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Unspoilt nature, traditions kept alive, and varied scenery of incredible beauty... welcome to the Upper Jura Regional Nature Park.
The Upper Jura Regional Nature Park ("Parc naturel régional", or PNR) straddles 3 French departments (Ain, Doubs and Jura).
Located on the foothills of the Alps, it is a land of contrasts where nature's presence is always felt, a green haven teeming with things to discover. The spectacular scenery is worth a little detour, as are the intimate mountain villages, lakes, waterfalls and remote farms.
Inhabited for centuries, these mountains are home to some very specific traditions.
Come and meet the women and men who keep those traditions alive. There are still plenty of surprises in store here in this land of cheesemaking, woodturning and other crafts that are enthusiastically displayed.
Tout sur le PNR
The "Maison du Parc" (Nature Park Centre) in Lajoux is the headquarters of the Upper Jura Regional Nature Park.
"Haut-Jura terre vivante!" (Upper Jura, a living land) is the centre's permanent exhibition which takes you exploring every facet of the Upper Jura region: the scenery, the wildlife and vegetation, local crafts and industries, forestland, etc.
This very lively centre proposes a rich programme of documentary screenings, tours, nature walks, workshops, conferences and so on.
Nature parks play a vital role in environmental protection.
The Upper Jura nature park is no exception, which is not surprising when you realise it is teeming with life and yet so fragile!
It is sanctuary to a host of wildlife including the lynx, the capercaillie and other threatened species. Spread across a veritable wilderness, this wealth of biodiversity is protected through a number of preservation measures under the Natura 2000 network and other listings.
As you've guessed, the Regional Nature Park is probably the best guardian of nature's precious haven! It is up to us, with your help, to be mindful of the natural environment in the interests of the future generations.
An old but very much alive Jura tradition consists in electing a "President Pine". You may well say the people of Jura are mad and you're right, they are!
Mad about their natural surroundings and the forests that have sustained them for centuries. The election honours the most majestic conifer of the forest (sometimes a spruce), which then retains the title for the rest of its life. Prepare for beautiful forest walks and encounters with some outstanding specimens!
Varied landscapes, unspoilt nature, this is heaven for explorers of all kinds. Take to the saddle, slip on your trainers, grab your skis or snowshoes, and head for Upper Jura!
En routePeople and craftsmanship are at the core of Jura's very identity: spectacles, clocks, wood, cheese and smoked meats... are just a few examples of the traditional crafts and activities to be discovered without fail in Upper Jura.
Here's a collection of tours and tasty visits selected just for you.
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