Chateau de Joux at sunset.

© MeloDPhoto/Shutterstock

Château de Joux

The Jura Mountains


Clinging to a limestone outcrop, Château de Joux, 10km north of Métabief, used to guard the route between Switzerland and France. Its foundations date to 1034, though medieval towers and Vauban-era walls have fortified it over subsequent centuries.

Audioguides and printed information are available in multiple languages. Guided tours, full of gripping tales, are in French but groups of 10 or more can book a foreign-language tour (reserve well in advance).

There's also an impressive 700-item collection of 18th- and 19th-century weapons (undergoing renovation when we passed through).

Less than 1km south of the castle along the main road is the Auberge du Château de Joux, a worthy stop for its modern, monochrome guest rooms and restaurant, open daily, whose great-value menus (from €14) grant access to a magnificent dessert buffet.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Jura Mountains attractions

2. Abbaye de Montbenoît

9.32 MILES

Montbenoît's Renaissance-style tower – emblazoned with a horseback knight – instantly impresses. Inside, explore the old abbey's double-columned…

3. Fort de Pre-Giroud 39-45

11.39 MILES

High in the hills, 31km from Yverdon-les-Bains, what appears to be a stereotypical Swiss chalet is the front for a Swiss Army bunker where troops were…

4. Maison de l'Absinthe

11.55 MILES

Learn all about absinthe (and sample the hard stuff in the bar afterwards) in this chic museum that annotates the history of the potent liqueur (with,…

5. Musée de l'automobile Le Manège

11.57 MILES

If you're traveling in a group (or have cash to burn) and you're a fan of fancy historic cars, you'll love this private collection of more than 20…

6. Mosaïques Romaines d'Orbe-Boscéaz

11.75 MILES

In the town of Orbe, about 15km west of Yverdon-les-Bains you'll find this series of pavilions containing spectacular mosaics on the site of a 3rd-century…

7. Abbatiale de Romainmôtier

13.01 MILES

About 23km southwest of Yverdon-les-Bains, the little village of Romainmôtier is wholly dominated by the Cluny order’s abbey, a remarkable sandstone…

8. Château de Grandson

13.63 MILES

This imposing fortress lies 5km along the lakefront from Yverdon. Its thick stone walls hide a smattering of small museums – the history museum evokes the…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "france/the-jura/attractions/chateau-de-joux/a/poi-sig/1537395/359304",
      "destination": "The-Jura-Mountains",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "France",
      "region": "The-Jura-Mountains",
      "position": "superzone"
    }