The story

The 70s were marked by a phenomenon that benefited mountain areas then in difficulty: the rise of winter sports.


At that time, the villages of the Jura Mountains saw the creation of cross-country ski trails and stopover lodges allowing the reception of tourists.

1978

That year germinated the incredible idea of ​​linking the villages together by a continuous cross-country ski trail from Haut-Doubs to Ain while crossing the Jura.

Thanks to the collaboration of the hosts, the departmental tourist structures of the time, Ain, Doubs, Jura, local cross-country ski associations and the ONF, the Great crossing of the Jura on cross-country skis (180 km) see the day.

1985

The three departmental cross-country skiing associations of Ain, Doubs and Jura pool resources to ensure the coordination of cross-country skiing across the three departments and create the regional association Jura Nordic Area (ENJ).

The ENJ is entrusted with the coordination and animation of the cross-country ski route of the GTJ, with the support of the State (Ministry of Youth and Sport), the Franche-Comté Region and the Rhône- Alps.

1992

Already winters without snow and at the same time a strongly increasing practice, mountain biking.

With the mountain biking world championships in Métabief, it is time to ask the question of the diversification of GTJ routes. Thanks to the support of the Franche-Comté and Rhône-Alpes regions, the association is creating the Great Crossing of the Jura by mountain bike (400 km). This is the first route of this type in France. Freeing itself from the constraints of altitude, it is much longer than the GTJ on cross-country skis.

1999
  • A new association was created in November 1999, “Les Grandes Traversées du Jura”, which has been entrusted with setting up a development program for GTJ itineraries in conjunction with the 2000-2006 interregional agreement for the Jura massif.
  • First accommodation labels under “Rando Plume”
2002
  • A rapprochement with the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park allows the elaboration of a 2000-2006 development program providing for the intervention of the Park on part of the actions: promotion, communication, assistance to hosts for the modernization and creation of stopover lodgings... A partnership agreement is signed December 19.
  • Spring 2002: publication of GTJ MTB map guide in collaboration with Chamina editions (5e draw in 2015)
  • First labels “Hiking Cottage” et "Rand'Hotel"
2003
  • Ratification by the State, the Franche-Comté region and the Rhône-Alpes region of the " framework Convention " with the GTJ association and the Park in favor of the development of GTJs over the period 2002-2006
  • The Park is hiring two project managers the 1er June in order to carry out the actions placed under its project management (communication, accommodation, etc.).
  • In July, the head office of the association is transferred from Champagnole to Planks-in-the-Mountain.
  • Realization of a general positioning study of the association GTJ (New Deal)
2004
  • Realization of a positioning study of the northern route of the GTJ (EB Consulting firm)
  • Establishment of a partnership with Gas of France and French hiking federation
  • Official launch of the walking route of the GTJ the 30 June
2005
  • Putting the new website staging.gtj.asso.fr
  • Publication of the new GTJ guide to cross-country skiing
2006
  • Pre-launch in January of a new nordic route snowshoe
  • Update and 3e draw in March from MTB map guide of the GTJ (Chamina edition)
  • Publication in April of topo-guide of the GTJ on foot (French Hiking Federation edition)
  • Publication in April of guide to the Great Crossing of the Jura Mountains by bike (Dakota editions)
  • Update and 2e draw in March from practical guide to Nordic skiing GTJ
2007
  • Publication in February of 1er snowshoe GTJ guide
  • Launch of 1er GTJ-magazine
  • Realization of a positioning study – marketing development of GTJ (EB Consulting firm)
  • Acquisition of four EcoCounters
2008
  • Creation with the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park of a audioguide on a stage of the GTJ racket between Lajoux and Bellecombe
  • Participation in the organization of the 1re “Rando-Trail GTJ” in 8 stages on the route of the GTJ pedestrian, in collaboration with the association "Courir and discover"
  • Equestrian GTJ study entrusted to the Haras Nationaux
2009
  • Accomodation labeling Hiking Home
  • Participation in the creation of the Swiss guide “ Cross-country skiing without borders »
2010
  • Setting up the route of the GTJ on horseback
  • Extension of the GTJ snowshoeing between Bois-d'Amont and Les Rousses
  • Creation of the charter of hosts of the Grandes Traversées du Jura network with professionalization of accommodation providers in welcoming itinerant customers
2011
  • Reissue of map-guide of the GTJ by mountain bike
  • Launch of the project mapping of northern routes in collaboration with E NJ
  • Partnership work with Grande Traversée des Alpes and Stevenson on the transfer of experience
  • Creation of a ecomobility guide on GTJs to make it easier to come to the massif with existing public transport
  • Construction of a game of park trails " rewild » in collaboration with 3 Regional Natural Parks, Grande Traversée des Alpes, Bauges, Vercors and Chartreuse.
2013
  • Exit from topo-guide of the GTJ on horseback (Chamina editions)
  • Design of tourist products in collaboration with the Departmental Tourism Committees
  • Support for project leaders (hosts along the GTJ)
  • Prospective assessment study of the GTJs and positioning (office Kanopée): definition of the strategic axes of development of the GTJ
2014
  • Loss of the position of accommodation project manager
  • Installation of fixed information panels at the start and finish of the GTJ cross-country skiing, and a panel in Mouthe in collaboration with the Transjurassienne. Seven intermediate winter panels are installed in the villages.
  • Thematization of the pedestrian route: 3 atmospheres for 3 large sectors
  • Reissue of topo-guide of the GTJ on foot
  • Start of work on the online booking of GTJ accommodation
  • Membership roaming collective Burgundy Franche-Comté Tourism
2015
  • Creation of a Marking charter for Nordic routes (to consult here)
  • Edition of a topo-guide of the GTJ on snowshoes
  • Reissue of topo-guide of the GTJ by mountain bike
  • Membership network of major routes pedestrian
2016
  • Edition of the topo-guide of the GTJ by bike
  • Installation of 10 information panels on summer routes
  • Response to a Call for expressions of interest (AMI) launched by the Commissariat for the development of the Jura massif
  • Organization of a homelessness seminar at the scale of the massif, within the framework of the AMI | Consult the summary of the seminar
  • Achieving a new website and a new graphic charter for GTJ
2018
  • Edition of a practical guide to GTJ cross-country skiing (GTJ edition)
  • First booklet "I'm preparing my GTJ"
  • Launch of the baggage transport service
2019
  • Creation of a Nordic ski touring itinerary
  • Installation of Bosch eBike charging stations
  • Publication of the new topo of GTJ hiking ideas
2020
  • Realization of a study on the young clientele: "The 18-30 year olds and the itinerant hike"
  • Creation of the GTJ brand guide
  • Integration of cycling and mountain biking routes on France Vélo Tourisme
2021
  • Creation of a 256 km loop between Haut-Doubs and the wine-growing Jura, The P'tite GTJ by bike and edition of a map guide (GTJ edition)
  • Publication of the topo-guide for GTJ snowshoeing and Nordic ski touring (GTJ edition)
  • GTJ and ENJ winners of the Plan Avenir Montagnes
2022
  • Reissue of the topo-guide of the GTJ on foot (French Hiking Federation edition)
  • Edition of a map guide of the GTJ by bike (GTJ edition)