Villeret (Canton de Berne) walks

Departure from Villeret in the Bernese Jura near Saint-Imier, climb via the Combe Grède, passing through Pré aux Auges, Les Limes, then along the ridge overlooking the Métairie de Morat facing the Chasseral, before reaching and following the ridge leading directly to the signal (television tower) and the summit of the Chasseral. The magnificent view from the summit ridge amply rewards hikers for their efforts on the climb, allowing them to enjoy, in particular, the three lakes (Biel, Neuchâtel and Morat) and the highest peaks of the Bernese Alps in good weather. The descent is via Pré aux Auges and the dairy farms of the Planes and Métairie aux Renards. A beautiful encounter on the descent, with a herd of chamois above the Métairie des Plânes.

The route forms a loop via the Métairie des Plânes, climbing the Combe Grède before reaching the Chasseral ridge to the east of the summit via the Métairie du Milieu.All the difficulties are behind you when you reach the summit, where you can enjoy a picnic. Return to the car park by descending via Les Limes and La Vieille Vacherie. (i)User comment on 21 June 2025 On Thursday 19 June, when we set off from Villeret, the Combe Grède pass was closed due to rockfalls and fallen trees and therefore inaccessible. For more information, contact the tourist office in St-Imier or Villeret. >This passage to Chasseral can be bypassed from the start by taking the left-hand path towards Les Limes, Derrière, then Pré au Auges, where you come out at the Combe Grède exit. To return from the Hotel du Chasseral, the trail leads to the Métairie de St-Jean, then back to Pré aux Auges, where you head towards St-Imier and then Villeret.

Ninth stage from Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. At the summit of Chasseral, you pass close to the imposing 114-metre transmitter, a metal sentinel standing at an altitude of 1,606 metres, the highest point of this stage. From there, the trail levels out and takes you on a peaceful descent along the ridge, winding between large century-old trees and the typical pastures of the Bernese Jura, where the air is fragrant with alpine herbs. At an altitude of around 1,000 metres, the landscape narrows: you reach the steepest part of the route, where rocks jut out and steps carved into the stone bear witness to the steeper terrain. The view then opens up onto the Bernese Jura mountain range, before the path gently descends towards the steep-sided Schüss valley. The steady descent takes you to the charming village of Frinvillier, nestled in the valley. Here you will cross the Suze bridge, the final passage of this stage rich in contrasts and panoramic views.

This is a challenging walk, best done in dry weather, with a steady climb followed by a fairly technical descent through undergrowth with roots and stones. Nature lovers will be delighted by the Doubs valley and its banks, the views from the Roches des Sommêtres and the architecture of the churches and houses in the village of Le Noirmont.

Superb hike in the Doubs Gorges offering magnificent panoramic views of the gorges and the surrounding Swiss Jura peaks. To get there, you will need to pass through the famous Échelles de la Mort, which are impressive but relatively easy to climb. Once you reach the ridge, you will go from the Cendrée viewpoint to the Vieilles Femelles viewpoint via the Crampoulotte viewpoint, before descending to the banks of the river via the magnificent Charbonnière du Haut site. The return journey is along a bucolic path with a pretty waterfall at the Ulysse bridge.

The ladders are likely to remain closed until autumn. From the ‘Ladders of Death’ to the ‘Old Ladies’, here are two places that conjure up many poetic images. The ladders turn out to be comfortable, family-friendly staircases. As for these old ladies, they offer a wild view of the Franco-Swiss Doubs valley. Return via the peaceful riverbanks, a haven for ducks and anglers.

Views of the Chassera and the wind turbines in Switzerland, with the landscapes of the Haut Doubs.

The ladders will probably be closed until autumn. Along picturesque, steep paths, winding through a jumble of mossy rocks, La Crampoulotte and its old ladies offer wild views of the Doubs valley. After a stop at the old charcoal kiln, you will walk along the peaceful banks of the river, a haven for ducks and fishermen. Then, facing the Échelles de la Mort (Ladders of Death), which turn out to be comfortable family stairs, you will make a sporty return via the evocative Couleuse aux Loups.

Set off to explore the Combe de Biaufond (in Switzerland) with its series of metal ladders, wooden staircases, fixed footbridges and bridges. Magical! Not recommended for those prone to vertigo. A mountain trail, therefore, difficult in places. Then the Cerneux-Godat viewpoint and the Moulin de la Mort on the banks of the Doubs. From a natural perspective, Biaufond’s main feature is its lake, which makes it a key wintering spot for the region’s waterbirds. But for everyone else, it is above all a magnificent destination for a walk and a meal by the water’s edge, at the crossroads of borders steeped in history.

Are you only going to do one of these hikes? Then choose to explore this valley, a pure marvel! To start with, the Gorges du Doubs, which are full of sunny green beauty here. Then there are the light-filled forests towards Roche Guillaume and the mountain pastures, which overlook the valley. And the highlight: the Gorges de la Ronde, wild, lush and tropical in appearance, framed by high rocks, a world of stones, moss and ferns.

Beautiful views, a lovely setting and an unusual part of the hike, crossing the death ladders.

There are no danger points on these ladders. This site, steeped in history, bears witness to the fear once inspired by these legendary places, the scene of many fatal accidents during the "bricotte" (smuggling) era, when the ladders were nothing more than tree trunks crossed by pieces of wood. Today, these comfortable family staircases, which you can climb safely, will allow you to discover the Doubs Gorges from a variety of viewpoints.

Coming from Goumois (Switzerland), park at the end of the Vautenaivre leat, next to a small rest area (with barbecue).

Nestled between steep, seemingly impassable cliffs, the Franco-Swiss Doubs Valley features steep paths, the ‘Couleuses’, which allow you to explore the wild, verdant gorges of this torrent as it surges between the enormous moss-covered rocks that have tumbled from the cliffs over the millennia. Return via picturesque cliff-top paths, passing three viewpoints overlooking the valley.

Eighth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. From the Col de la Vue des Alpes, the flower-filled route winds through pastures to Mont d'Amin, offering a vast panorama of the Mittelland and the Chasseral massif. A long descent then leads to Les Vieux Prés, whose bocage landscape is reminiscent of Normandy: hedges, trees and dry stone walls delimit the plots. After the farming village of Le Pâquier, the trail crosses the Combe Biosse, a limestone gorge carved out by erosion, before reaching the Chasseral ridge, with the Alps and the lakes of Morat, Biel and Neuchâtel as a backdrop.

Tenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. From Frinvillier, the route begins with a beautiful climb through fields and old solitary trees to Sur le Chables, the last French-speaking stop in Switzerland. The landscape then changes: a clearing opens onto a dense forest lined with ferns, leading to Wäsmeli. After a paved section between Unterer Stierenberg and Grenchenberg, short climbs take you up to the Stallflue plateau. There, you are treated to a breathtaking panorama: the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the meandering Aare River, before arriving at Weissenstein.

A route allowing you to discover the bucolic landscapes of the Neuchâtel Jura, as well as the Communal de La Sagne and the enchanting Pouette Combe with its Grande Grotte. This itinerary, accessible by public transport, is ideal in spring or autumn.

This short circular route allows you to visit the small town of Maîche, located in the Pays Horloger (Watchmaking Country). This short walk allows you to see much of the town's heritage, such as the Church of Saint-Pierre, the Château du Désert and its park, and the Chapelle des Anges. The route also passes in front of the châteaux of Montalembert and Mérode, which are private properties. Finally, the hike ends with a botanical trail that winds its way through the Côteau Saint-Michel.

From Montalembert Castle, built by the Guyot de Malseigne family from 1574 onwards, you will climb to various viewpoints: the Notre-Dame des Anges Chapel at the top of the beautiful Saint-Simon hill; then the Roche de Ruan via paths lined with majestic fir trees, forming a guard of honour; the pastures of Mont Miroir and its concert of cowbells with its view of Lomont and the Saint-Hyppolite valley; and finally, the Mont Joie viewpoint overlooking the city and Saint-Pierre Church.

Starting from Maîche, pass through Les Bréseux to see, in particular, its Comtois-style church with magnificent modern stained glass windows, then on to Rochet du Bourbet, a viewpoint over the Dessoubre valley and picnic area. Return via the QuatreGrottes de Waroly, the Waroly waterfalls and the hamlet of La Lizerne. Several interesting viewpoints: Rochet du Bourbet, on the way down to the Château de l'Ermitage, then on the way back up to the hamlet of La Lizerne, among others.

Starting from Les Blanches-Fontaines south of Undervelier (Canton of Jura), this hike offers a magnificent ascent of the Sorne river and its gorges dotted with several waterfalls, passing by Lac Vert, all in a wild environment, to the hamlet of Pichoux, then climbing up to the plateau overlooking the gorges to enjoy a magnificent view. Continue along the plateau via Rebévelier, then a moderately pleasant descent down the Côte de Tirmenté to the Combe des Beusses. Return to the lush vegetation at the bottom of the valley via the Combe es Monin (home to a private foundation dedicated to children), then a short climb to Blanche Maison with another beautiful view of the landscape and a hilly descent passing above the Pré de Joux, then through several pastures towards Undervelier. Short link along the road, climbing up the Sorne to the start.

Starting from La Sagne, you will go to Tête de Ran (1,422 m) via Combe des Quignets. From there, take the Chemin des Crêtes to Mont Racine (1,439 m), where you will have a view of Lake Neuchâtel and the Alps. At the end of the Chemin des Crêtes, head towards the Chemin des Statues to finish your hike: sculptures carved from tree stumps by Georges-André Favre over a period of 35 years.

From the castle ruins, you will climb up to the ledges where, like tightrope walkers from one border marker to the next, you will walk along the ridge line, neither in France nor in Switzerland. You will reach the Réclère Caves, considered the most beautiful in the world by the first explorers in 1886. From Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne to Conan Doyle's The Lost World, you will squeeze between dinosaur feet. The return journey, via the old farmhouse at Montavon, will be less adventurous.

Saint-Hippolyte is located at the confluence of the Doubs and Dessoubre rivers in Franche-Comté. It is a small, picturesque tourist village at the gateway to the Pays Horloger (Watchmaking Country). The setting is enchanting: surrounded by the Jura mountains, the Dessoubre to the west and the Doubs to the north. The narrow streets are picturesque and the buildings are examples of the architecture of the Pays Horloger. It is of course possible to combine this short route with another discovery in the region.

From the heart of Saint-Hyppolyte, nestled in the Revirot valley (where the Doubs and Dessoubre rivers meet), along its narrow streets lined with medieval houses, you will climb boldly towards the Chamesol plateau, a balcony overlooking the valley, to reach the viewpoint on the rocks and the vast cave where our ancestors built a castle that was unfortunately destroyed. Through beautiful forests and secret clearings, you will return via Soulce and its salt well, the Ursulines farm at the foot of the rocks and the tufa cave.

The route offers views of the Doubs Valley and ends with a descent to Saint-Hippolyte from La Chapelle du Mont, passing close to the site of the Château de la Roche.

This last stage will take you to the capital of the Franches-Montagnes district, renowned for its horse breed. On leaving Glovelier, you will cross the Combe Tabeillon nature reserve. You will pass several small lakes, including the pleasant Plain de Saigne. You will cross the village of Montfaucon, built on a ridge. You will cross pastures where many horses graze before arriving in Saignelégier.

A short walk, suitable for families although the elevation gain may be daunting for very young children (at least 6 years old), best enjoyed on sunny days as the route is very shaded. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes as the route is also very stony

Walk offering multiple views of Saint-Hippolyte, exploring the Grotte du Bisontin, the Liebvillers Spring teeming with trout, and the Essarts Diot with another lovely viewpoint. Please note: parts of this route follow a ridge line, so you need to be careful!

Geological and scenic hike offering numerous views of the Doubs valley and amazing natural sites to discover!

A short, peaceful and quiet walk, towards the heights of Liebvillers and from one viewpoint to another. The route follows the village’s old paths and a pleasant ridge trail. Well-marked paths but not signposted. Caution is advised along the ridges and when approaching the promontories at the viewpoints.

Easy hike through pastures and undergrowth to the highest point that gave the village its name. Wide views of the French-Swiss Jura mountain range, the site of Clémont and the Doubs valley. Pass by the small monument to the Lomont maquis.

Easy walk along the Clémont cliff. Viewpoints over Motte de Clémont and Liebvillers. Access to a small, unusual cave.

At the start of the walk, there is a south-facing view of the Haut-Doubs mountains. Then, superb views of the town of Pont-de-Roide from the Haut des Roches, followed by views of the Montbéliard region, with the Belfort Gap and the Vosges as a backdrop.

Hike from Chambrelien, passing through Champ du Moulin and following the Gorges de l'Areuse trail, with several views of Lake Neuchâtel. You will follow the blue trail, where you may spot chamois, then the gorge trail to admire the waterfalls.