Dole

Understand

Dole was the capital of the old Free County of Burgundy, located on the banks of the Doubs and the Rhône-Rhine canal and next to the second largest forest in France (forêt de Chaux). It was the birthplace of the scientist Louis Pasteur and its old centre is home to some rustic if somewhat run-down 16th century architecture.

Dole is also home to one of two main production sites of Laughing Cow cheese (La Vache qui rit).

Get in

Dole is served by an SNCF station (Gare de Dole-Ville) connecting the city to the rest of the region, as well as by the A36 and A39 motorways. Flixbus also runs a number of lines that stop near Dole at the A36 motorway junction at Authume and the A39 motorway junction at Choisey. To get from these stops to the centre of Dole you will have to take bus lines 12 and 1 respectively.

The nearest airport is Dole-Jura Airport.

Get around

The old town is very walkable, and while a local bus network serves the suburbs (https://www.grand-dole.fr/reseau-de-transports-tgd), most of the bus lines are very infrequent with several even requiring reservation in advance. A single adult ticket costs which can be bought directly from the driver.

See

The Quartier des Tanneurs is a picturesque canalside area.

Go next

Besançon Saint-Claude via the Ligne des Hirondelles