From its mountainous eastern edge on the Swiss border to the ville d’art of Besançon, this region has something for everyone. Holiday cottages in Franche-Comte are scattered throughout four départements, each with its own character and charm yet united by a common heritage.
Territoire-de-Belfort in the north is by far the smallest of the four départements and is in fact the second smallest département outside of Greater Paris. The town of Belfort is home to several interesting sights including the Lion of Belfort, a giant statue built by Frédéric Bartholdi who went on to design the Statue of Liberty.
Jura, in the south, takes its name from the Jura Mountains, which in turn take their name from the Celtic word “jor” meaning forest. Seeing the thick blanket of fir and pine that covers the slopes of the mountains it is easy to understand how they earned their name. Ranked as one of France’s finest cross-country skiing destinations, the landscape of Jura is known for rolling foothills and rocky out crops. Of course this means that holiday cottages in Franche-Comte are popular during ski season.
Doubs (pronounced du) is the largest of the départements of Franche-Comte and home to the region’s capital - Besançon. As with much of eastern France it is too easy to get carried away with the attractions of the scenic countryside and forget city life; however Besançon deserves a special mention. The city is known for being the birth place of Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. There is a wealth of attractive sights including; the 16th-century Palais Granvelle, the Citadel of Besançon, the Cathedral of St. Jean and the Église de la Madeleine.
Haute-Saône is named after the Saône River which passes through on its long journey to join the Rhône.
The limestone landmarks of the main town are a reminder of the success this region enjoyed during the 17th-century and even though it is a thoroughly charming city the real attraction is the surrounding countryside. One unique and interesting way of soaking up the landscape is to enjoy a ride on La Vélorail - a cycling-powered railway cart that provides a breath of fresh air. There are many different types of gîtes, villas and holidays cottages in Franche-Comte Haute-Saône department which provide an excellent base for exploring the unspoilt beauty of the area.
The inland location of Franche-Comte means that it benefits from continental weather. Summers are hot while winters are cold and long with the peaks of Jura being covered in snow for most of the year. This means that every season brings new sights and attractions to Franche-Comte. Holiday cottages are perfectly located throughout the region for exploring the epic setting by walking, cycling or horseback.
Whilst staying at a holiday cottage in Franche-Comte you will get the chance to sample some of the region’s famous cuisine. There is a strong Alpine influence on the local specialities. The most obvious case of this is the Comte fondue. Comte cheese is a natural choice for fondues as its mild taste and flexible texture are so similar to Gruyère. There are also many delectable local wines such as Yellow Wine, Vin de Paille and Savagnin.
Tourist offices with information about local sights and attractions can be found close to most holiday cottages in Franche-Comte. These will also have details of popular walking, cycling and hiking routes in the region as well as any special events that are going on.