Serving as the capital of Jura, Lons-le-Saunier is an attractive spa town and the birthplace of Rouget de Lisle, the composer of “La Marseillaise”. It is home to historic churches and an impressive fine art museum, as well as an exhibition celebrating one of France’s most well-known cheeses.
Things to do in Lons-le-Saunier
Cheese lovers shouldn’t miss a visit to La Maison de La Vache qui Rit, which is dedicated to the much-loved Laughing Cow. Its interactive exhibits and multimedia displays tell the history of the brand over the last 100 years, with a giant comic book and an augmented reality space among its attractions. In the boutique, you can purchase a range of unique merchandise.
Also not to miss is the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lons-le-Saunier, which houses the personal collection of the Jura sculptor Jean-Joseph Perraud. Sculptures by Claude Dejoux, Victor Huguenin and Antoine Etex are also on display, together with paintings by French artists Alexandre Cabanel and Gustave Courbet. Ethnographic objects from across Europe are also exhibited at the museum.
Lons-le-Saunier makes an ideal base for hiking part of the Grande Randonnee, a long-distance footpath that connects Ballon d'Alsace to St-Tropez. The section from Dole to Lons-le-Saunier takes in picturesque vineyards, centuries-old abbeys and cascading waterfalls, with the option to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of La Grande Saline de Salins-les-Bains and La Saline Royale d’Arc et Senans.
Getting around Lons-le-Saunier
Lons-le-Saunier is just over an hour’s drive from Dijon and 1.5 hours from Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect to the Lons-le-Saunier railway station and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.