Jura, Administrative department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Jura is an administrative area in eastern France stretching from the Jura mountains to the flat Bresse plain, with Lons-le-Saunier serving as its main town. The landscape shifts between rolling hills planted with grapevines, dense conifer forests, and deep valleys carved by clear rivers.
The area was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution as part of national administrative reforms. Before that, the territory belonged to the historic Free County of Burgundy and remained under Habsburg rule for centuries until becoming French in 1678.
The name comes from the Latin word for forest, reflecting the wooded ridges that define much of the region. Visitors often notice the craft traditions of woodcarving and pipe-making in smaller workshops scattered through the valleys.
Visitors exploring the area should bring sturdy footwear, as many hiking trails cross uneven ground and include steep climbs. Winter can bring snow to higher elevations, while the plains tend to stay wetter and milder.
Local vineyards produce yellow wine from savagnin grapes through a specific aging process that lasts several years under a natural yeast layer. This method gives the wine its characteristic nutty flavor found nowhere else in France.
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