Enhance your stay
Activities on site or in the local region? It’s up to you to decide what you want to do and how you want to spend your time. Every day is different at Château de Germigney … You’re sure to enjoy an unforgettable stay.
At the Château
- Outdoor swimming pool: at any time, depending on the weather and how you feel. Swim in an ecologically treated pool, relax and lie back on one of the loungers in the garden.
- Bikes: available to explore the surrounding area. An outdoor activity for couples, friends and families.
- Walking: a world of colours and trails to explore at any time as you marvel at the natural world.
- Pétanque: guaranteed fun for friends and family.
- Croquet: a good time for everyone aged 7 to 77!
- Badminton: an all-round sport on the garden’s beautiful lawns.
In the vicinity
Château de Germigney is an idyllic starting point from which to explore the Franche-Comté region. Look around and take a deep breath! Over the course of a long weekend or a holiday, explore the historic sites and superb landscapes of the Jura region, taste local produce and watch artisan craftsmen and women demonstrate their skills.
Tourist offices:
- Tourist office of Jura
- Tourist office of Arbois, Poligny, Salins-les-Bains
- Tourist office of Dole
- Tourist office of Besançon
History and heritage
Royal Saltworks in Arc-et-Senans (7 km/10 mins away): this unique architectural complex and industrial concept is the work of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. The Royal Saltworks takes you back to the Age of Enlightenment, to the heart of the history of salt. Visit this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Salins-les-Bains (10 km/15 mins away): in the foothills of Mont Poupet, this spa town is home to the Royal Saltworks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Salt Museum will teach you everything you need to know about “white gold” and its impact on the region.
Besançon (38 km/40 mins away): explore the capital of Franche-Comté. Bordering the Doubs river, Besançon has a busy city centre. Don’t miss the Citadel , designed by Vauban and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum of Time , the Museum of Fine Arts , Victor Hugo’s childhood home and the Cité des Arts et de la Culture .
Baume-les-Messieurs (43 km/50 mins away): stroll through this village, one of the “most beautiful villages in France”, known for its cave, its abbey and its waterfall. Follow the paths up the hills and enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the village.
Ornans (48 km/45 mins away): the “Little Venice” of the Jura region will have you following in the footsteps of Gustave Courbet (19th century), a native of the town. Visit a museum about the painter in his birthplace. Take one of several paths and trails to visit the sites and landscapes which inspired the artist.
The great outdoors
The Jura region is the perfect destination for outdoor activities, no matter what the season. Mountains, lakes, ski resorts, golf courses, rivers, forests: choose from a wide range of activities.
Hikes and walks: many paths and trails will take you from lookouts to deep valleys as you explore the region. Whether you’re interested in a steep climb or a flatter route, they are suitable for all levels and can be enjoy on foot, on a bike or a mountain bike, on horseback or even by car.
Our suggestions near Château de Germigney:
- Mont Poupet (Salins-les-Bains/15 mins away)
- Le Fer à Cheval (Arbois/Mesnay), Baume-les-Messieurs
- Le Pic de l’Aigle (La Chaux-du-Dombief)
- The Hérisson waterfalls (Menétrux-en-Joux)
- Grande Traversée des Alpes
- The Royal Saltworks in Arc-et-Senans
From Port-Lesney, you can also enjoy the banks of the river Loue; we can lend you bikes.
Angling with a professional guide: the Loue, the Cuisance and the Seille are excellent rivers for fishing, home to plenty of trout and grayling
Golf: fans of golf can play at 4 courses, all less than an hour away from the Château
- Val d’Amour golf course in Parcey (33 km away)
- Val de Sorne golf course (58 km away), one of the 20 most beautiful courses in France
- Rochat golf course in Les Rousses (80 km away), the Jura region’s ultimate 18-hole course
- La Chevillotte golf course in Besançon (44 km away).
Winter sports: downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, dog sledding, sledging and more. Enjoy adrenaline-packed sports, all winter long. Visit the ski resorts of Les Rousses, La Haute-Joux, Métabief and more. You can also enjoy La Grande Traversée du Jura, 180 km of cross-country skiing trails between the Ain and Doubs regions.
Lakes: swimming, pedalos, hiking, sailing and more. Relax and enjoy a range of water sports in majestic settings. Visit the lakes of Chalain, Vouglans, Narlay, l’Abbaye and Clairvaux.
Terroir
The Jura region is an authentic and abundant area. Take advantage of your stay at Château de Germigney to enjoy some local cuisine.
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“Vignobles et Découvertes” vineyard
Travel the Wine Route, visit vineyards and wineries and meet the wine-makers. Learn, listen, taste, share!
Jura’s vineyards produce 7 protected wine vintages, known as Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée: Crémant, Macvin, Côtes du Jura, Château-Chalon, l’Etoile, Arbois and Marc du Jura. The region’s most famous grape variety, Savagnin, produces white wines which are ideal for ageing and boast powerful nutty notes. It is also used in blends with Chardonnay.
The late-harvested Savagnin is the source of the famous “vin jaune”, the region’s legendary yellow wine; the Percée festival, held during the first weekend in February, is one of the highlights of the wine-making year. Take a tour of Château-Chalon (34 km/40 mins away), the home of vin jaune and one of the “most beautiful villages in France”.
Red and rosé wines are produced using Poulsard and Trousseau grapes in Arbois (13 km/13 mins away), the capital of the Jura region’s wines, Montigny-lès-Arsures (9 km/10 mins away) and Pupillin (16 km/18 mins away).
Among the region’s best-known wines, try vin de paille and Macvin; both boast an astonishing production method and an incredible taste.
Cheese
A superb range of traditional, authentic and tasty cheeses which are typical of the region.
You’ve got to try Comté, the iconic cheese for which the Jura region is famous. Many dairies welcome visitors: sample this cheese before you buy! It’s perfect as a pre-dinner apéritif and tastes just as delicious when it’s cooked with chicken, in gougères, as part of Jura fondue and more. In Poligny (22 km/24 mins away), the capital of Comté cheese, the Maison du Comté can tell you everything you need to know about this cheese, the first in France to have received an AOC or Appellation d’origine contrôlée, a protected status .
Other firm favourites: Morbier, bleu de Gex, cancoillotte, Mont d’Or and more.
