Baume-Les-Messieurs: Abbey and Karst Landscape

Baume-Les-Messieurs brings together two distinct highlights for trip planning: the former Benedictine monastery and a karst landscape with cliffs, a waterfall and caves. The site also has traces of history at the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in La Peyrouse, as well as a route to viewpoints. You can choose which themes to focus on according to your interest in cultural heritage, landscape or both.

Abbey and Art Treasures

The Abbey of Baume-Les-Messieurs is a former Benedictine abbey. Its first written mention dates from 869. It is open year-round; a guided tour includes access to the three inner courtyards, the abbey church, the Flemish altarpiece and the funerary chapel. Guided-tour arrangements vary by season. Check them before your trip if you would like to visit the interior.

The Flemish altarpiece of Baume-les-Messieurs is kept in the Abbey Church of Saint-Pierre. The work dates from the early 16th century and was made in a workshop in Flanders. It is included in the visit to the abbey church as part of the guided tour. This lets you incorporate a specific work of art into your exploration of the abbey, rather than planning your visit around the complex alone.

Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in La Peyrouse

La Peyrouse also offers a distinct perspective on the area's history. The former parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, including the cemetery wall, has been fully listed as a historic monument since July 29, 1998. A Gallo-Roman structure stood on the site of the church and cemetery. Continuous use of the site as a church since Late Antiquity is considered likely. The decree of July 29, 1998, listed the church as a historic monument; continuous use of the site as a church since Late Antiquity is considered likely.

Reculée, Cliffs and Waterfall

The Reculée de Baume-les-Messieurs is a typical karst formation created by erosion of the limestone plateaus of the Jura Massif. The cliffs that border it reach heights of more than 200 metres in places. This geological formation explains the landscape's character; the cliffs and watercourse add distinct features. The Cascade de Baume-les-Messieurs is a tufa waterfall fed by the Dard.

A route, La Reculée de Baume-les-Messieurs, passes via the Échelles de Crançot to the Belvédère des Roches and also provides access to the Croix de Suchot viewpoint, which overlooks the reculée. If you plan to take this route, check the conditions before setting out, as trail conditions can change. The two named points offer different guidance for route planning: the Belvédère des Roches is on the route described, while the view of the reculée is specifically noted for the Croix de Suchot.

Caves and Practical Visit Planning

The Grottes de Baume have their own visiting conditions: from April to September, they are accessible only as part of guided tours. If you would like to visit the caves, factor this seasonal restriction into your plans and check the latest tour arrangements.

The Cascade is free to access year-round. A large, free car park for buses and cars is located nearby. Access and parking arrangements can change; a quick check before your visit will help keep your plans up to date. This lets you coordinate a visit to the waterfall with the day's other highlights without treating the abbey, route and caves as if they had the same visiting conditions.

Studio with Shop

Les Drôlipathes & La Chaudronnette runs a studio with a shop in Baume-Les-Messieurs, open by appointment. If you would like to include it in your trip, arrange your visit in advance. Unlike the Cascade, which is accessible year-round, visits to the studio require an appointment.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Gevry, Chaussin, Orgelet, Louvenne, Pont-D'héry, Peintre, Lamoura, Fay-En-Montagne.

Back to the main travel overview: Jura.