Saint-Julien: Comté, Routes and History

Saint-Julien offers a range of reasons to visit: Comté and regional products, cycling and walking routes along the Suran, and local history. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Julien, these themes can help you choose your destination. Consider whether you are most interested in cheese-making, an outdoor excursion or historic landmarks.

Comté and regional products

The Fruitière de la Rivière is a cheese dairy with a shop on the banks of the Suran. It produces around 18,000 wheels of Comté, most of which are matured on site. The shop offers four varieties of Comté matured on site, as well as regional cheeses and other local products. The dairy thus combines Comté production with a selection that goes beyond this type of cheese. Those interested in the regional cheese-making tradition will find a tangible connection to the area here.

Cycling or walking along the Suran

The short cycling loop “Boucle 17: Vallée du Suran” starts in Saint-Julien and follows the Suran stream. It is suitable for families and has carried the “Vélo et Fromages” label since 2019. The connection between cycling and cheese is also reflected in the label’s name. By contrast, the “Circuit des crêtes” is a walking route with a series of viewpoints over the Suran Valley and part of the Petite Montagne. It leads to Villechantria, crosses the Suran and then climbs back towards Saint-Julien.

The two routes offer different highlights: the Boucle focuses on a short, family-friendly cycling loop along the stream, while the Circuit des crêtes is a hike with viewpoints and a further ascent. The Suran is a Category 1 river and is popular with anglers. When planning, you can therefore decide whether you would prefer a cycling loop, a hike or the river as a focal point for your interests.

The landscape in its regional context

The Petite Montagne is also part of the broader regional landscape. It is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network. Along with the viewpoints on the Circuit des crêtes, this landscape provides a distinct focus alongside the local themes of cheese and history. The route descriptions clearly distinguish between views over the Suran Valley and views over part of the Petite Montagne.

Chapels and traces of history

The small Notre-Dame de Pitié chapel at the place of the same name below Saint-Julien is considered the only surviving remnant of the former Hospital of the Holy Spirit. Another historical date concerns the chapel of the Château, to the right of the church choir: it was completely rebuilt in 1784, completed the following year and blessed on 30 July 1785.

The origins of the Bourg of Saint-Julien can also be placed in a historical context, although this remains an assumption: it probably took shape at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. The statue of Saint Paul dates from the 16th century. These are different kinds of historical evidence: the presumed date when the Bourg took shape, specific construction and blessing dates for a chapel, and the dating of a statue. These details offer travellers interested in local architectural and religious history several different topics to consider when choosing where to stay.

Discover more destinations: Septmoncel, Maisod, Poligny, Graye-Et-Charnay, Bois-D'amont, Souvans, Écleux, Gizia.

For the broader travel overview: Jura.