10 Best Ski Resorts in the Jura Mountains

As well as benefiting from the highest altitude of the mountain range, Monts Jura has the region's largest ski area. As well as these other qualities, there's a wide variety of sporting activities on offer here, making it a must for your winter break: snowboard cross, snowparks, tobogganing and dog sledging, as well as paintballing and an indoor ice rink for those who want to get away from the slopes. 

Thrill-seekers will be delighted to try out the resort's 13 red slopes, while cross-country skiers can hike along the 140 km of marked trails with breathtaking views across Mont Blanc, the Massif des Écrins, Lake Geneva and even the Swiss and Austrian Alps. Memorable emotions guaranteed.

At Terre Ronde, the first thing you'll notice is the exceptional welcome. As well as your hosts' smiles, this resort offers 10 slopes of all different levels, suitable for all ages. Depending on your age and preferences, beginners' ski lifts, downhill skiing, snowboarding, snow blading, snow surfing and night skiing are all available for you to enjoy energetic days within a friendly resort. 

Tobogganing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and dog sledging are just some of the activities available in this area, along with its vast open spaces and breathtaking natural surroundings.

Straddling France and Switzerland, les Rousses comprises 4 villages of the Jura region and is a real mix of discovery and emotion. Within this vast ski area, the resort offers an amazing range of activities suitable for all ages and levels. Downhill and cross-country skiing – where you can slalom among conifer forests – kite surfing, snowboard cross and slide parks for the more acrobatic among you, as well as skijoring for dog and horse lovers. 

Try the famous Baladaski (a type of Nordic skiing) and discover the fascinating flora and fauna, while respecting the natural environment. The resort has been awarded a Flocon Vert award, which recognises sustainability. As well as this excellent sports programme, good food is also on the menu.

Worthy of some of the most beautiful photos, the Métabief resort is easily accessible and is the ideal place to enjoy spectacular landscapes without the long journeys. Spread across 6 villages, the resort provides skiers with enchanting spruce-lined pistes. Snowshoeing or off-piste skiing will give you breathtaking views of the Alps, while dog sledging and skijoring is sure to raise your pulse rate. 

Enthusiastic beginners can tackle the blue and green slopes, whereas the red and black slopes will undoubtedly provide more seasoned skiers with new experiences. And if this still isn't enough, why not swing by the skating rink or swimming complex?

With its pretty chalets and rolling landscapes, dotted with captivating forests, the Val de Mouthe has all the charm of a Canadian resort, minus the accent. This resort in the Haut-Doubs region specialises in downhill skiing and offers a majestic backdrop to your skiing sessions with its green, blue and red slopes, which are particularly suitable for beginners or those hoping to improve their skills. 

Luckily, the ESF ski school instructors are able to impart their love of skiing in a friendly way during lessons aimed at all levels, from the youngest through to the most advanced, as well as for those with additional needs. And to soak up the scenery, nothing beats a snowshoe hike in search of the source of the river Doubs.

If you're looking to ski without spending all your savings, les Plans d’Hotonnes resort is the ideal destination. This family-friendly and peaceful resort comprises over 15 km of green, blue and red slopes, as well as access to the snowpark included in the package. 

To get a glimpse of the most beautiful scenery in the area, put on your snowshoes or cross-country skis and, armed with your poles, set off along the marked trails. Here, even good-quality accommodation is affordable, and the cultural visits are well worth the detour. In particular, sample some handcrafted cheeses or visit the Planetarium and Lèbe Observatory.

Les Gentianes favours quality over quantity, and it works. Renowned for its excellent instructors, the resort mostly welcomes beginners and families who want to ski in a calm, safe environment. Depending on your starting level and progress throughout your stay, you may be able to tackle a green, blue or even a red slope, either alone or accompanied by an experienced instructor from the École du Ski Français ski school. 

If you add tobogganing, tubing and snowshoe or cross-country excursions to this already exciting programme and sprinkle the landscape with a good dump of snow, you're sure to get a few days of excellent skiing.

Modest in size, but no less energetic, Les Fourgs is a popular resort for cross-country skiers and dog sledging enthusiasts alike. The many Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails on offer here provide access to magnificent landscapes, while the annual dog sledging race will instantly immerse you in an epic tale. 

You can even learn how to drive a horse-drawn carriage and create long-lasting memories, whether as a couple or as a family. Les Fourgs is a quieter resort and is aimed at both beginners and experienced skiers who can enhance their skills on the 2 red slopes, including La Meuse slope, with its breathtaking high sections.

The small, welcoming resort of Foncine-le-Haut is absolutely charming – it'll win you over as soon as you arrive. This resort only has 3 slopes (green, blue and red), but that's enough to have some family fun between snowshoeing excursions or cultural visits. 

A visit to the village's cheese dairy is as informative as it is appetising, while the ecomuseum recounts country life over past centuries and is a journey back through time. The Parc Polaire animal park will fascinate the little ones, and the region's springs and waterfalls will quickly create a calming atmosphere. Bonus: Foncine-le-Haut is one of the most affordable resorts in the Jura.

All the pleasures of winter are brought together in Haut-Jura Grandvaux. Good food with authentic flavours, a variety of mountain-based activities, and above all highly coloured landscapes, dotted with majestic lakes and fast-flowing waterfalls. 

A typical day's schedule looks like this: make the most of your early morning energy and head off to the slopes for some skiing and tobogganing. In the afternoon, marvel at the different shades of blue at the lakes – the Lac de Narlay, the Lac du petit Maclu or the Lac d’Ilay – against a backdrop of snowy peaks. And in the evening, slip into the warmth of sauna or hot tub, before enjoying a comforting fondue. Finally, rest your head at one of the high-quality lodgings on offer, and the next morning... do it all over again.