Cross-country skiing, a must | Jura Mountains, France

In the Jura Mountains, cross-country skiing is an institution! It's all about legendary events such as the Transju' race, popular sports like biathlon, and magical itineraries including the Grande Traversée du Jura!

With so many Nordic sites catering for all levels, biathlon installations suitable for novices, and instructors with a passion who can help you perfect your technique, you're going to love skiing here!

Since the dawn of time...

Cross-country skiing, an iconic activity for residents of the Jura Mountains

In the Jura Mountains, cross-country skiing, the ultimate Nordic sport, is a tradition that's inextricably linked to the region. It has been practised for generations by the local residents, initially as a means of travel before it became a recreational activity. It has to be said that Jura's mountainous terrain of unspoilt high plateaus and snow-covered valleys is ideal for cross-country skiing. The Jura Mountains are also the cradle of champions, such as the cross-country skiers Alexandre Rousselet and Corinne Niogret.

Our favourite Nordic ski areas

The best cross-country ski resorts

From north to south, the Jura Mountains are dotted with Nordic areas where cross-country skiers can take to the waymarked trails. Top of the list is the truly outstanding Espace Nordique Jurassien! Our technicians are used to unpredictable weather and have mastered to perfection the art of adjusting to circumstances and preparing the trails as quickly as possible.

Looking to explore all the way across the mountains? Get ready to venture onto the Grande Traversée du Jura trail!

To find the ideal place to purchase the cross-country ski pass that matches your needs, simply follow the guide...

Our best Nordic sites!

See all cross-country ski areas and trails

Legendary race

La Transju'

Cross-country skiing fans, take note! Join us for the Transju' race every year on February !

The Transju’ is the longest cross-country ski race in France! Come and admire the Haut-Jura and Haut-Doubs scenery from the heart of nature. Since 1979, this event has been a great opportunity to enjoy a unique experience in a friendly atmosphere, alongside skiers from across the world.

The programme caters for all levels and tastes, with no less than 7 competitions spread over the entire weekend!

La Transju'

Technical aspects

Two cross-country techniques: skate-skiing and classic stride

Classic style

The classic style (or diagonal stride) is the ancestral cross-country skiing technique. Similar to walking, it is done with skis that have scales to prevent you from sliding backwards. This is the ideal choice for beginners!

But diagonal-stride skiing can also be very energetic, once you've had a bit of practice to get the hang of the technique and speed up the pace...

Skate-skiing

The other technique is skate-skiing! This became popular in the 80s and is so named because the skier uses the same technique as in ice skating.

Skate-skiing initially appears more difficult than the diagonal stride but, once mastered, it provides the skier with an unbeatable sensation of fluidity and speed! This is the style most commonly used, especially in biathlon.

Cross-country skiing + rifle shooting =

Biathlon, the rising star of Nordic sports

Over the past few decades, a host of sports based on cross-country skiing have emerged, such as Nordic combined, a mix of cross-country skiing and ski jumping...

But the most famous is a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, known as biathlon! This discipline is now booming, having gained in popularity in recent years, boosted by the achievements of French bi-athletes. A multitude of facilities are now available for anyone who fancies having a go at biathlon.

Try Biathlon

Planning your trip: practical tips

Practical advice

Planning your trip

For a successful cross-country skiing experience, there are a few essential points to remember:

Be suitably equipped: technical sportswear (waterproof trousers, warm jacket, hat, gloves, etc.) and, above all, the right pair of skis, boots and poles! If you're renting, be sure to ask for skis designed for your chosen technique (skate-skiing or classic style).
Purchase a cross-country ski pass: this is compulsory for access to the trails!
Check snow cover and weather conditions: the Espace Nordique Jurassien provides regularly-updated weather reports and webcams to check snow cover.
Park on the designated car parks, for easy access to the trails and to avoid blocking traffic.

To begin or perfect your technique...

Courses of cross-country ski lessons

Never skied before and looking for the safest way to start? Or have some experience and would like to perfect your technique?

Good news: there are cross-country ski schools dotted across the entire massif! The passionate intructors have their hearts set on passing on their knowledge in what promises to be a memorable experience.

See all our cross-country ski schools

And for die-hard enthusiasts...

Traces Nordiques, the A to Z of cross-country skiing

From the beginnings of cross-country skiing more than 10,000 years ago, to today's competitions in which champions from across the world battle it out before crowds of enthusiastic fans, journalist Benoît Prato describes in this book what cross-country skiing is all about.

A great idea for the perfect Christmas gift!

A beautiful book for you to read