Franche-Comte

PROPERTY FOR SALE IN FRANCHE-COMTE | Buy Franche-Comte villas, houses, chalets and apartments

Search our Buy in France directory and search for your ideal home to buy in Franche-Comte, France. Franche-Comte is the former "Free County" of Burgundy and is on the eastern side of France bordering Switzerland.

The region is possibly the most underrated of all French regions, in terms of tourism and holiday potential. Lying between Burgundy and Alsace and between Champagne and Switzerland, this picturesque rural region has a lot to offer in terms of natural environment, historic heritage, museums and sites. The principal cities are Besancon, Belfort and Montbeliard. Be sure to visit the historic capital city of Besancon, when staying in or buying a Franche-Comte property.

This gem of a city is made up mainly of old stone-built properties, other 18th century buildings and is also home to one of the finest, public art galleries in France. The capital is easily accessible by train from Paris, Strasbourg or Lyon. Although there is no airport in Franche Comte, there are three airports in close proximity just outside the region - all with Easyjet routes to the UK.

The region has four departments; in the north Haute Saone which is mainly made up of small towns and villages, low hills and valleys, but rising into the foothills of the Vosges mountains to the east. In the south of the region, Jura covers part of the broad flat Saone valley, plus the central part of the Jura mountains, peaking at over 1500 metres on the Swiss border. In the centre of the region, lies the department of the Doubs which is located between the Swiss border and the Haute-Saone. In the Haut Doubs and Haut Jura areas are fantastic for hikers and mountain bikers, or even for water sports on the lakes. When the weather turns cold, there is still much opportunity for sporting activities in either of the two ski resorts that Franche-Comte has to offer - when renting self catering holiday accommodation in Franche-Comte.

Due to the mountainous terrain of the region, it produces many specialities including some of the best cheeses in France - the most famous being Comte cheese. Wines and smoked sausage are among other gastronomic delights produced in Franche-Comte.

HOUSES TO BUY FRANCHE-COMTE | Places to visit when in Franche-Comte

Besancon - The capital and principal city of the region of Franche-Comte. Located in the north-east quarter of France on the Doubs River.

Source de la Loue - One of the Jura's most beautiful natural sites.

Haut Doubs & Haut Jura - Doubs is part of the current region of Franche-Comte and is surrounded by the French departments of Jura, Haute-Saone, and Territoire de Belfort, and the Swiss cantons of Vaud, Neuchatel, and Jura. The department is dominated by the Jura mountains, which rise east of Besancon.

Metabief and Les Rousses - Two ski resorts that have plenty of summer activities to enjoy.

Chateau de Joux - A castle located in La Cluse-et-Mijoux, in the Doubs departement, found in the Jura mountains.

Chapelle de Notre-Dame-du-Haut - One of the most important examples of twentieth-century religious architecture, and one of the more famous examples of the architecture of Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier.

Ornans - The birthplace of Gustave Courbet, the French realist painter.