picturesque village
Château-Chalon, among the most beautiful villages in France
Sightseeing, great food and drink, Château-Chalon has the three essentials for a successful holiday. Sightseeing first, as you wander in the narrow streets of this lovely listed village, gazing at the views, then move on to Poligny, Baume-les-Messieurs or the lakes region to pursue your exploration of Jura. Then comes the food and drink. In the birthplace of the famous "vin jaune", you'll inevitably enjoy a glass of this "yellow wine", before savouring a regional dish that goes marvelously well with the wines of Jura.
Château-Chalon, one of the most beautiful villages in France
Everyone knows that France is teeming with beautiful villages. But some really stand out from the rest and belong to the select club of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France". Château Chalon is one of them and it's no wonder. Perched on its rocky spur since the dawn of time, it towers over the vineyards and the surrounding plains. It can be spotted from a distance and the very sight of it makes you want to stop and visit.
Once there, it's an absolute delight to stroll between the old winegrowers' houses, the Romanesque church and the castle remains, not forgetting the four panoramic viewpoints offering the spectacular sight of the vineyards and countryside of Jura.
Focus on the schools of yesteryear
A walk around the village isn't the only way to feel as if you're travelling through time. Pop to the "Ecole d'Autrefois" (school of yesteryear), near the church, and unleash your inner school child. This ecomuseum accurately recreates the school atmosphere of the 1930s, complete with furniture and stationery.
Visit the Ecole d'Autrefois
Château-Chalon, where the story of vin jaune began
In Château-Chalon you can feel intoxicated by the altitude even at 400 metres above sea level. Because this village stands on a hill covered in vines, and not just any vines!
This is where they grow savagnin, a grape variety specific to Jura and one that you won't see anywhere else. It produces one of the world's best wines, the famous vin jaune (yellow wine).
In fact, it was here in Château-Chalon that the story of vin jaune began thanks to an initiative taken in the Middle Ages by a small group of nuns who planted the very first savagnin vine stocks here.
You can do justice to this unique wine by tasting it at a wine cellar, or at one of the restaurants in the village, to accompany a dish such as chicken with morels! Sitting outside, gazing over the endless stretch of vines, it's an experience you'll never forget!
Things to see and do around Château-Chalon
It may be a winegrowing village, but there's so much else to discover in the region. Château-Chalon enjoys a strategic location close to a number of different roads that will lead you to a whole host of surprises. To name but a few, these include:
- Poligny, the capital of Comté cheese, which just happens to go marvelously well with vin jaune
- The lakes region to discover the blue, sometimes even turquoise waters of the Jura Mountains, for example at the lakes of Chalain and Vouglans
- Baume-les-Messieurs, another village listed as one of the most beautiful in France, and its steephead valley, the imperial abbey, the cave and the waterfall.
