The P'tite GTJ by bike

A loop with a thousand surprises, each day on the P'tite GTJ by bike will have its nuggets in store for you. Even before you set off, you'll be amazed by the collection at the Maison de La Vache qui rit. The first few kilometres, with their slightly uphill profile, follow an old railway line that has been rehabilitated, before arriving at Lac de Chalain, a lake listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the lakeside town it shelters. Further on, the climb to Frasnois is rewarded by the magnificent site of the 4 lakes, whose waters are often turquoise in summer. A diversion to the Hérisson waterfalls is also recommended for lovers of great natural sites. The more confidential Langouette gorges are no less impressive: the water has sculpted the rock into very deep gorges.

The landscape has already changed, with the deciduous forests gradually giving way to the beech and fir forests of the Haut-Jura. At Mouthe, the atmosphere at the source of the Doubs leaves plenty to the imagination, and the picture is completed further on by Lac Saint-Point, one of the largest natural lakes in France. As far as Levier, the route takes small roads in a very bucolic spirit, not forgetting the impressive Frasne peat bogs. The landscape then becomes hilly again and descends to Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne, where the source of the Lison fills visitors with serenity.

A few more hills and you're in saltworks country: the Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans and Salins-les-Bains, with its thermal baths and Grande Saline. Both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites for their historical and architectural heritage, the two saltworks are well worth a visit. A few kilometres after leaving the banks of the Loue and its typical villages, the first vines mark the entrance to the Jura vineyards, world-famous for their atypical terroir and ancient grape varieties. The names Arbois, vin jaune or vin de paille resonate with every wine lover. Finally, the terroir is also the source of some impressive geological formations: the limestone carved out by erosion has formed gigantic retreats that are home to two of France's most beautiful villages: Château-Chalon, on its promontory, and Baume-les-Messieurs, nestling in the heart of a retreat.