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Franche Comte

Sharing its border with Switzerland, Franche-Comté offers an exciting fusion of French and Swiss culture and cuisine. There are forests to the south, mountains to the north and lovely villages in between that are filled with houses that combine the best of both French and Swiss architecture. The mountains make up the first cross-country ski resort in France, and are ideal for hikers that want to explore the winding nature trails. Flowing rivers are bordered by houses on stilts, and there are warm lakes where you can go fishing, boating or swimming in the summer.

Franche-Comté’s famous past residents have included Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the early filmmakers Auguste and Louis Lumière and the microbiologist Louis Pasteur. This is a region known for its people as much as it’s known for the cheeses and wines produced out in the Franche-Comté countryside. Many of the region’s departments are named after natural landmarks, including the winding rivers and towering mountains, with a favourite gathering point being the Region des Lacs with nine crystal-clear lakes including BBQ spots, boating areas and peaceful walking trails.

The department of Doubs is named after the river that starts close to the Swiss border, and that winds through the countryside creating impressive gorges that you’ll want to capture on camera. This department is known for its wide open spaces, high mountain peaks, forests, rivers and lakes, giving you plenty of places to relax or to enjoy a range of outdoor activities. There are impressive waterfalls, places to ski, underground caves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with something to do at any time of the year. Castles are set high above villages with their traditional buildings and narrow streets, and the people of the Doubs provide an authentic traditional experience for each and every tourist. If you’re staying in a Doubs gîte then you might want to visit the Peugeot Adventure Museum, the Royal Saltworks, the citadels and the golf courses, though the kids will undoubtedly prefer the Dino Zoo and the Polar Park where Nordic animals including wolves and reindeer reside.

Haute-Saône is a wonderfully rural department, where you’ll spend most of your time enjoying far-reaching views of the farms and fields. There are very few large towns but a stay in Haute-Saône is your chance to see little French villages with their churches and rivers. Most people visit Haute-Saône for fishing holidays, farm breaks, horse-riding holidays and long countryside hikes. Golf courses and museums provide more organised entertainment, in case you grow tired of the freedom to explore some of the most scenic landscapes in France.

In Jura you’ll find a wealth of vineyards where locals produce very distinctive wines. The department includes lovely lakeland areas, and pretty riverside towns including Dole and Poligny. Things to do in Jura include walking, cycling, boating and fishing. It’s a place with plenty of natural beauty, and with some great slopes that can’t be beaten for ski trips in the winter. This department, named after the Jura Mountains, is a lovely location sharing a border with Switzerland and producing some of the region’s best cheeses.

If you’re looking for unmissable events and great family attractions, then you’ll want to stay in the department of Territoire de Belfort. From the spectacular puppet theatre, the Théatre de Marionnettes de Belfort, to one of France’s largest laser-tag arenas, this department has something for everyone. At Acropark you can traverse the treetops, and the Land of the Lion, named after the Lion of Belfort sculpture at the city of Belfort’s citadel, is also home to some impressive museums and monuments.

If busy city markets aren’t your thing, then why not escape to the peaceful open spaces where you can stare in wonder at the awe-inspiring Savoureuse River cascades? Alternatively, schedule your holiday to coincide with the FIMU festival or the annual Eurockéennes rock music festival which draws enormous crowds every summer.

Areas of Franche Comte

Doubs
The department of Doubs is named after the river that starts close to the Swiss border, and that winds through the countryside creating impressive gorges that you'll want to capture on camera. This department is known for its wide open spaces, high mountain peaks, forests, rivers and lakes.

Haute-Saône
Haute-Saône is a wonderfully rural department, where you'll spend most of your time enjoying far-reaching views of the farms and fields. There are very few large towns but a stay in Haute-Saône is your chance to see little French villages with their churches and rivers.

Jura
Jura, named after the Jura Mountains, is a lovely location sharing a border with Switzerland and producing some of the region's best cheeses. The department includes lovely lakeland areas, and pretty riverside towns including Dole and Poligny. Jura is an area with plenty of natural beauty, and with some great slopes that can't be beaten for ski trips in the winter.

Territoire de Belfort
If you're looking for unmissable events and great family attractions, then you'll want to stay in the department of Territoire de Belfort. From the spectacular puppet theatre, the Théatre de Marionnettes de Belfort, to one of France's largest laser-tag arenas, this department has something for everyone.