Château-Chalon is a medieval village in Jura, perched on the cliffs above the Haute-Seille valley.

It’s mostly famous for its white wine AOC Château-Chalon, but it’s also a treat to visit.

From cute streets to medieval houses and epic views, let’s discover what’s to see in the village!

 

How to Get to Château-Chalon

Château-Chalon is located in the center of the Jura department, right above the department capital Lons-le-Saunier.

Location: Google Maps

 

 

It’s a short drive away from another cool medieval village named Baume-les-Messieurs (20mn), where you’ll find a waterfall: Cascade de Baume-les-Messieurs.

You can drive all the way up to the village, and you’ll be able to park directly in the village. There are several parking lots in the village, and which one you’ll choose will probably depend on the season.

If you’re visiting in summer, your best bet is to park in the Parking de la Tour (free), right outside the village. It’s only a 5mn walk to the center of the village, and you have way more chances to find a spot there than in the village.

Outside of summer, feel free to drive in the village itself. There are spots in the Parking du Petit Cour, in Parking de la Roche and several spots in front of the viewpoints around the village.

 

chateau chalon main view

 

What to See in Chateau Chalon, Jura

Château-Chalon is mostly famous for its production of white wine. The Chateau Chalon vineyard produces the best Jura white wine, under the AOC Château-Chalon. Each visit to the village is an opportunity to taste the local wine, and enjoy the gastronomy.

But Château-Chalon is also a beautiful village in itself. It’s listed as “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful French Villages); here are the main things to see in the village.

 

chateau chalon village on the cliffs

 

Eglise Saint-Pierre

Built in 1134, the church of Saint-Pierre is listed as a Monument Historique.

 

eglise saint pierre chateau chalon

 

The church is located in the south part of the village, and you can visit it freely. 

 

 

Beautiful Streets

The whole village is beautiful, and you’ll discover medieval houses and typical buildings when strolling the streets.

Here are a few photos of the streets in Chateau Chalon.

 

main street in chateau chalon

another vine covered house chateau chalon

 

Château Fort

The Château Fort de Château-Chalon is a medieval castle built in the IX century. It was destroyed in 1595 by Henri IV, and today the only thing left are ruins of the keep, built later in the XV century.

 

ruins of chateau chalon castle

La Tour Charlemagne

Viewpoints

And finally, the last interesting thing to see in the village are the numerous viewpoints dotted around the village. Some offer view over the surrounding vineyards, and other over the village itself. 

 

Belvédère Sainte Anne

The Belvédère Sainte Anne is right next to the Parking du Petit Cour, and the first view we got from exiting our car. It’s located in the north west part of the village, and offers unobstructed views over the vineyards.

 

view from chateau chalon village

Location: Belvédère Sainte Anne

 

Croix de Chemin – Belvédère de Menetru

The Belvédère de Menetru is located right next to the Belvédère Sainte Anne, and it’s the northermost point of the village. It’s a large viewpoint with plenty of space and benches to sit down and enjoy the view.

 

vin blanc vignoble in chateau chalon

vineyard in chateau chalon vin blanc

Location: Croix de Chemin

 

Maison de la Haute Seille

The Maison de la Haute Seille is the tourism office of the village. Inside you’ll find tips for your stay in Jura, a shop with local products, and a large terrace where you can sip local beer and local wine.

Here’s the view from the terrace:

 

colombier viewpoint in chateau chalon

Location: Maison de la Haute Seille

 

Belvédère de la Rochette

The Belvédère de la Rochette is the southernmost point of the village, and offers a large panoramic view over the valley. You can see the vineyards, and the villages in the distance.

It’s also the largest viewpoint, with plenty of space to sit down on the benches or in the grass to relax and enjoy the view.

 

view from the belvedere de la rochette chateau chalon

Location: Belvédère de la Rochette

 

Belvédère Saint Jean

And finally the last viewpoint in the village, offering the iconic view over the village itself: the Belvédère Saint Jean. It’s not listed as a viewpoint on Google Maps, and we walked a bit around the village before finally finding it.

 

the main view over the village of chateau chalon

Location: Belvédère Saint Jean

 

Visit Jura

Planning your trip to Jura? You’ll find below a few other travel guides & key spots to see in the area.

Cool waterfalls in Jura:

The best hikes around:

 The BIG guides:

 

I hope you enjoy your trip to Jura and to France; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.

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