La Chaux walks

Crêt Moniot, with one or two "n"s, is well known for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but the site is also ideal for hiking and mountain biking.It offers typical Jura landscapes with sinkholes and sharp limestone pavement, snow all year round in the La Neigère valley, abundant wildlife and superb views of the Alps.

You don't need to be as fit as an Alpine hunter to climb the high peaks and enjoy breathtaking views. This is a walk that is accessible to all. This 10km or 15km hike will take you to Crêt Monniot (1141m) where, on a clear day, a superb 360° panorama awaits you: lomont, the Loue valley, the Jura plateaus, the Vosges, Mont Blanc and the Bernese Alps. You will love this landscape of chaux (the medieval name for high-altitude wasteland) with its sinkholes and sharp limestone pavement.

Remonot is a small hamlet in the commune of Les Combes. Situated on the banks of the Doubs, in the Pays Horloger, this village has everything to offer: surrounded by the Jura mountains, it is a pleasure to stroll along these country lanes in search of little gems. The most remarkable heritage site is none other than the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Remonot, situated within a vast cavern 30 metres deep. Within this cavern are four springs, one of which is said to possess miraculous properties. The site is still used for worship today. The route also takes you past the Church of the Holy Spirit and, nearby, the Remonot viewpoint, which offers views of the highest gorges of the Doubs. The walk along the river’s right bank takes you past a drinking trough and a hand pump.

Climb Mont Pelé (1,045 m) through an open pine forest. At the summit, you will enjoy a 360° view. To the west, view Bugny and the Val des Usiers, the upper Jura mountain range. To the east, view of Crêt Monniot and, with a little luck, Mont Blanc will be visible on a clear day. To the north, above all, view of the magnificent upper Loue valley bordered by the cliffs of Moine de la Vallée and Roche de Hautepierre. Return via a superb rocky ridge with numerous viewpoints over the valley.

From the old, isolated farmhouse of La Perdrix, right in the heart of Le Sauget, you’ll reach the hamlet of La Fresse and climb towards the ridge of Les Rochers du Cerf, a picturesque rocky path dotted with gentians, boundary stones and numerous views over the secluded Théverot valley, Mont Châteleu and the Swiss mountains.

This route will take you from the forest to the cliff via the pastures of the Haut Doubs.

Forest walk through the woods of La Joux, La Joux Dessous and La Joux Dessus, along well-marked paths and a road alternating between gravel and tarmac.

After the rain, take a walk in the forest on gravel and tarmac paths and walk around Barchet Lake along the peat bogs.

From Les Gras, you will climb through beautiful, clear forests to the Rochers du Cerf ridge trail and its many viewpoints over the discreet Théverot valley, Mont Châteleu and the Swiss mountains. Return via the Swiss pastures and their concert of cowbells.

Passing through beautiful pine forests, you will walk along a small gorge, home to waterfalls where the rotation of pebbles has carved the soft rock over thousands of years, forming basins known as chaudières in our Haut-Doubs region. Then, passing isolated farms nestled in the hollows of the pastures and surrounded by our good old Montbéliard cows, you will reach a panorama stretching south-west over the Chasseron, the Suchet, the Gras topped by the Rochers du Cerf, Switzerland to the south and, in fine weather, Mont Blanc.

Varied terrain and landscapes ranging from meadows and woods to coniferous forests, from rocks and pastures to peat bogs, ponds and sinkholes, with views over the second plateau of the Haut Doubs.

Set off to explore the Barchet Pond and its peat bog. This vast wetland is a remarkable reservoir of biodiversity. Its soil, permanently saturated with stagnant water, deprives the microorganisms responsible for decomposing organic matter of the oxygen they need for their metabolism. The plant litter mineralises slowly and partially. It then accumulates gradually, forming a poorly decomposed or undecomposed deposit: peat.

There are several points of interest to discover on this hike: - what water can do in our Jura mountains, - our beautiful mid-mountain landscapes with forests and pastures, - the beautiful forests of the Haut-Doubs.

A walk that will introduce you to the Premiers Sapins area, a new commune in the Doubs since 2016, following the merger of six communes. This walk will take you past the ruins of Cicon Castle and its viewpoint, the FFI monument at a place called La Vêche, with a view over Les Premiers Sapins, as well as Crêt Moniot, Étang le Barchet and its peat bogs in the municipality of Passonfontaine, returning via the Derrière la Roche viewpoint.

Hike around Vanclans from the church. This is a walk through woods and meadows. The first open section is between Vanclans and Etray. Take care when crossing the departmental road. The route then continues along a rocky ridge in the woods above Vanclans. The walk passes by the FFI monument in Vanclans with its Liberation cross before descending back to Vanclans.

Departure from the car park of the old town hall of Nods, in the heart of the village, along the main street. The circular begins at the statue of the Virgin Mary. The path between Nods and the Virgin Mary is the same on the way there and back. When passing through the meadows, keep dogs on a leash and respect the peace and quiet of the animals.

An easy walk with little elevation gain, starting and finishing on the road, otherwise through the woods. A viewing point developed at the hamlet known as Château de Cicon. This is a walking route, but it can also be done by mountain bike or on horseback (preferably on dry, firm ground). The route is easy.