Petite Montagne, Jura, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

The Petite Montagne is an ancient community of communes French, located south of the department of Jura and the region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Located at the foot of the Haut Jura Natural Park and near exceptional lakes, the Petite Montagne offers unspoiled nature and a variety of landscapes: lakes, waterfalls, remote, belvederes, caves etc…

La Petite Montagne is located in the far south of the Jura department in the Bourgogne-Franche Comté region in eastern France. It borders the department of Ain (Auvergne-Rhône Alpes). La Petite Montagne is located 45 minutes from Bourg-en-Bresse and 1 hour from Lyon. On 1 January 2020, this community of municipalities merged with its neighbors (Orgelet region, southern Jura and Pays des Lacs) to form the South Jura, Pays des Lacs, Petite Montagne and Orgelet region.

The Petite Montagne community of municipalities animates and enhances the territory by organizing numerous actions. It is built around three basins of life: Arinthod, Val Suran and Thoirette-Coisia. These are three local poles that provide a network of structuring services and facilities for the benefit of the inhabitants of the territory.

The Community of Municipalities is part of the Lédonien Country and is attached to the Tourist Office of the Pays des Lacs et de la Petite Montagne, an office of which is located in Arinthod. It is a predominantly rural (most municipalities with less than 200 inhabitants) and green territory in which Arinthod is a town-center with just under 1,200 inhabitants. In addition, a large part of the territory of the Community of Municipalities is classified Natura 2000.

Municipalities
The 26 municipalities: Andelot-Morval, Arinthod, Aromas, La Boissière, Broissia, Cernon, Cezia, Charnod, Chemilla, Condes, Cornod, Dramelay, Genod, Gigny-sur-Suran, Lavans-sur-Valouse, Marigna-sur-Valouse, Monnetay, Montfleur, Montlainsia, Montrevel, Saint-Hymetière, Thoirette-Coisia, Val-Suran, Valzin-en-Petite-Montagne, Vescles, Vosbles-Valfin.

Andelot-Morval
Andelot was the capital of the seigneury of Andelot, bringing together under the authority of the house of Coligny, eight villages, divided into four parishes. In 1617, this land was set up as a marquisate: the marquisate of Andelot. The current town was born on January 1, 1973, Andelot-lès-Saint-Amour then becomes Andelot-Morval following its merger-association with Morval.

Aromas
Aromas and its seven hamlets were part of the mandate of the Château de Montdidier, the ruins of which can still be seen today. The village of Aromas is dominated by the Cuquelu hill on which stands a beautiful statue of the virgin dating from the middle of the 19th century. In front of the church stands a protected and classified Calvary cross by decree of November 24, 1906. The villages of Aromas, Villeneuve les Charnod, Faverges, Burigna and Ceffia have a covered wash house.

La Boissière
It is a heavily wooded town, in the heart of the village, towards the town hall, is located at an altitude of 500 meters. La Boissière is rich in small built heritage: fountains, catchments, wash house, cross, oratory, work to shoe oxen… Its former presbytery is listed in the inventory of historical monuments; the old church was subsequently modified again and occupies a position away from the village. Forest and wood occupy more than half of a total area of 536 hectares. A forest of about 80 hectares, managed by the ONF, classified PEFC, offers a good quality of diversified stands. A church, away from the village is bordered by the cemetery and the presbytery. The creation of a discovery trail inaugurated in 2010 extends over approximately 5 km and has allowed the “networking” of various actions to protect heritage (small built heritage, reopening of dry lawns) and the development of perspectives. It lends itself admirably to family hiking.

Cernon
The town of Cernon has a magnificent viewpoint over the Vouglans dam. The chapel in the hamlet of Menouille, the church in Cernon village, the four fountains, the Calvary and the belvedere of Châtelet are also notable elements in the heritage of the town.

Monnetay
The municipality has two points of view. The one to the east (Valouse basin) accessible via the Tilleul belvedere, and the west (Suran valley) via the Roche des Massettes belvedere. An old well can be reached 300 meters from the village. Built in the 12th century, the church is dedicated to Saint Hippolyte, a 3rd century martyr whose feast is celebrated on August 13. The surplus of the building was built in the 18th century.

Saint-Hymetière sur Valouse
The municipalities of Saint-Hymetière, Chemilla, Cézia and Lavans-sur-Valouse merged on January 1, 2019. Beyond a merger, it is above all the union of historic municipalities in order to prepare for the future in a context of intercommunal expansion and strengthening of mutualizations. Louis Vuitton (1821-1892): founder in 1854 of the group leather for luxury international Louis Vuitton was born in the hamlet of Anchay in Lavans-sur-Valouse.

Thoirette-Coisia
For several centuries we crossed the Ain at Thoirette, using a ferry. It was nicknamed the Christophe ferry, name of the town where the passenger resided. From 1808 to 1811, the riparian municipalities joined together to build a bridge in place of the ferry. It was not until 1829 that a wire bridge was built which collapsed in 1843. This bridge ended on the Jura side inside the Hôtel du Pont. The owner received a right of way. A new bridge was then built slightly downstream from the Hôtel du Pont. It was put into office in 1858.

Vosbles-Valfin
The new municipality after the merger of the municipalities of Vosbles and Valfin-sur-Valouse has been called VOSBLES-VALFIN since January 1, 2018. Extending over 2,134 hectares and at an altitude of 370 meters, Valfin is an atypical village hidden in a deep gorge which opens onto the right bank of the Valouse. Its stone houses border the Balme stream. The town is made up of three hamlets: Soussonne, Sésigna and Sur-le-Creux. The commune of Soussonne is united with that of Valfin-sur-Valouse on August 7, 1822 and that of Sésigna on August 2, 1826.

The castle is located to the south, at the end of a mountain. It includes a 13th century keep and 16th century buildings. The attic of the castle is also home to a colony of bats and as such, is a Natura 2000 protected site.. The formerly fortified castle was once the property of the seigneury of Dramelay in the 13th century. The castle consisted of a powerful square keep flanked at its angles by four machicolated towers, a fortified complex that is difficult to access. The appearance was profoundly modified in the 16th century in Renaissance style by its new owner François de Toulongeon, who removed the corner towers of the keep, backed it up with a quadrangular tower and a main building. Noble families succeeded: the Montaigu, Marquis de Boutavant and Valfin, then the Dom d’Hautecour.

The last lord of Valfin was Antide Dom d’Hautecour, grandson of squire and secretary of the King. In 1953, the city of Argenteuil bought it to make it a holiday center for five decades, very popular with families. The church, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, was built around 1843, when the castle chapel was demolished. After the war, it was renovated by the inhabitants under the mandate of the Communist mayor, Mr. Turlan, with the equipment of the summer camp and the consent of the comrades of Argenteuil.

Tourism
Petite Montagne is above all a generous territory, a wild atmosphere, a picturesque setting… In short: a refreshing stopover. Famous for the hiking trails, and some sites that are worth seeing…

Historical heritage
La Petite Montagne boasts some beautiful buildings, most of them renovated but still rich in their history…

The Romanesque church of Saint-Hymetière
Listed as a historical monument, the church built in the middle of the 6th century is a jewel of Romanesque art. Admirably well preserved despite centuries and conflicts, Saint Marie church stands in the middle of the meadows, slightly out of the way of the village of Saint-Hymetière.

The Abbey of Gigny-sur-Suran
In 893, Abbot Bernon had the Gigny Abbey built on land belonging to his family in the town of Gigny. In 909, he left to found the abbey of Cluny in the company of twelve monks from the abbey of Baumes-les-Messieurs and Gigny. Despite numerous changes over the years, this majestic Benedictine abbey has kept the architectural simplicity of Romanesque art.

The Belvédère du Fays
The belvedere offers a panoramic view of the entire Suran valley. The Gigny abbey, founded in 890, is at the origin of that of Cluny which is recognized throughout Christendom. The abbey itself has disappeared, but its church still remains, an exceptional witness to Romanesque art. From the Fays belvedere you can see the Suran valley and overlook a cliff where there are several caves of archaeological and historical interest.

The peak of Oliferne
Built in the 13th century, it rises to 807m in height and gives you an extraordinary 360 ° view of the Ain valley and Coiselet lake. This almost impregnable site once belonged to the Baron d’Oliferne. As you walk through the remains, the surrounding walls, the house, or the cistern of this castle, you will discover the history of this baron and his daughters… Since 1997, the local association ADAPEMONT has undertaken a clearing and restoration project with the help of many volunteers. Every summer, the traditional ham on the spit is also organized, with a visit and chat on this medieval site.

The Cirque de Vogna and the Pierre Enon
The Cirque de la Pierre Enon is located between the hamlets of Vogna and Néglia, a few kilometers from Arinthod. At the center of the circus stands 8 meters high, the Pierre Enon, considered a Celtic place of worship by ancient peoples.

Cultural heritage

The Moulin ecomuseum of Pont des Vents
Hydraulic power mill, listed as a historical monument, it has been in operation since medieval times. You will be able to discover the cogs of the mechanism, and attend the manufacture of the flour. You will also attend the making of bread and cookies in the wood-fired oven that you will find in the shop. Possibility of making bread with the family (see dates on the website)

Exhibition “Tools of the past”
Passionate people have gathered this beautiful collection of old tools that tell about life in the past, on the farm and at home. With them, young and old alike play riddles to find out what they were used for.

Natural heritage

La Caborne
La Caborne (“cave” in patois) contains a stalagmite dome in the shape of an ox’s belly, hence its name. In a magical site of mossy wood, it opens with a grandiose porch 20 meters high. Don’t forget your flashlight. The 1st room is free, for the rest you will have to bring specific caving equipment. Access is via a path of about 1.5 km which starts from the church of Saint-Hymetière. For a shorter walk, you can get closer by car.

Natura 2000
The objective of Natura 2000 sites is to maintain or restore species and natural habitats of Community interest. Since January 1, 2012, the Community of Municipalities has been running the Natura 2000 Petite Montagne site which covers 38,293 hectares spread over three neighboring Communities of Municipalities: Petite Montagne, Orgelet Region and South Jura.

Rich in remarkable biodiversity, the Petite Montagne is one of the largest Natura 2000 sites in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Its particularity: the great diversity of natural environments and the species it shelters: dry lawns, natural meadows, forests, wetlands and rocky environments. So many places of life for insects, amphibians, birds, bats… that you can observe. Each year, Natura 2000 organizers offer a program of nature walks for amateurs and specialists.

Activities
La Petite Montagne offers you a range of activities to see or do, according to the seasons, for young and old: visits, walks, swimming… Come and share unique moments in a landscape of character.

Fishing
Fishing license points of sale: Arinthod: Tabac Aux Berges de la Valouse; Gigny-sur-Suran: Proxi Super; Thoirette: Thoirette Fishing Hunting.

Adventures Games
If you are looking for an original idea for a moment of bonding with the family, come and test the concept of Adventures games. A treasure hunt of about 2 hours to be enjoyed with the family, independently all year round thanks to an adventure bag available for sale in many shops.