Monday July 23, Pupillin

Sun setting over the Jura

It’s been a great day, didn’t really know where we were going but didn’t need to travel too far. Spotted the town of Arbois on the map with a star, did a google on it and it seemed like a pretty nice sort of a town, in the middle of the Jura wine growing region and found the GPS co-ordinates for a carpark in the middle of town for motorhomes. Set Jilly and we headed into Besancon. Spotted a large Super-U supermarket on the outskirts of town which became our first stop. The list was quite long and it seemed to take ages, our first French supermarket since last year and needed to work out again where things were..and what they were!!! There were a few people waiting as the bakery man unloaded the baguettes straight from the oven, €.55. Found butter from Normandie with sea salt crystals, rather nice with the baguette!

Back on the road and through the edges of Benascon, lots of traffic lights and roundabouts. Then it was on the N83 to Arbois. This region is similar in contour to NZ country, hills and valleys and winding roads. Such pretty country with villages tucked into corners. Had a lunch break on the road before arriving at Arbois. Rather typical of French towns with rather narrow streets and wonderful old buildings. The car park was perfect and it was off on foot to check the town out, with our hats on as it was over 33 degrees, although there was a nice breeze. This is the main town of the Jura wine growing region and there were a large number of tasting shops for the different wineries, although we didn’t stop as I had found a nearby winery in our French Passion book where we planned to stay the night.

When we travel we only have data on our phone but felt that we really needed to be able to use a phone in an “emergency”. Conny loaned me her old phone but needed to get a prepaid sim card for it. Stopped at a Tabac and had quite a “conversation” with the lady but she couldn’t help me. Called into the information centre and she sent us to another Tabac who then sent us onto the Post Office. Finally got some help and bought a prepaid sim card although haven’t tried setting it up yet!

It was getting hot so sat under the shade in the bar on the town square and had a cold beer as we watched the world go by. Seems such a long way from a New Zealand winter! Popped into a gallery and enjoyed having a look at an exhibition of pastel landscapes by Auguste Pointilin.  Drove a few km’s out of town to the French Passion vineyard, and the owner who spoke good English suggested we might enjoy driving another 5 kms up into the hills to the small town of Pupillin to another French Passion vineyard for a better location. We wound up the hills and arrived at a delightful village and the “Domaine Desire Petit, and parked under the French Passion sign. There was a bit of construction going on and when we went in and introduced ourselves they suggested we may like to park for the night around the corner as the builders were going to start again at 6am. After a tasting, which was excellent with some very nice wines we drove to the spot he mentioned…a Belvedere, which is a place for a view, and it really is a WOW spot. There are a few picnic tables under the trees and the view looks across the Jura valley, with rows upon rows of vines. There was a good breeze blowing and we parked under the trees for the night, another perfect spot.  

Arriving at Arbois

Must have been fig cakes, but not sure of the green and the decoration.

Arbois town square

Loved the mural above the pharmacy.

Louis Pasteur grew up in Arbois

View from our overnight spot.