26th September 2023
We’ve been in the Pyrenees and the Alps on our autumn tour of the mountains, now its time for the Jura. One of Europe’s little-known and under-appreciated ranges. NEW
The Jura starts to the north of Geneva and Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and then stretches through parts of northern Switzerland and into Germany.
The vast majority of the range is in France.
The range rises at 580m and goes up to 1,720m.
In 1993 the French government declared much of the Jura mountains as a National Natural Reserve and it is one of the largest Natural Reserves in mainland France.
We are in the Pays de Gex area that is part of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and occupies 44,000 hectares.
Pays de Gex, the Jura. Image © PlanetSKI.
The Jura is a range we are just getting to know here at PlanetSKI even though we have passed though many times.
It wasn’t a great winter for snow last season (22/23), but we hit it at exactly the right time in late January and had some of our best skiing of the winter.
See here for the full details of our winter ski trip:
Pays de Gex, Jura mountains. Image © PlanetSKI
Pays de Gex, Jura mountains. Image © PlanetSKI
Pays de Gex, Jura mountains. Image © PlanetSKI
Now we are back in Mijoux in the Pays de Gex area in the summer as we relax in between the weekend games of the Rugby World Cup.
The village has the same atmosphere out of the ski season – a genuine mountain village where time simply stands still.
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Murals adorn most of the buildings in the village centre.
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
The lifts are idle and the slopes deserted, except for the lush vegetation.
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
The name Mijoux means ‘middle of the forest’.
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
It’s easy to see why.
Mijoux, The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
There are walks aplenty here in the summer and autumn months.
The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Some with fabulous views down the valley, across Lac Leman and over to Mont Blanc.
The Jura mountains. Image © PlanetSKI
The area is popular with cyclists.
The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
And those on bikes who prefer an engine.
The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Lets hope they looked in their mirrors as they headed over the pass into the Jura.
Mont Blanc in the distance looked pretty special.
The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
Down towards Geneva is Divonne-des-Bains, a PlanetSKI favourite if you want to relax in a pretty French village and re-charge the batteries.
It is ideal if you need a hotel near Geneva airport that is about 20-minutes away and comes in at a fraction of the price of a bed in Geneva.
It’s easy enough to pop into the city for a stroll and early evening drink.
Geneva, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
The Jura is a range often over-looked.
Big mistake.
Next we are off to Verbier in Switzerland that is a couple of hours away on this autumn tour of the mountains.
To see what is new for next winter in the Swiss resort and hook up with friends.
Oh, and try to find somewhere to live for part of next winter.
And then PlanetSKI turns back into PlanetRUGBY, as we head up to Nantes next weekend for a few games.
First its Argentina v Chile, then Wales v Georgia and Argentina v Japan.
Our brief visit to the the Jura will remain in the memory, and we hope to be back skiing next winter if conditions allow.
The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
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This article was originally published by Planetski.eu. Read the original article here.
