Nordique” has to be bought from the information point at the start of the pistes in the village.	Sled Dogs Whether you wish to go for a 1 hour-ride or for a full introduction into sledging dogs, the mushers are waiting for us! But remember to book in advance as this activity is very popular especially during school holidays... We recommend Grégory based in Les Molunes (5 minutes drving distance) + 33 3 84 41 62 54	Alpine Ski On site, you can enjoy skiing with the whole family at the teleski. Two skilifts and 2 pistes are ideal for beginners, as well as a snow garden for the kids. You can learn to ski thanks to lessons given by the ESF (French Ski School). Just a few metres walking distance from the cottages, you can rent all the gear needed at the shop Gros Sport. 25 minutes driving distance from Les Moussières, you can access to bigger skiing domains like Monts Jura (Lélex-Crozet-La Faucille), les Rousses...
Snowshoe The Hautes Combes area is perfect for snowshoe excursions. Over 90 km (56 miles) of groomed and sign-posted pistes are available in the region. Please note that to use the groomed pistes, there is a “Pass Balades” to be purchased at the start of the pistes. 2 itineraries start in our village.

MUST DO IN SUMMER

SUMMER

Hiking The Haut-Jura is the ideal playground for walking or hiking enthusiasts!Between 450 and 1,200 m (1476 and 3937 ft) in altitude between waterfalls and cliffs, combes and sinkholes, belvedere to belvedere, there are over 600 km (373 miles) of sign-posted trails for all levels available. In the Visitors office, you can find a guide with map listing all the trails network, unfortunately only in French. You can walk alone or with a tour guide, decide to go for 1 hour or for multiple days.	Mountain Biking The “Grande Traversée du Jura” has also a specific mountain biking circuit, with over 360 km of sign-posted tracks in the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Park between 300 and 1500m of altitude. For those who like going down hill fast, you can head to Longchaumois (15 min drive from Les Moussières. Its Bike park offering 6 levels of tracks. The most athletic can work out along one of the 4 peaks and remarkable hills found in the region.	Horse Riding For those loving horse-ridding, the “Grande Traversée du Jura” offers also about 500 km of sign-posted trails. The circuit includes accommodations suitable for horse riders.
Waterfalls Fresh water is everywhere in the Jura and especially in Springs, when the snow melts. This is the perfect season to enjoy the waterfalls in the region. The most famous are called Cascades du Hérisson and are located in Doucier (about 1 hour drive from Les Moussières), but closer for you to enjoy are many others like the Flumen, Horse Tail waterfalls or the Gorge de l'Abime. These are located around Saint-Claude, 15 km away.	DevalKart Other options for those loving speed, the “devalkart”. It's like karting but on grass and happening in summer on skiing pistes. There is no engine in the kart. To go up hill, just use the lift. Easy and fun.	Via Ferrata Via ferrata is a mix in between climbing, hiking and alpinism, all against vertical cliffs! It's accessible to everyone thanks to steps, bridges, ladders along the way. Just better not to be afraid of heights.
Lakes The Jura is also weel known for its multiple lakes (Chalain, Vouglans, Ilay for the most famous). These sites are accessible on a day trip. Closer to the cottages, (30 min drive) the lake of Lamoura or Les Rousses offers many aquatic activities such as sailing, windsurfing or paddle boat. The site has been renovated in 2009 and you can now find a patrolled beach (from July, the 1st to August, the 31st – everyday from 1-7pm), a barbecue and pic nic area is at disposal.	Rock Climbing The Haut-Jura is great for climbing. Once again, you can find in the region many sites offering various levels of difficulty. There is something for everyone and it can seem complicated but it as actually one of the most natural activity.	Sledging in Summer At the “Col de la Faucille” about 30 minutes drive from our cottages, experience something different: go down hill riding a small sled. You can control the speed thanks to a manual break. Two pistes are open, one for beginners and one for the more experienced.
Canyoning Our region offers amazing canyons and far less crowded than the ones in Southern France. Only 20 min by car from Les Moussières, you can walk, jump, slide and swim in canyons. Abseiling up to 20 metres is also part of the experience. A certified tour guide is with you the whole time.	Zip-line & Tree top climbing The former military fortress located in Les Rousses has got different practices for all levels. Kids must be 1m 40 to be able to participate. With beautiful view, come ride and zi-pline through the forest. A perfect way to enjoy the nature with friends or family. The ones looking for adrenaline can go on the giant zip-line (250m). Speed, thrill and fear are guaranteed!	Panoramic view point Only 5 min by car, you can access to the Roche Blanche (White Rocks) – head direction Saint Claude and turn left at la Cernaise (signed). Located at 1140m, there is an absolute breathtaking view over the area, Saint-Claude and Septmoncel.
Geologie The Jura has a very singular geology and a few sites are well known in France, such as the Chapeau de Gendarme (shaped like a police hat) located only 10 min drive from Les Moussières. A few limestone caves are open to the public, you can visit with a tour guide. The most beautiful are the Planches ' cave and the Moidons' located about 1h from the cottages.

ALL YEAR ROUND

Maturing Caves of Comté Cheese In the village of Les Rousses, come visit the 214 metre high caves, unique in Europe, with its huge vaulted galleries and 75,000 wheels of Comté! Ask for Bernard, the best tour guide! Finish the tour by tasting the delicious Juraflore Comté, you will love it!	House of the Regional Park The permanent exhibition "Haut-Jura living earth!" takes you through playful installations, colorful and interactive facilities to discover the Haut Jura in all its facets: its landscapes, its fauna and flora, its kwnow-how and forests ... An acoustic show is also offered . Temporary exhibitions will complement your visit. English and German audio guides are available free of charge.	Glasses Museum Morez has been the glasses capital for over 200 years. A museum dedicated to this know-how was opened in 2003. Discover 700 years of history., learn how a simple nail turned into glasses!
Toy Museum Located in the heart of the French capital of the toy, this museum will surprise you with its unique collection of 15,000 pieces. After discovering the secrets of making toys, you are invited to a journey through time and cultures. It is located at Moirans en Montagne (15 km from Saint-Claude, 30 min drive from les Moussières).	Smoking Pipe and Diamond Museum In the nineteenth century, Saint-Claude becomes a world centre for the manufacturing of smoking pipes and a reputable site to carve diamonds and precious stones. Pipe makers & diamond lapidary share with you their know-how. Find a large collection of pipes, raw and carved stones and watch a video projection.

USEFUL LINKS

LINK

Jura Tourism: www.jura-tourism.com

Les Monts Jura: www.monts-jura.com

Parc Naturel du Haut-Jura: www.parc-haut-jura.fr

Espace Nordique Jurassien: www.espacenordiquejurassien.com

Grandes Traverses du Jura: www.gtj.asso.fr

Les Moussières: www.lesmoussieres.fr

Saint Claude: www.saint-claude-haut-jura.com

Les Rousses: www.lesrousses.com

Le Fort des Rousses: www.lesrousses.com/fortdesrousses

Escalade et Canyoning: www.escalade-canyoning-jura.com

Les Vins du Jura: www.jura-vins.com

MUST DO IN WINTER

Nordic Ski

Sled Dogs

Alpine Ski

Snowshoe

The Hautes Combes area is perfect for snowshoe excursions. Over 90 km (56 miles) of groomed and sign-posted pistes are available in the region. Please note that to use the groomed pistes, there is a “Pass Balades” to be purchased at the start of the pistes. 2 itineraries start in our village.

MUST DO IN SUMMER

Hiking

Mountain Biking

Horse Riding

For those loving horse-ridding, the “Grande Traversée du Jura” offers also about 500 km of sign-posted trails. The circuit includes accommodations suitable for horse riders.

Waterfalls

DevalKart

Other options for those loving speed, the “devalkart”. It's like karting but on grass and happening in summer on skiing pistes. There is no engine in the kart. To go up hill, just use the lift. Easy and fun.

Via Ferrata

Via ferrata is a mix in between climbing, hiking and alpinism, all against vertical cliffs! It's accessible to everyone thanks to steps, bridges, ladders along the way. Just better not to be afraid of heights.

Lakes

Rock Climbing

The Haut-Jura is great for climbing. Once again, you can find in the region many sites offering various levels of difficulty. There is something for everyone and it can seem complicated but it as actually one of the most natural activity.

Sledging in Summer

At the “Col de la Faucille” about 30 minutes drive from our cottages, experience something different: go down hill riding a small sled. You can control the speed thanks to a manual break. Two pistes are open, one for beginners and one for the more experienced.

Canyoning

Our region offers amazing canyons and far less crowded than the ones in Southern France. Only 20 min by car from Les Moussières, you can walk, jump, slide and swim in canyons. Abseiling up to 20 metres is also part of the experience. A certified tour guide is with you the whole time.

Zip-line & Tree top climbing

Panoramic view point

Only 5 min by car, you can access to the Roche Blanche (White Rocks) – head direction Saint Claude and turn left at la Cernaise (signed). Located at 1140m, there is an absolute breathtaking view over the area, Saint-Claude and Septmoncel.

Geologie

ALL YEAR ROUND

Maturing Caves of Comté Cheese

In the village of Les Rousses, come visit the 214 metre high caves, unique in Europe, with its huge vaulted galleries and 75,000 wheels of Comté! Ask for Bernard, the best tour guide! Finish the tour by tasting the delicious Juraflore Comté, you will love it!

House of the Regional Park

Glasses Museum

Morez has been the glasses capital for over 200 years. A museum dedicated to this know-how was opened in 2003. Discover 700 years of history., learn how a simple nail turned into glasses!

Toy Museum

Smoking Pipe and Diamond Museum