Rances (Canton de Vaud) walks

From bright, flower-filled mountain pastures, you will climb towards the ridges through the silent Bataillards forest, skirting its steep limestone cliffs, the first slopes of the Jura, cut into needles that offer views of the Alps, Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel. On the other side, the panorama stretches from La Dôle to Chasseral, via the Knoll and the Dent de Vaulion.

A lovely, easy walk along the Orbe river.

The highlight of this third stage will be the Suchet. At your feet, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Neuchâtel. You will also be very close to the French-Swiss border. In Vallorbe, you will notice the presence of old railway crafts.

Stage 5 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. From Sainte-Croix, the birthplace of music boxes and automatons, you set off across the vast pastures of the Vaud Jura towards La Casba and Les Avattes. The path then winds its way to Les Petites Roches before reaching the mysterious Pierre de la Paix, a place full of energy and serenity. One last effort takes you to the summit of Chasseron, at an altitude of 1,608 metres, where a magnificent panorama opens up over Switzerland and France. At your feet lie Lake Neuchâtel and, further south, the majestic Lake Geneva. Nearly 250 kilometres of Alpine ridges stretch out on the horizon, creating a breathtaking natural fresco. The descent is gentle to the hamlet of Les Rochats, at the start of the Les Cluds cross-country ski trail, where an old military barracks remains, a discreet witness to a forgotten past.

A beautiful hike through woods and pastures with stunning views, including a 360° view of Chasseron (1,606 m) on the French side and the Swiss side with the Romandy lakes of Neuchâtel and Geneva. Depending on the weather conditions, you can see and admire the Bernese, Vaud and French Alps.

This is a fairly challenging hike with some wild sections and steep climbs, between forest and pastureland. There is a magnificent 360° view of Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Geneva from the Chasseron (altitude 1,607 m). You can also discover the Pierre de Paix (energy stone). There arefootbridges and steps at the Saut de l'Eau.

A lovely French-Swiss walk with magnificent views of the Alps and Lake Geneva.

Starting from the ski car park at Entre-les-Fourgs. A beautiful hike towards the Knoll, opening up to 360° views.

Stage 4 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance, via the Jura ridges. From the southern slopes of the Knoll, above L'Orbe, the climb to the ridge offers a magnificent panorama: Lake Neuchâtel, the plain and the Alps in the background. The trail crosses the peaceful pastures of the Jura before reaching the Col de l'Aiguillon, close to the French border, marked by anti-tank obstacles and bunkers. The hike continues along the Crête des Aiguilles de Baulmes, lined with 80-metre cliffs, with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva, La Dôle and Chasseral. The descent leads to Sainte-Croix, renowned for its music boxes and automatons.

Hike around Chasseron with a direct, sustained climb to the summit, offering beautiful panoramic views. The descent is then a gentle, pleasant walk along the ridge back to the car park. Accessible route.

Set off to explore the two wind farm sites in Sainte-Croix, passing through hamlets, pastures, undergrowth and forest. You will pass Mont de la Chèvre, Mont des Cerfs (1,280 m) and its rural lodge, then make a round trip to see the Creux des Neiges chasm. The return journey is via the Sentier des Bornes trail.

Coming from the north, Morond is the first iconic peak in the Jura to be reached. It rises to an altitude of 1,419 metres. The summit can be reached in half a day from Métabief or Les Hôpitaux-Neufs. The climb offers remarkable views of the region and Switzerland, including Lake Geneva. You can combine this walk with the Métabief summer toboggan run or the tourist train ride starting in Les Hôpitaux-Neufs.

Typical farms, a chapel covered in wooden shingles, two superb viewpoints over La Cluse de Joux and its castle, a glimpse of Chasseron and the Aiguilles de Baulmes, fir trees and the invigorating air of the Haut-Doubs.

This hike will take you up Mont d'Or, where you can enjoy the view, then look down on it from below. You will pass through different environments and see a rich and diverse range of flora depending on the season.

For this fourth stage, after a good hour's walk, you will reach the highest point of the day: the Dent de Vaulion. The lakes of Joux and Brenet will be at your feet. The water from these two lakes flows underground, shaping the karst cave of the Orbe, near Vallorbe. On a clear day, you can see up to eight lakes.

An easy hike in clear weather, ensuring you can see the Mont Blanc massif. The elevation gain is reasonable. There are some steep but short climbs, panoramic views, and the pleasure of reaching Le Morond and admiring the landscape from Mont d'Or. Please note that you may have to cross fields where cows graze freely.

A very pleasant, peaceful walk, the first half of which takes you through beautiful coniferous woods to this magnificent viewpoint over the Château de Joux and La Cluse, before returning in the sunshine with a beautiful unobstructed view of the plateau.

This is a well-marked mountain bike trail. Number 80.A very varied and technical circuit, very interesting from a mountain biking point of view.

Starting from the Brin d'Herbe equestrian lodge, enjoy an unusual hike along forest paths, past cows and alpine landscapes. There is a magnificent view from the Ferme des Miroirs road, from where you can even see the Alps if the weather is not too cloudy! Enjoy a refreshing break or a good meal at the Les Papillons restaurant before returning through fields and forests. NB: as this hike crosses several cow pastures, please be sure to dismount, open and, above all, close any gates you come across.

Short loop through the fields (no gates to open) on horseback, with the option of staying at the Brin d'Herbe equestrian lodge. Please note: this route is only possible when the hay has just been cut and the grass in the meadows is short.

A short hike for the whole family with breathtaking views of Château de Joux and Fort Malher!

The highest point of the Montagne du Larmont, the Grand Taureau, at an altitude of 1,323 metres, offers a panoramic view of Pontarlier, the Loue Valley, the Jura mountains (the Aiguilles de Baulmes, the Knoll, the Mont d'Or), the Alps and Mont Blanc in good weather. This well-balanced route allows you to enjoy the coolness of beautiful pine forests and the sunshine of these alpine pastures dotted with gentians, accompanied by the music of our cowbells.

Stage 3: From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. From the beach at Lake Joux to Le Pont, you reach Vallorbe via the Dent de Vaulion (1,483 m) before following and crossing the River Orbe. Since the Middle Ages, Vallorbe has been an important centre for the iron industry thanks to its iron ore deposits and wood reserves. At the Vallorbe Iron and Railway Museum, you leave the town following the shore of Lake Day. The route then passes close to the Day Viaduct, a beautiful arch bridge built in 1925, before arriving at the Day Dam, which holds back the waters of the Orbe, and then Ballaigues, located on the southern slope of the knoll, above the course of the Orbe

Pass through pastures dotted with gentians and friendly, cuddly horses, then through cool fir forests with slender trees to discover Fort Malher and Château de Joux overlooking the valley with all the imposing severity of a medieval watchtower.

Rousseau once wrote «I have, opposite my windows, a beautiful waterfall which from the mountain top, plunges from a rocky escarpment into the valley, with a sound heard for miles around, especially when waters are high». From waterfall to waterfall, alongside these impressively steep gorges which once inspired fear (poëta from the latin putidus meaning "altered, fetid"), this trail will lead you through a delightful hike through rocks and water.

The goal for this second stage is to climb Chasseron. This rocky cliff offers breathtaking views of Lake Neuchâtel and, further south, Lake Geneva. You will also enjoy views of numerous Alpine peaks in the distance, rising up from the horizon.

Sixth stage, from Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. From Les Rochats, the route climbs gently through pastures and wooded areas. You then arrive at the impressive Creux du Van rock cirque. From the heights, the view of Lake Neuchâtel is splendid. Then, taking the Sentier des Quatorze Contours trail, you descend towards Noiraigue, surrounded by two natural wonders: the Creux du Van rock cirque and the Areuse Gorges.