Moving to the Jura Mountains

Alexandermovestofrance · #1 (**permalink**) 29th November 2011, 05:06 AM

Hello Everyone

I am looking for help for my move to the Jura Mountains with my french partner, end of december 2011.
I am just learning french, and will need to find some kind of work while I learn. I have been in retail management back in Australia (organic food and product co-operative), and also work for a catering company. I imagine that untill I learn the language I will be washing dishes or cleaning rooms. thats ok

...
We have not decided exactly where we will move in the jura area, that will depend on where I, or my partner can get work, but plan to eventually open a bed and breakfast and restaurant in rural france. I have a british passport so will be able to stay indefinetely...... Does anyone have some advice or leads...even a job??

for me???
Thanks for the help, Alexander

benjk · #2 (**permalink**) 29th November 2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandermovestofrance

Hello Everyone

I am looking for help for my move to the Jura Mountains with my french partner, end of december 2011.
I am just learning french, and will need to find some kind of work while I learn. I have been in retail management back in Australia (organic food and product co-operative), and also work for a catering company. I imagine that untill I learn the language I will be washing dishes or cleaning rooms. thats ok

...
We have not decided exactly where we will move in the jura area, that will depend on where I, or my partner can get work, but plan to eventually open a bed and breakfast and restaurant in rural france. I have a british passport so will be able to stay indefinetely...... Does anyone have some advice or leads...even a job??

for me???
Thanks for the help, Alexander

Given that the area is close to Switzerland and you have catering experience and a British passport (=> EU citizen) then you could probably find work across the border in Switzerland on a frontalier (G) work permit, which is easy to get once you have residence in France. In Switzerland you might actually get hired for your native English skills ;-)

Alexandermovestofrance · #3 (**permalink**) 30th November 2011, 03:45 AM

....we have been thinking about switzerland aswell, and Its really good to know about the frontalier work permit.... Ill research into it now.....thanks so much for the reply, each peice of info is just great because its only 2 weeks now untill we arrive

....

Lost in Traduction · #4 (**permalink**) 30th November 2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandermovestofrance

....we have been thinking about switzerland aswell, and Its really good to know about the frontalier work permit.... Ill research into it now.....thanks so much for the reply, each peice of info is just great because its only 2 weeks now untill we arrive

....

I agree with Benjk, Switzerland is probably your best bet for work, probably Basel. If you don't have Transport St Louis is a good place to live, not the the most picturesque but functional with everything in walking distance and there is a little bit of life. Transport to Basel Centre is 10 - 20 mins depending on whether you take train, bus or tram, if you do have transport then any number of neighbouring villages are very nice.

benjk · #5 (**permalink**) 30th November 2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost in Traduction

I agree with Benjk, Switzerland is probably your best bet for work, probably Basel. If you don't have Transport St Louis is a good place to live, not the the most picturesque but functional with everything in walking distance and there is a little bit of life. Transport to Basel Centre is 10 - 20 mins depending on whether you take train, bus or tram, if you do have transport then any number of neighbouring villages are very nice.

It is certainly true that Alsace has much better connections to Switzerland, but as I understood the original poster, they wanted to live in the Jura department in Franche Comte which is South of Alsace. From there the Swiss cantons of Neuchatel and Vaud are generally easier to reach than Basel although you will most likely need a car. There are some trains from Dole and Lons-le-Saunier to Switzerland but the connections are infrequent and take much longer than by car. Then again, if you live in the Jura mountains you would probably want a car no matter whether you work in Switzerland or not ;-)

As for Saint-Louis (Haut Rhin), for all practical purposes it is a suburb of Basel, only that it happens to be on the French side of the border. If you want to have your centre of live in and around Basel, then that will certainly be an affordable option. But if you want your centre of live to be in France, perhaps you want to settle in Mulhouse or Colmar instead. Both are still within commuting distance from Basel, either by car or by TER (regional express train). Yet another option would be to settle on the French side across the border from Geneva and find work in Geneva or Lausanne.

Lost in Traduction · #6 (**permalink**) 30th November 2011, 12:47 PM

Again I agree with Benjk, if being further South is desirable, French living Swiss working is still a good option (rental alone is 40-60% cheaper in France).
For the Frontalier G permit you need to visit your local Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) with passport and proof of your French address (utility bill etc) and sign an *Attestion d'honneur" to prove you live where you say you do. It's a standard form and there's no cost, if you ask for it by name they will know exactly what you want.

If you do work in Switzerland you have 3 months to sort things out.

I'm sure other forum members can point to valuable threads or web sites for more advice on health insurance, tax etc. I will certainly help with anything I feel I have enough knowledge of.

hils · #7 (**permalink**) 30th November 2011, 04:53 PM

I lived in Dole for a year and we used to go skiing up on the Swiss border (Pontarlier for X-country, Les Rousses for downhill), and then drop down to Lausanne or Geneva for a fondue supper (it was the late 70's! & we aged 20-ish assistants from the Jura - 3 Brits, 3 Krauts & a Spaniard felt grossly decadent).

You'll need to look at a good map to have an idea of the biggest towns within striking distance of the border, but remember also to bear in mind that, in the Winter, the weather will add a certain amount of time to your journey. Whilst the French are very good at clearing roads of snow, and particularly those leading to ski resorts, if you get caught behind a snow plough, it can hold you up for a good distance - & so can the mimsy tourists, whatever the season!

Happy hunting
H

robert_c1968 · #8 (**permalink**) 8th September 2012, 10:07 AM

Hi Alexander,
I read your posts and was wondering if you have actually moved to Franche Comte yet? I am planning to move my family there after xmas 2012 from NSW and was wondering if you'd be interested in sharing info on your move there? My kids are aged 8,6 and 5 but do speak french. (They went to the french school of sydney). Do you know any english speaking families there I could make contact with please?
Many thanks, Robert.

-mia- · #9 (**permalink**) 8th September 2012, 07:47 PM

It depends very much on what part of the Franche Compte you are talking about. Where are you thinking of moving to?

robert_c1968 · #10 (**permalink**) 8th September 2012, 07:58 PM

Hi Mia,

Thanks for the reply.

Well, I don't have a clue yet. It will depend on finding a school we will be happy placing our kids into I guess and then find somewhere in the area. We are looking at just renting a fully furnished place for a year or so and see how we like it. I am currently in Europe so will be going there to recce the area in Nov, before the snow hits. I wont be working in France so employment is not an issue. Rob.