Forêt de la Joux

The Joux forest is located on the edge of the second Jura plateau, at an altitude of between 634 and 905 metres. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful fir forests in France. Some of its tallest fir trees are almost 50 metres high.

The Office National des Forêts seeds and seedlings department, better known under its former name of "sécherie de la Joux", is located in the Joux forest. The forest is therefore the source of seeds that are used to improve the stands of French forests.

There is a tradition of electing certain exceptional fir trees as president. Since 1897, four fir trees have held this title. The current one, designated in 1964, took over two hundred years to reach its current height of 45 metres, with a diameter of 1.20 metres. From the 17th century onwards, the fir trees of the Joux forest, very tall and of excellent quality, were used to make marine masts. These were the only trees that could be used to make masts, which had to be in one piece, strong and sufficiently flexible, while hardwoods (mainly oak) were used to build hulls and other wooden components.