INTROFranche-Comté - surprisingly individual

The fashion forecast for 2009 is that it will be the year of trends influenced by

the natural world and in Franche-Comté the natural world comes to life!

Whether you’re a Nature Lover, looking for new experiences, or an Adrenalin

Junkie looking for your next fix, Franche-Comté has something for everyone.

Nature Lovers can explore the great outdoors, whilst Adrenalin Junkies can get

their thrills canyoning and mountain biking before unwinding in a hammock

high up in the treetops. Franche-Comté is also full of surprises for adventurous,

Funky Families, Party Girls needing to detox and retox and Culture Vultures

looking for new experiences. And there is also plenty to do for Babymooners

preparing for their little one’s arrival.

Surprisingly individual, a trip to Franche-Comté is on the haute list for 2009!

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BUT ALSOOther Franche-Comté highlights include...

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JANUARY

The “Island Of Discovery” exhibitionFind out more about the five senses and other culturesWhen: January to December 2009Where: Pavillon des Sciences in Montbéliardwww.pavillon-sciences.com

The “Mysterious Forest” exhibitionLearn about Franche-Comté wildlife When: January to December 2009Where: Pavillon des Sciences in Montbéliardwww.pavillon-sciences.com

Destination 1802,mission “great predators”Exhibition to find out more about lynxes, wolves and bearsWhen: January to December 2009Where: Maison de la Réservewww.maisondelareserve.fr

“How do planes work?”exhibitionLearn all about planesWhen: 31 January to 6 December 2009Where: Pavillon des Sciences in Montbéliardwww.pavillon-sciences.com

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MAY

Festival International de MusiqueUniversitaire (FIMU)International student musical festivalWhen: 30 May to 1 June 2009Where: Belfort’s Old Townwww.fimu.com

Montfaucon FestivalAncient music festivalWhen: May 2009Where: Monfauconwww.festivaldemontfaucon.com

JUNE

Impromtu Jazz and Music FestivalEnjoy some of the area’s best impromptu musicWhen: 13 to 27 June 2009Where: Various sites in Franche-Comtéhttp://aspro.impro.free.fr/

“Rencontres & Racines” FestivalWorld music and cultures festivalWhen: 27 to 28 June 2009Where: Audincourt www.audincourt.com

Haut-Jura Music FestivalBaroque and ancient musicWhen: June 2009Where: Haut-Jura Conservation Areawww.festivalmusiquehautjura.com

JULY

“Salon des Annonciades” fairContemporary and local art fairWhen: Beginning of July to end of August 09Where: Pontarlierwww.admdp.com

Les Eurockéennes rock and pop festivalOne of France’s oldest rock festivals with previous acts including Massive Attackand Amy WinehouseWhen: 3 to 5 July 2009Where: Malsaucy nautical basewww.eurockeennes.fr

“Musique et Mémoire” festivalA Baroque music festival with shows andthe opportunity for artists to create musicWhen: From mid-July 2009Where: Faucogneywww.musetmemoire.com

“Nuits de Joux” FestivalEnjoy music and theatre with the Château de Joux as a backdropWhen: End of July to mid-August 2009Where: Around the Château de Jouxwww.cahd.fr

“Bouche à Oreilles” Music FestivalFestival featuring various musical genresWhen: July 2009Where: Petite Montagnehttp://festival-jura.com

SEPTEMBER

Besançon’s International MusicFestival and Conductor CompetitionSee the World’s future conductors competing for the top spotWhen: September 2009Where: Besançonwww.festival-besancon.com

OCTOBER

Jacques Brel FestivalFestival dedicated to French songs and up and coming artistsWhen: October 2009Where: Vesoulwww.vesoul.fr

Impromptu music festivalEnjoy some of the area’s bestimpromptu musicWhen: 30 October to 1 November 2009Where: Besançonhttp://aspro.impro.free.fr/jmifc.htm

NOVEMBER

Les Celtivales Celtic music festivalWhen: November 2009Where: Pierrefontaine-les-Varanswww.celtivales.com

CULTURE Events calendar

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JANUARY

“La Transjeune”cross country skiing race for childrenand teenagersWhen: 28 January 2009Where: Les Rousseswww.transorganisation.com

Nordic Combined World CupWhen: 31 January to 1 February 2009Where: Chaux Neuvehttp://risouxclub.com

FEBRUARY

“La Transjurassienne”cross-country sking raceOne of the most important cross countryskiing races in the worldWhen: 7 to 8 February 2009Where: Lamoura, Les Rousses, Mouthewww.transjurassienne.com

French Dog Slegding ChampionshipWhen: 14 and 15 February 2009Where: Les Fourgswww.tourisme-metabief.com

MARCH

Les Rousses From the Air -Ballooning Excursions When: 11 to 15 March 2009Where: Les Rousseswww.lesrousses.com

APRIL

“1,000 pas aux mille étangs”Hiking FestivalWhen: 26 April to 20 June 2009Where: Mille Etangs areawww.les1000etangs.com

JUNE

“Transju’trail” Long DistanceRunning RaceWhen: 7 June 2009Where: Entre Mouthe et Lamourawww.transjutrail.com

“Voie Verte” festivalTour the Malbuisson lake by any means but carsWhen: 14 June 2009Where: Malbuissonwww.lac-saint-point.com

AUGUST

The Salt TrailFollow the trail on foot, by bike or on horsebackWhen: August 2009Where: Around Salins-les-BainsTel : +33 (0) 3 84 44 29 32

SEPTEMBER

Belfort’s ”Montgolfiades”Festival - ballooning excursionsWhen: Beginning of September 2009Where: Belforthttp://ballooning-adventure.com

“La Forestière” Mountain Biking RaceWhen: 19 and 20 September 2009Where: Upper Jurawww.forestiere.free.fr

“La Trans’roller”Roller-skating raceWhen: 19 to 20 September 2009Where: Between Pontarlier and Mouthewww.transroller.com

“Le Lion”Half-marathon for runners and skatersWhen: 27 September 2009Where: Between Montbéliard and Belfortwww.lelion.org

OCTOBER

“L’Extrême sur Loue”Mountain Biking FestivalFeatures competitions and ridesWhen: 3 and 4 October 2009Where: The Loue Valleywww.extreme-sur-loue.com

SPORTS AND LEISURE Events calendar

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AUGUST

Morteau Sausage Festival Celebrate and taste Morteau’s sausageWhen: August 2009Where: Morteauwww.morteau.org

SEPTEMBER

“Descente des vaches des alpages”Celebration coinciding with cows comingdown from the mountainsWhen: September 2009Where: Les Hôpitaux-Vieux www.ladescentedesvaches.com

“Cérémonie du Biou”Religious festival and street parade to celebrate the wine harvestWhen: 6 September 2009Where: Arboiswww.arbois.com

National Farming Competition See France’s most skilful farmers competingagainst each otherWhen: 11 to 13 September 2009Where: Malbouhans

“À tous les goûts” exhibition Interactive exhibition on tasteWhen: 28 September 2009 to 28 February 2010Where: Pavillon des Sciences in Montbéliardwww.pavillon-sciences.com

A Medieval Party at the Château de JouxWhen: End September 2009Where: Château de Jouxhttp://chateaudejoux.com

OCTOBER

“Absinthiades” festivalFestival dedicated to Absinthe and its various uses When: 2 to 4 October 2009Where: Pontarlierwww.admdp.com

Pedibus Lucullus: a Food FestivalPick and celebrate local produceWhen: 11 October 2009Where: Vandoncourtwww.ot-pays-de-montbeliard.fr

DECEMBER

Christmas Lights and MarketWhen: 28 November to 24 December 2009Where: Montbéliardwww.lumieres-de-noel.fr

Celebrate Christmas in Franche-Comté’s Toy Land When: December 2009Where: Moirans-en-Montagnewww.jurasud.net

Besançon Christmas MarketWhen: December 2009Where: Besançonwww.besancon-tourisme.com

“Réveillon Cité Rêvée”Celebrate the “French Hogmany”in MontbéliardWhen: 31 December 2009Where: Montbéliardwww.reveillon-cite-revee.com

IDEAS FOR DAYS OUT Events calendar

APRIL

Opening of the “Laughing Cow Cheese Museum”When: Spring 2009Where: Lons-le-Saunierwww.lavachequirit.com

Opening of the Salt MuseumWhen: Spring 20099Where: Salins-les-Bainswww.salinesdesalins.com

MAY

Clown FestivalWhen: 8 to 10 May 2009Where: Montbéliardwww.clownsdelachiffogne.com

Salt FestivalStreet shows, processions and opportunitiesto taste local savoury dishesWhen: 23 to 24 May 2009Where: Salins-les-Bainswww.salins-les-bains.com

The “Princes Rally”Rally for means of transportation used up to 1914When: 30 May to 5 June 2009Where: Sochaux Tel: +33 (0) 3 81 95 33 59

JANUARY

The Peugeot Museum’s “Forbidden Exhibition”See the Peugeot cars that never wentinto productionWhen: 16 January to 26 June 2009Where: Peugeot Museum in Sochauxwww.musee-peugeot.com

12e Percée du Vin JauneWine festival dedicated to the Jura’sfamous Vin Jaune When: 31 January to 1 February 2009Where: Passenans and Frontenaywww.jura-vins.com/percee-du-vin-jaune.htm

“Animalement vôtre”ExhibitionFind out more about animals and their habitatsWhen: 31 January to 6 December 2009Where: Pavillon des Sciences in Montbéliardwww.pavillon-sciences.com

MARCH

Belfort Flea MarketWhen: First Sunday of each month from March to DecemberWhere: Belfortwww.ot-belfort.fr

JUNE

Opening of the “MaisonsComtoises” MuseumOpen-air museum of traditional localhousesWhen: 26 June 2009Where: Nancraywww.maisons-comtoises.org

JULY

Festi’cavesFestival with music and gastronomy When: 17 to 19 July 2009Where: Arboiswww.festicaves.com

Absinthe FestivalPick Absinthe plant and see how Absinthe is used in cookingWhen: 25 July 2009Where: Pontarlierwww.ville-pontarlier.fr

A Medieval PartyWhen: 26 July 2009Where: Nozeroywww.tourisme.champagnole.com

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FAST FACTSKey facts• 1,146,000 inhabitants

• 16,202 km2 - 71 inhabitants per km2

• Four “départements” (Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saône, Territoire de Belfort)

• 1,786 towns and cities

Many ways to stretch your legs• 330 km of waterways

• 10,000 km of walking trails (two of which are Grande Randonnée)

• Two Natural Regional Parks (Ballons des Vosges, Haut-Jura)

• Over 150 museums, sites and landmarks

• Three mineral spas

• 11 golf courses

• Two alpine ski resorts (Les Rousses, Métabief Mont-d’Or)

Over 1,500 km of cross-country skiing tracks,

the largest cross-country skiing area in France

• 10 certified windsurfing clubs

• 28 certified canoeing clubs

For the latest visitors figures and trends in Franche-Comté, visit :

http://observatoire.franche-comte.org

FOR INFORMATION AND BOOKINGSComité Régional du Tourisme de Franche-Comté

La City - 4 Rue Gabriel Plançon

25044 Besançon cedex - France

Tel : +33 (0)3 81 250 800

www.franche-comte.org

PRESSCONTACTS Franche-Comté Tourist BoardPress OfficeBarbara Gris Pichot & Delphine Naulin

La City - 4 Rue Gabriel Plançon

25044 Besançon cedex

France

Tel: + 33 (0) 03 81 25 08 08

Fax: + 33 (0) 3 81 83 35 82

Email : barbara.gris@franche-comte.org

& delphine.naulin@franche-comte.org

www.franche-comte.org

CREDITSConcept & writingAgence aiRPur • www.agence-airpur.fr

GraphicsAtelier Midi à 14h • www.midia14h.com

Picture credits

CRT Franche-Comté, AMB, CPPR, Destination

70, Maison du Tourisme de Belfort, Office de

Tourisme Jura Sud, Office de Tourisme du Pays

de Montbéliard, Office de Tourisme Pays de Dole,

MTCC,Maison de la Réserve,Musée de l’Abbaye –

Donations Guy Bardone & René Genis, Golf du

Val de Sorne, Parc de l’Etang, Aktéo, Château

du Montjoly, Château de la Presle, Cristel,

Domaine des Champs Bayeux, Elixia, Fruitière

Vinicole d’Arbois, La Grange à Nicolas, Groupe

Bel, Hôtel Bois Dormant, Hostellerie des Sources,

Ibride, J-P. Lépine, Maison de Verre, Le Morézien,

MNEP,Utinam,Olly©Fotolia,Vignoble Guillaume,

Vilac, D. Lacroix, A-C. Tréboz, B. Bringard,

E. Chatelain, A. Choteau, A. Mouchet, Y. Perton,

D. Nowak, F. Ravard, J. Varlet, S. Niveau,

G-B. A La Guillaume, J-F. Bidoli, J-M Baudet,

D. Louvand, G. Daumas, M. Vernay, Midi à 14h.

Merci à Alice la malice et au joli dinosaure de

Liam.