Jura is a département in the east of France named after the Jura mountains.
It should not be confused with the Swiss canton of Jura.
History
Jura was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Franche-Comté.
Geography
Jura is part of the current region of Franche-Comté and is surrounded by the French departments of Doubs, Haute-Saône, Côte-d'Or, Saône-et-Loire, and Ain, as well as the Swiss canton of Vaud on the east.
The Jura mountains are wooded and rolling, not craggy and rocky like the Alps.
Climate
The climate of the Jura varies greatly by elevation. The lower valleys are temperate and pleasant, but the high mountain valleys have bitterly cold winters.
Economy
Jura is a wine-growing region, making very distinctive and unusual wines, such as vin jaune, which is made by a similar process to sherry, developing under a flor of yeast. This is made from the local Savagnin grape variety. Other grape varieties include Poulsard , Trousseau , and Chardonnay.
Tourism
The Jura mountains provide ample opportunities for hiking, skiing, and other winter sports.
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