The weather forecasts were warning of approaching wet weather and it was almost time for us to move further south. There was enough time, however, for one more trip around Jura which would see us visit Baume les Messieurs (another ‘plus beau village de France’) and the small town of Poligny (the self proclaimed Comte Cheese Capital of Jura).
Our first stop of the day would be Baume les Messieurs, just 30 miles south of Dole, and the approach couldn’t have been easier. We were nearing the end of the holiday season and there was ample parking at the entrance to the village. Moreover, we’d arrived shortly after a coachload of tourists and all we had to do was follow the crocodile queue along the banks of the River Seille to the centre of Baume les Messieurs.
The village is picturesque and it’s setting, underneath a 200 metre high escarpment of limestone cliffs is absolutely gorgeous but having said that; there is little to Baume les Messieurs other than the former Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter (which was in the process of being renovated); a handful of expensive craft shops and; two cafe-bars which were mobbed by the coachload of tourists we had followed in. I’m sorry to say, pretty as the village is, we weren’t that enamoured with the place.
Mind you, instead of aimlessly wandering the village while waiting for a table to become available at one of the cafes, I could have made better use of our time by visiting the nearby Herisson Waterfalls and/or the Baume Caves. Like I said, the village is located in a splendid setting and the weather was wonderful throughout our short stay. Alternatively, we could have combined our visit to Baume les Messuriers with one to the nearby Chateau Chalon which we passed on the way in. More fool me.
Oh well. On to Poligny.