I · WinterSnow closes the valley
It closes the valley and stretches the evenings. Snow climbs to the terrace, the stove burns for pleasure — the house holds its warmth without a thought.
Foncine-le-Bas · Haut-Jura · 835 m
The retreat that fits in one house
At 835 metres, inside the Haut-Jura regional park, the house is yours alone for the length of a stay: one group of six to eight, the forest where the meadow ends, and nothing on the calendar.
Foncine-le-Bas 760 mThe house 835 m6 to 8 guests835 m · one group at a time
Ask about datesA reply within 24 h · one party at a time
835 m · Sleeps 6–8 · 3 bedrooms + study · 124 m² on one level · 2 bathrooms · 400 m² fenced garden · wood stove · 1 Gbps fibre · Geneva 1 h 30 · TGV Paris–Frasne 2 h 20
The arrival
The descent, to the very end of the valley.
Behind the house, Robin and Selene, two entrepreneurs, young parents and athletes, had it built and put into it what they love: the outdoors, work done well, a table that holds a whole tribe. It’s Robin who hands you the keys himself: he shows you the stove, the oven, the path out of the garden, then leaves you to your week.
At 835 metres the road stops where the meadow begins. Foncine-le-Bas stays below; above, the house in its meadow, climbing gently to the wooded crest.
At the door, Robin is waiting with the keys. He shows you in: the stove, the long table, the path down the meadow. The house greets you in person.
Robin also runs the concierge service: one contact, one invoice for the whole stay. The week often runs Saturday to Saturday, and the house is your party’s alone.
1h30 from Geneva35 min from the borderSaturday to Saturday
Ritual I
The fire.
When evening falls on Foncine, you light the stove. The house holds its warmth on its own; the fire is the first act of the evening, the moment the stay really begins.
A log, a match, the glass door glowing. The smell of woodsmoke drifts through the big room as the light drops outside; you stay crouched there a moment, until the flame takes.
After that the fire mostly keeps itself — a log now and then, added without thinking. The evening is open; the rest happens at the table.
Ritual II
The long table.
One long table, six to eight settings, everyone seated together. Each guest finds a place the first evening; most keep the same one all week.
Dinner, the team meeting, the children’s games, the cards dealt late in the evening — the same table at every hour, for a family, a team or a circle of friends.
And never two parties under one roof. The house is let whole: one week, your people, and the table is yours from the first evening to the last.
The house keeps only one table. That is its whole secret.
Ritual IIIThe taste of this land
You slice the Comté.
From the market comes a wedge of the wheel, still in its paper.
A fruity Comté, aged long, its paste almost russet under the rind. It is unwrapped in the middle of the long table, within reach of every hand.
Everyone cuts their own, by hand, as thick as they like, straight from the wedge on the board.
One evening like that is enough: the taste of the Haut-Jura has entered the week, and the table has done its work.
The wheelThe knifeThe board
Ritual IV — Night
At night there is the sky, the meadow, and you.Above Foncine-le-Bas · 835 metres
The Saine rises on Mont Noir and runs below the village — a trout river in France’s top water class. You hear it on the walk down the meadow, not from your bed.
Down in the village, the 203 inhabitants of Foncine-le-Bas went to bed long ago. The old farms of the hamlet have gone dark one by one; up here, what remains is your table, and the meadow.
The silence at 835 metres is what the house gives you at night. Open a window and it comes in with the cold air.
Ritual VThe turn towards morning
Morning reopens the valley.
The mist holds on the Saine until the day lifts it.
Coffee is at the long table, everyone in the seat they chose that first evening. Morning light is already crossing the big room.
Some open a laptop, and the fibre keeps up. Others are already lacing their boots by the door. By noon, both kinds meet back at the same table.
Push open the garden gate: the meadow air comes in all at once. The day is outside.
You know the five rituals now. You are no longer quite a guest.
04The retreat
The house takes care of the rest
Late afternoon, you come back up from the meadow and the house has kept itself warm. Six to eight guests sleep on a single level. Nobody cooks until someone is hungry. Night does the rest.
835 metres, one group
The house stands at 835 metres, inside the Haut-Jura regional natural park. Below, the village sleeps early. One group, then the next; never both.
Permission
You’re not broken. You’re tired.
The whole house, your studio
In the morning you push the table back; eight mats unroll and the floor is warm underfoot. At night the table returns and dinner runs late. The house keeps your retreat’s rhythm, never the other way round.
- SaturdayArrive; the fire is lit; phones go in the drawer.
- SundayMorning session in the practice room; afternoon on the voie du Tram.
- WednesdayNothing planned. You walk, or you don’t.
- FridayA massage at the house, then one last fire.
La SaineMont Noir forestThe fire · the silence
At 835 metres, in the Haut-Jura regional park, above a village of 203 where the night goes without noise. Below it runs the Saine — its source at Mont Noir, a first-category trout river — reached down the meadow after dark; the forest begins where the village ends, and the voie du Tram runs on without a single car. On foot, the Cascade du Bief de la Ruine. Autumn lifts the mist off the water; winter's snow mutes what little was left. You walk slowly here, on purpose.
A room for the mats, three bedrooms and a study with a sofa bed for six to eight, two bathrooms. Tap the plan.
Indicative plan — dimensions not contractual
Your hosts
The one who hands over the keys
A word kept
We didn’t find it: we designed it for this meadow. A contemporary timber house, single-storey, set at 835 metres facing the old farms of the hamlet — its grey cladding answering their weathered fronts.
Inside, nothing hides what carries the house. The trusses stay exposed above the 50 m² living room. The whole brief fit in one sentence: build precisely, and leave the timber in plain sight.
Behind the house is a young family: two entrepreneurs, parents, athletes, who had it built and put into it what they love — the outdoors, work done well, a table that holds a whole tribe. It’s Robin who hands you the keys himself: he shows you the stove, the oven, the path out of the garden, then leaves you to your week.
I hand over the keys myself. That is where everything else begins.Robin, the host
One day, from dawn to fire
Nothing is organised for you. Everything is already here. Hour by hour, this is what a day looks like when the house is yours alone.
Morning
Eight mats on the floor
The table has been pushed back against the wall; the living room is the practice room now. Eight mats on the floor, underfloor heating beneath bare feet, the garden on the other side of the glass, light rising through the grass. Nobody rings a bell. The session starts when you unroll the first mat, and lasts as long as it needs to.
Midday
Back to the long table
You come in for lunch. The long table is waiting, one table for everyone. Comté cut thick, bread, whatever came back from the village that morning. You stay longer than you meant to — that is what the table is for.
Afternoon
The silent walk
You set out without a word; that’s the only rule. First the Saine, which you follow by ear as much as by eye; then the edge of the Mont Noir forest, where the village stops. No route, no time to be back. At the house a massage waits, if you asked for one — or nothing at all, and that’s exactly enough.
The valley, on foot from the door
Six landmarks, none of them needing the car. Each entry is a door to the outdoors. The distances are real; the rest is yours.
I
La SaineRising on Mont Noir, a first-category trout river. You walk down the meadow to follow it; the climb back up earns you the apéritif.
II
The Mont Noir forestIt begins where the garden ends — spruces, silence, the slope climbing for as long as you care to follow it.
III
The Cascade du Bief de la RuineIn the village itself. A few steps from the door, and the water falls between the houses of Foncine-le-Bas.
IV
The Gorges de la LangouetteRock closed tight around the water, carved over time. A short detour that changes the scale of the valley.
V
La voie du TramThe old tramway turned path — flat, car-free. It starts just below the house and takes walkers and bikes alike.
VI
Foncine-le-BasThe village, all around you. A dot in the Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura, set high in the Saine valley.
The land, layer by layer
The house sits on a shelf of the Haut-Jura, at 835 m. Here is the Saine valley around it, cut into altitude plates from the real IGN relief — the country you arrive in.
- Road
- Lane
- River
- Stream
- Forest
- Village
- The house
The Saine780 mThe house835 mCrest1063 m
A shelf mid-slope: 55 m above the Saine, 111 m below the tops around it; the board rises to 1063 m in its south-east corner. The real ground in this frame runs 769 m to 1063 m; the plates are cut from 750 m to 1075 m.
Foncine-le-Bas · Saine valley · 2.4 km across, N/E/S/W marked on the board edges · 769 → 1063 m · line model, one plate per 25 m from IGN (RGE ALTI) · relief ×1.5
The Haut-Jura, one step back
The same model, ten times wider. The small red square at the centre is exactly the board above: 24 km across instead of 2.4. Around it, the lake plateau, the combes, the ridge line towards Switzerland — and the roads you arrive by.
- Trunk road
- Main road
- Minor road
- Railway
- River
- Lake
- Forest
- Village
- Summit
- The house
- The board above
The real ground in this frame runs 508 m (the Saine in its gorges) to 1500 m; the plates are cut from 500 m to 1540 m. Note: the two boards share a palette but not an altitude scale — a plate here is 80 m, up there 25 m.
Haut-Jura · 24 km across, N/E/S/W marked on the board edges · 508 → 1500 m · one plate per 80 m from IGN (RGE ALTI) · relief ×4.8 · the scale bar is the same length as the one on the board above: there it means 500 m, here 5 km.
The routes
What you can do on foot or by bike straight from the house, without the car. Distances and climbs measured off the track, not advertised.
- Running
Chemin du Rapoutier Dessus
6.8 kmclimb 209 mloop
Line proposed from the real path network — not yet a recorded run
- Running
Voie du tram
11 kmclimb 209 mloop
Line proposed from the real path network — not yet a recorded run
- Gravel
Fort-du-Plasne
15.3 kmclimb 294 mloop
Line proposed from the real path network — not yet a recorded run
- MTB
Le Pré d'Haut
19.1 kmclimb 604 mloop
Line proposed from the real path network — not yet a recorded run
- MTB
Crans
23.6 kmclimb 481 mloop
Line proposed from the real path network — not yet a recorded run
The four seasons of the Jura
The same house changes its use four times a year. You never visit it twice the same.
I · Winter
II · SpringThe thaw swells the Saine
The melt swells the streams and the meadow greens in a week. The big windows open at the first sun; the garden dries fast, and the children go back out barefoot.
III · SummerThe table moves to the garden
You run at first light and lay the table outside at night. The slatted shades keep the bedrooms cool without a breath of air-conditioning.
IV · AutumnMont Noir turns to copper
The forest turns copper a step from the door. Mornings bite, light grazes the meadow; it is the season of long dinners and half-started books.
One table at a time.
The house, in plain terms
The facts, without emphasis. Each one tied to a ritual — nothing more, nothing to decode.
Let whole, one party at a time. Six to eight people, under one roof.
one party at a time3 bedrooms + study, 2 bathrooms. Room to sleep without tripping over each other.
restOne long table. The one you fill, midday and evening — the only one the house keeps.
mealsOne wood stove. The fire you light as the day goes down.
the fireEnclosed garden of around 400 m², 1.5 m fence. You leave the door open and watch them play.
the children1 Gbit/s fibre. A video call for eight holds without a thought.
the offsiteConcierge service: one contact, one invoice. Robin hands over the keys in person and replies within 24 hours.
our wordFrom €4,200 to €5,400 a week, by season. Whole house, often Saturday to Saturday. The seasonal breakdown is in the FAQ.
The priceAnd always, one table at a time.
The concierge service
The stay, made to measure
The house comes fully stocked; ask for the rest, and it is settled before you arrive.
Included with every stay
- Hotel-grade linen — the beds are made before you’re through the door
- A full clean midway through your stay
- Arrival hamper: Jura wines, Comté, bread from the village
- Firewood for the stove, as much as you burn
- Pre-arrival concierge: fridge stocked, tables booked, the places we love
- A welcome in person, and a house guide written by us
On request — the menu
- A chef in your kitchenOffsite · all
One dinner — or every dinner of the week. - Retreat menusRetreat
Timed to your sessions. - Massages, without leaving the houseSport · all
To unwind — or to recover after a hard day out. - Private transferAll
From Geneva airport, right to the door.
Just write to Robin — he replies himself, within 24 h.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jura 835?
Jura 835 is a contemporary, near-passive timber holiday house let whole in Foncine-le-Bas (39520), in the Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura. Single-level at 835 metres, it sleeps 6 to 8 across 3 bedrooms and a study, with 2 bathrooms and a 400 m² fenced garden. We host one party at a time.
How much does a week cost?
From €4,200 a week in spring and autumn, €4,800 in summer and €5,400 in winter. The rate covers the whole house, never per person, and includes the linen, the mid-stay clean and the arrival hamper.
How do we get there from Geneva?
Geneva is 1 h 30 by car, and the Swiss border only 35 minutes away. On request we arrange a private transfer from Geneva airport to the door. By train: TGV Paris–Frasne in 2 h 20, then a 35–40 minute drive.
What is included in the price?
Hotel-grade linen with the beds made, a full mid-stay clean, the arrival hamper (Jura wines, Comté, village bread), unlimited firewood for the stove, pre-arrival concierge (fridge stocked, tables booked) and a welcome in person with our house guide.
How does booking work?
You write to us, Robin calls you within 24 hours, and then comes the rental contract and secure payment — nothing is paid until the contract is signed. 50% on booking, the balance 8 weeks before arrival, a €1,500 security deposit, and a full refund on cancellation up to 30 days before arrival.
Where exactly is the house?
In Foncine-le-Bas (39520), in the Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura, France. The house, contemporary timber and nearly passive, stands at 835 metres above the village. Geneva is a 1 h 30 drive, the Swiss border 35 minutes, and the Langouette gorges 5 minutes by car.
The pact, and the map
One phone call, no hard sell. You write to us with your dates; we reply within 24 hours.
The stay
By the week, the whole house
By the week, from €4,200; other formats, such as Monday to Friday, on request. The house is never divided: it is yours, whole, for the people you bring.
- by the week or on request
- 6 to 8 guests the whole house, one party only
- one invoice one contact, from start to finish
The house, by the week
Winter February & festive weeks5 400 €
Summer July – August4 800 €
Spring & autumn all other weeks4 200 €
Usually by the week, often Saturday to Saturday; other formats (Monday to Friday, shorter stays) on request. The rate is for the whole house, never per head, and everything listed above is included.
Robin hands over the keys in person. No key box, no call centre — a handshake, and the house is yours.
- 1.Write to us
- 2.We call you within 24 hours
- 3.Rental contract and secure payment — never a payment without a signed contract
Geneva ~1 h 30Swiss border ~35 minFoncine-le-Bas 835 m
Request a stayA personal reply within 24 hours. No obligation.
One party at a time — never more than twenty stays a year.
On Saturday you leave with the rituals. The table stays behind and waits for whoever comes next.
Start with your dates
You lead retreats, or you need one. Two lines are enough; we reply within 24 hours.
- 50% on booking, the balance 8 weeks before arrival
- Security deposit: €1,500
- Arrival from 5 pm, the day to suit your dates
- Full refund on cancellation up to 30 days before arrival
The journal
Sizing a retreat for eight
A yoga retreat for eight asks three things of its lodging: room for eight mats at once, a real bed for everyone, and a table where everyone can see everyone. Jura 835, in Foncine-le-Bas, sleeps 6 to 8 people on one level, for one group at a time.
The whole house, one group
A retreat house taken private means sleeping among your own: one group under the roof, no strangers added to fill the beds. The format settles the rest; schedule, meals and evening quiet are decided at your table.
Digital detox: renting a house instead of a programme
A digital detox holds better in a rented house than in a supervised programme: nobody confiscates your phone, you put it away yourself. All you need is a place where boredom gets comfortable.
Silence at 835 metres, in numbers
At night, at 835 m above Foncine-le-Bas, you can hear the silence: an owl, wind in the spruces, often nothing at all. The village turns its windows dark early, and the Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura does the rest.
The walk after the practice: the Saine, from the house to its source
A retreat rests on two gestures: the practice, then the walk. At Jura 835, set at 835 m above Foncine-le-Bas, the second begins at the door.
A week of reflection in November
A week of reflection in November needs very little: a warm house, no agenda, and nobody asking how it is going. November is the Jura’s in-between, after the hikers and before the skiers.