Gourmet getaway: Les Planches pres Arbois

Dramatic scenery: towering limestone cliffs, spectacular gorges, stunning waterfalls Wonderful wines, tasty mountain hams and characterful cheeses Flower-decked meadows, birds, butterflies, cow-bells Postcard pretty wine villages

Hostellerie du Molin de la Mere Michele
Just outside of Arbois, in the pretty village of Les Planches, is the friendly, family-run 3-star hotel-restaurant Moulin de la Mere Michelle. There are just 27 wondefully ornate bedrooms, all individually furnished, and with en suite facilities, TV, telephone and minibar. Theres a heated covered swimming pool, private tennis courts and fishing on site. Nearby, you can go horse riding or mountain biking. Just a short walk from the hotel, you can visit the Caves of Les Planches. Inhabited in the Bronze Age, the underground river has now carved incredible shapes (organ pipes, chimneys) into the limestone cliffs.

The Jura is famous for its gastronomes and, chef de cuisine, Pascal Mathieu, doesnt let the region down. People flock from all around to eat in his wonderfully atmospheric restaurant where specialities include quail in a wild mushroom and vin jaune sauce, home-made foie gras and casserole of wild boar served with hot, caramelised pears.