French Alps and Jura Regional Guide

The Alp's is France’s third most popular tourist region and it is home to Europe’s largest mountain range.

From the towering mountain peaks of the Alps, through cascading rivers and magnificent gorges, the stunning beauty of this region is undeniable. In the winter the Alps are a world of snow and ice. Once Winter’s last snows have melted, the Alps reveal their true majesty. The hills again become verdant green meadows, with vast forests and sparkling lakes, plus a multitude of treasurable towns and villages in between. This is when it becomes ideal for exploration, by car, bicycle or on foot, with the added bonus of cable cars to make reaching the heart of the mountains even easier and more spectacular.

The Alps are made up of tunnels through the mountains that join France and Italy, including the Mont Blanc road tunnel.

Separated by Lake Geneva, this region contains the Jura mountains to the south and borders the Vosges mountains on the north side. The Jura mountains are more accessible, yet less exploited by tourism, than the Alps and are thus extremely popular with winter sports fans, nature lovers and ramblers.

The Jura's delightful green countryside is broken up by a multitude of picturesque little wine towns, medieval villages and ruined chateaux. The Jura is a region where good food and wine are a way of life. And once you have enjoyed the deep forest and winding river valleys in the Jura, there are many chances to enjoy the Jura's most famous Export – Champagne.

There are close links between Jura and Switzerland and a lot of the cuisine, culture and architecture of Switzerland has found its way into the Jura region.