General Information
Franche-Comté terrain, elevation and climate provide the ideal conditions for cross-country skiing. There are more than 2,000 km (1,245 miles) of clearly signposted and well-maintained ski tracks, going through gorgeous natural areas, along lakes or on wide plateaus with views of the Alps Mountains. Downhill or cross-country skiing are available in the recognized wintersport resorts such as Les Rousses, Metabief Mont d'Or or in any other picturesque resorts.
The "Grande Traversée du Jura" (GTJ) is a 400 km (250 miles) cross-country trail across the Jura mountains, from north to south, crossing the departments of the Jura, the Doubs and the Ain.
The Jura region has held its own long-distance cross-country ski race since 1979, the Transjurassienne. With its 76 km (47 miles), from Lamoura in Jura to Mouthe in Doubs, it is the longest French ski race with ten villages welcoming the 4,000 participants.
The Jura Mountains are easy to access at all time by snow cleared roads, by high speed trains called TGV or by bus. Paris is 450 km away (300 miles) about 2 hours by the TGV, Lyon is 150 km (100 miles) away and Geneva is 45 minutes away.