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Published: September 3rd 2015
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Jura – Franche Comte .
Its that time of the year again . With vacations starting in a couple of months . families have started searching for hot ( or cold ) spots to unwind and relax . Inland or abroad there is no dearth of destinations and each one can be just as ‘hot’ as the next .
I say why not give Franche Comte a try ? Its as common as that place and as unique as this place .
Franche-Comte is a department ( district ) in the east of France bordering with its friendly neighbour Switzerland . It houses the region of Jura mountains which forms a major part of the Snowy Alps ranges . The Jurassic period of the geologic timescale derives its name from this Jura range .
English is widely spoken in these parts though ( at least ) a smarting of French will give you an extra affectionate look ( and service ) . It’s a popular skiing resort and the locals talk of scary traffic jams and horrendous accidents during peak winter months. The summer months of July till September are relatively mild with less
tourists and traffic .
Hotels , guest rooms ( paying guest types ) , chalets , cottages , farmhouses, camping venues can be found in plenty for reasonable prices . If you are traveling with your family , then its advisable to take a Gite ( a self catering cottage ) . Gites , like hotels , are rated .For example , a 3 star rated gite will have many utilities like a Dish washer , Washing machine etc., There are equally good gites in solitary picturesque country side or in busy bustling towns .
A cluster of gites, just a 20 minutes drive from the major town of La Cure bordering Switzerland.
Thanks to the lush green forests around , wood related industries like toys , ski equipment , wall clocks , pipes ( of the smoking type ) , packaging containers etc are abundant and forms a major chunk of their exports . It houses many museums and industries of related products . It regularly hosts Carpentry Competitions where carpenters and wood carvers from all over the France ( and nearby countries too ) come to compete with experts
in chopping wood and carving . It’s a fete in itself with family events like funny make up and games for children ,stalls selling home made wines or jams etc., It can run late into the night owing to the long hours of sunshine due to summer .
The Animal Farming and diary industries are well developed . It’s a sacrilege ( to use a strong term ) for the tourist to leave Franche-Comte without tasting the world famous Comte Cheese. The crust is harder than most other types of Cheese and tastes like slightly burnt clarified butter ( ghee ) . It’s particularly good for teething children.
Pretty picturesque towns have mushroomed on both sides of the border. There is almost zero border patrolling during day time . At least one guard is always stationed in the check post but they cheerfully wave you by ( sometimes without even checking your passports ) . I suppose it’s a result of being used to the loud chatter of impatient families driving hither thither . Public transport is well knit across the
border due to hundreds of people traveling daily for study or work purposes . If you plan a longer stay then you can get a season pass for your travel needs which is very cheap.
Its deliberately positioned atop a hill from where the lunching tourist can have a view of the entire town .
La Rosseau , La Cure , St Cloud are some big towns in the French side of the border.
In peak summer months ( July / August ) there is hardly any local on the streets owing to the holiday season. Take note that some eateries too close during this time . Some restaurateurs plan their annual holidays taking advantage of the lull in tourism . Skiing is the main attraction here so summer is bound to be ‘off-season’. The big town of St Cloud houses the St Pierre’s Abbey which is 600 years old and was a hostel for student monks.
A mere 2 hours drive from across the border will take you to the big city of Geneva ,Switzerland .
It is the
birth place of Henry DUNANT – the founder of Red . The city also houses the head quarters of the Olympic committee . Geneva has a long history of horlogerie ( watches ) and jewellery . You can ( at least ,window shop ) shop for Gucci , Guess, Rolex, Patek Phillips , Omega , Cartier . Chopard … and not feel time pass by ….
A not-to-be-missed show room in the centre square of the city is that of Jahan – An offshoot of the royal jewellers of Iran.
I can only advise the average tourist ( like me ) to dare not venture inside . The cost of a simple diamond necklace will run into 5 figures.
Geneva is a pretty and bustling city . Visitors can take a yacht and go around in the lake Leman.
It also has a flora and fauna museum which has been given a 3 star rating by Michelin – The tyre company whose ratings are well respected . This recently renovated museum is a must-visit. Since Geneva is a big city, many public transport buses ply to and
from the main station . You need two full days to go through this city leisurely . It has many ‘Desi’ restaurants. Be warned… and go pre armed… a simple meal for 4 can come to more than 100 Euros – wine excluded. The Swiss being rich and all that ….
The nearby town of Lausanne is smaller than Geneva but just as costly. It can be covered briskly in about a day .
The biggest draw in the region of the French part of Jura is Baume Les Messieurs . Among other attractions, it houses a dilapidated abbey and a naturally formed amphitheatre.
Items like Jewellery and hand bags made with locally available semi precious stones are popular there .
Due to its strategic location and rich, lush natural reserves , the region of Jura in the district of Franche-Comte is the site to many commercially run camping holiday sites. Like hotels and gites , camping caravans too are given stars.
The walk or drive can be stressful with roads and streets going zig zag. The innocent traveler is advised to go with a full stomach lest his out-of-work bile juices start getting restless.
It houses many pony and cycling clubs for children ( among other activities ) . Be warned – the ponies might be good with mountainous terrains , but they have a mind of their own . Children are advised to go with an adult all the time , even if the pony walk is just for a few minutes.
If you are lucky , you might chance upon a brocante in progress . August and September are peak times for this . It’s a garage sale held on a Sunday but on a much bigger scale than in other countries .A small town can boast of having at least 800 stalls on this occasion . The mayor of the town comes to inaugurate the brocante . Its well covered in the local news papers . Many things ( but second hand ) come on sale that day starting from tea cups / the family
silver to big things like houses / cars .
The region has so many things to offer that its common for the tourist to get confused and feel lost . The town tourist office will draw up your itenary once you tell them your length of the stay , interests ( like skiing , shopping , museums … ) and your ( however small ) budget and you can follow it blindly and yet do full the justice to your holiday plans ( and dreams ) .
To reiterate what I said at the start - Though the region of Jura- Franche Comte does not claim to be unique in any single respect, it sure has something for everyone .
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