La Maison Rose

The tiny, but popular village of Nans-sous-Sainte Anne, 25 miles south of the city of Besancon, is tucked away in a valley hidden in a sparsely populated, but densely forested area noted for dairy farming, horse-breeding, cheese and wine. It attracts older visitors for its tranquillity, Michelin 2-star sights, distinctive local cuisine, gentle walking exercise, nearby thermal baths, and motoring on virtually empty roads. Younger visitors enjoy walking, climbing, mountain-biking, caving, fishing, horse-riding and canoeing from the village. 15 mins away are para-gliding, swimming, tennis, adventure parks etc, as are nearest supermarkets and other facilities. A little further afield are golf courses, beautiful lakes offering excellent lake swimming and other water sports. In the winter cross-country ski-ing facilities are easily accessible, and an hour's drive takes you to 2 good downhill ski resorts, as well as a centre breeding working husky dogs. All in all, adventurous younger children, too, should have a ball!
Village sights include the spectacular gorge whence the River Lison cascades fully-formed and a working early 19C water-driven farm-tools factory. There are 3 restaurants and a dairy shop offering local produce including cheeses, honey, sausages as well as wine from the nearby (Arbois/Cotes du Jura) vineyards where you can taste to your heart's content and visit Louis Pasteur's house and laboratory.
Besancon, the 'county town' of the region, is some 25 miles from the village. It features a historic centre bordering the looping river Doubs and is overlooked by the towering heights of the Citadelle which houses 6 museums (including one dedicated to the WWII deportations and resistance)for one common entry price. At nearby Ornans you can visit the home of the Impressionist French Artist, Gustave Courbet which features frequent art exhibitions. A bit further afield are museums dedicated to Peugeot cars, watch- and clock-making, spectacles, pipe-making and many other of the traditional micro-industries of the higher Jura.
Within an hour's drive are the heights of the Jura mountains overlooking Geneva, its lake and the Savoie alps including Mont Blanc.
Indeed, easily within a day's easy motoring Switzerland is 45 minutes away; Burgundy one hour; Alsace and Germany 2 hours; and, at the limit, Italy 3½ hours.
So much to do: so little time!