Jura: Forested Mountains With Cross-Country Skiing
Located between Zurich and Lyon, the Jura Mountains stretch across France, Switzerland, and Germany. The Jura Mountains, ‘Forest Mountains', as one might expect, is covered in thick forests and high-altitude pastureland. The mountains have a maximum height of 1720 metres and are home to the Swiss...
Full OverviewJura: Forested Mountains With Cross-Country Skiing
Located between Zurich and Lyon, the Jura Mountains stretch across France, Switzerland, and Germany. The Jura Mountains, ‘Forest Mountains', as one might expect, is covered in thick forests and high-altitude pastureland.
The mountains have a maximum height of 1720 metres and are home to the Swiss ski resorts of La Chaux-de-Fonds, La Robella, Le Paquier, Les Breuleux, Les Bugnenets-Savagnieres, Les Genevez, Les Pres-d'Orvin, and Tramelan. Jura also includes the French resorts of Les Rousses and Monts Jura.
La Chaux-de-Fonds (1100-1270) offers 30 kilometres of cross-country tracks located north and south of the town centre. The ‘Ferme Modele' track is a must for its diversity and views of the Alps.
La Robella (800-1450 metres) features 15 kilometres of downhill skiing served by five lifts. It also has its own train station and a 1200-metre-long toboggan run. Le Bugnenets-Savagnieres is home to 30 kilometres of slopes served by seven lifts. Les Breuleux (1060-1250 metres) offers a total of 10 kilometres of ski slopes for all levels.
Other Swiss resorts in Jura include Le Paquier (860-1260 metres) with 10 kilometres of slopes; Les Genevez (1050-1200 metres) with eight kilometres of slopes; Les Pres-d'Orvin (1000-1300 metres) with five kilometres; and Tramelan (925-1200 metres) with 14 kilometres.
The French resorts of Les Rousses and Monts Jura offer a good selection of slopes for all levels. Les Rousses (1050-1680 metres) features spectacular views from its pistes overlooking lakes and forests. Its 40 kilometres of pistes are divided in to 25 green runs, 14 blue, 18 red, and four black. Les Rousses is a cross-country skier's dream, with 220 kilometres of pretty forested trails and panoramic views. Snowboarders also feel at home here with a snowpark.
Monts Jura (1000-1600 metres) has a maximum vertical of 700 metres. Its 38 pistes are particularly well suited to beginners and intermediates (17 green runs, 10 blue, eight red, and three black).
Non-skiing attractions in Jura include Watch Valley for Swiss watch fans, and natural features like the Creux du Van, the lookout peak of Chassera, and the Grottes de l‘Orbe caves.
The nearest airport to the region is Geneva, within an hour's drive of the resorts, and road links between the airport and resorts are good. Other airports in the vicinity include Chambery, Grenoble, and Lyon.
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