Five Must-See Sites Around Dole in the Jura

Allow yourself the time to head beyond the city walls and explore Dole – and the Jura – from an different perspective.

1. Forêt de Chaux

More than 20,000 hectares of forest grow to the eastern edge of the city, wonderful for walking and cycling, with a grid system of quiet forest roads. Look out for the seven stone columns, created in 1826, that stand at each of the main crossroads.

2. Cycling along the Eurovélo 6

There are many pretty canal and riverside cycle paths in Dole. The long-distance cycle path, the EuroVélo 6, passes through town. Continue along the 4,450km route and you’ll pass through Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade, to finish at the Black Sea!

3. Explore the canals by boat

Along the Canal du Rhône au Rhin are many options for messing about in boats, whether hiring a canoe, an electric boat, or a cruiser from Nicols in Dole for a boating holiday to explore Franche-Comté. It’s a wonderfully relaxing way to travel.

4. Royal saltworks

Only a 15-minute drive from Dole are the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, commissioned by King Louis XV, is a rare example of industrial architecture.

5. La ligne des Hirondelles

This extraordinary 120km train route offers panoramic views of the Franche-Comté countryside. Departing from Dole, it terminates at Saint-Claude in the Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura.

From France Today Magazine