The Réclère Caves (Swiss Jura)

Circular hike (figure of 8) with a shared section to the Réclère caves.

Details

638622
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 450 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 448 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 793 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 602 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point for the hike is in the school car park in the centre of the village of Damvant.

(S/E) Follow the signs for "Grottes de Réclère" on a tarmac road. After 130 metres, you will reach an intersection.

(1) Continue on the road to the right, passing close to a football pitch.
A wooded passage straight ahead at the start of the climb allows you to leave the road (there is a statue and a place of worship called "Grotte de Lourdes") and then rejoin the road a few dozen metres further on.
Continue along this slightly uphill road.
At the end of this road, do not take the first path on the right, which leads to a farm. Just after this, at the intersection with a cross in the middle, take the farm track on the right. Go straight ahead at the intersection and continue straight ahead for about 1.5 km until the path makes a slight left turn of almost 180° and descends slightly.
At this bend, leave the farm track and take a small wooded path on the right with orange arrows painted on the trees to reach the "Sentier historique des Bornes de la Principauté de Montbéliard" (marked trail also known as the Bornes Frontières - marker 447).

(2) Take this path downhill to the left, then cross a few wooden bridges to reach "Combe Semont".

(3) There is a table where you can take your first break. Follow the marked boundary trail until you reach an electric fence, which you will need to climb over, then turn right and follow the fence. Pass by a grazing hut, then another fence.
Follow the markings across a meadow and then into the woods, along a winding path with a downward slope between rocks, then an upward slope again, with steps and metal railings at the end of the climb. Turn right at the top and head for border marker 471 and its viewpoint.

(4) Continue along this boundary marker trail (east) above the rocks, which will take you to the former Swiss border post at Réclère, passing close to the prehistoric park of Les Grottes.

(5) Cross the main road and climb up the tarmac road for about 100 metres. Then take the road on the right towards Ferme de Montavon.

(6) The road ends at the farm, which you cross, then a path descends into a small valley before climbing back up to the La Vaux organic farm.

(7) At this farm, leave the marked trail and turn left onto a tarmac road that takes you to a crossroads with a picnic table and barbecue, but above all a north-northeast view of the Ajoie valley.

(8) Turn left onto a beautiful forest path and descend to the Réclère Caves and the old customs post seen earlier.

(5) Turn right as you descend in front of the restaurant, then turn left, following the footpath sign towards Damvant. After taking a beautiful forest path, you will first come to fields and then, via a farm track, the original crossroads.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 609 m - Car park at the start (opposite the petrol station)
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 607 m - Crossroads of the Réclère Caves
  3. 2 : km 2.49 - alt. 706 m - Chemin des Bornes
  4. 3 : km 2.87 - alt. 711 m - Wooden table
  5. 4 : km 5.42 - alt. 712 m - Vallée du Doubs viewpoint
  6. 5 : km 6.47 - alt. 660 m - Swiss border post at Réclère
  7. 6 : km 7.52 - alt. 652 m - Montavon Farm
  8. 7 : km 9.07 - alt. 697 m - La Vaux Farm
  9. 8 : km 10.7 - alt. 788 m - snack bar
  10. S/E : km 15.31 - alt. 609 m - Parking on arrival

Notes

The restaurant car park is also a great starting point for hikes and, in any case, a place to quench your thirst (terrace).
In Switzerland, there are numerous footpath signs indicating walking times and the possibility of reaching a post bus stop or train station.

Worth a visit

(7) Ferme de Vaux: At the bottom of the watering hole, you can see some aquatic animals that resemble salamanders (without the spots). I think they are newts.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
bourdenetpierrot
bourdenetpierrot

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk with beautiful scenery
Positive ascent measured at 500m
Nice paths, but bring sticks in case of rain
Friendly Swiss walkers
I recommend this walk

Machine-translated

Ninne
Ninne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice walk, description in line with the reality of the terrain

Machine-translated

CristoF
CristoF

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine course with some difficulties, which makes it attractive.

Machine-translated

Goretex
Goretex

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was a very nice hike that we did on a scouting basis and twice, because the first time (without the GPX trail) we couldn't find the start of the historic milestones trail (between points 1 and 2) because we were looking for the orange arrows when they were fluorescent yellow.
The 2nd time: perfect, this time with the GPX trail as well.
A very varied walk, offering us many beautiful panoramas at altitude and at this time of year, superb colours through woods and fields.
The route is well signposted in yellow and blue, although not previously announced.
A few steep climbs and descents to take into account with a group of hikers.
We plan to come and do it again officially with the group during the autumn colours.
Thank you for an excellent day.

Machine-translated

Sncra90
Sncra90

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very well signposted circuit (blue circle) to be done on Sundays as there is a lot of forestry work going on and the paths are cluttered with small cut branches.

Machine-translated

verglas
verglas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful, varied and interesting walk.
We were scouting for a group of pensioners (average age 70) but we didn't dare offer it to them because of the steep climbs and tricky descents.

Machine-translated

abator
abator

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

very good for the family discovered historical museum

Machine-translated

annecornut
annecornut

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very fine walk, well signposted, ideal in hot weather as it is very shady.

Machine-translated

parikialefkes
parikialefkes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very nice walk, most of which took place in undergrowth and was much appreciated because of the heat. The route is varied, with flower-filled meadows, large rocks and forests with majestic trees. The border markers trail is of real historical interest.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.