This summer I will move out of my comfort zone (francophone Valais) to explore far away exotic areas! I have finally decided to spend a week in Zermatt (wrong side of the Röstigraben ), and am about to rent an apartment there.

In addition, I am thinking of spending a week in the francophone Jura. I want to rent an apartment for a week in an area where I can have a nice mix of demanding (say 1,000 meters of elevation gain) and easier hikes. Any suggestions??? I will also do my homework, but first hand advice is always valuable.

I got no replies to my original post, and have not yet been to the Jura. Might well go this year (still planning), any advice?

Thanks.

Hi - I live up here at 950m - was born and 'bred' in the area, and now back after spending most of my adult life in the UK (now my British OH is retired). Difficult to advise as I have no idea what you are looking for, simple, luxury, in a village or in the mountains, whether you'll have a car or not, etc. There are plenty of gites at very reasonable rates around here- and we will be here all Summer so will be glad to help and even walk with you, if you'd like company from time to time. There is an old guy we know who has a small apartment he used to rent as a gite in the mountains. He told me the other day he rarely rents it now as it is too much hard work for short stays - but that he would rent for a longer period if we ever had friends who wanted to use it. It's only CHF300 per week - simple but very comfy- with a nice restaurant/café nearby. As said, just depends what you are after - so maybe best if you pm me to discuss. Depending when you want to come, we can also do Bed and Breakfast with shared meals or access to your own kitchen. From there you can go to Chasseron, Creux-du-Van, Chasseral, Mont d'Or + lots of great 'gorges' (dales in British English) and lost valleys with wonderful ancient peat bogs, etc. Very different from the Alps - much kinder to the eye, and of course walking on the 'Cretes' means you can link one mountain to the other, from Geneva to Basel (we are about half way). The one place in the States that reminded me a bit of 'my' Jura was the Skyline Drive in West Virginia- the Blue mountains (but we don't have bears here - but the lynx more than make up for this).

Hi RetiredinNH - hope the above info was of some use. I've recently bought a book entitled 'ski de fond sans frontières' which describes the long trail from the Frenh Jura and along the Swiss side (we are about half way)- with itineraries for each day, accommodation, cultural and other notes. You'd be welcome to borrow it if ever in the area. Or ISBN 978-3-9055404-54-8
It would be just as useful for hiking/walking.

Hi,

in small addition to Odile - clearly an authority in this area - I know some places that are nice/beautiful. I have been living near Vallorbe only since November and have small kids with me so we haven't seen much of the area yet.
We went to Dent De Vaulion, which I can see from my house. It offers a great view of the Alps and everything in between [or covered in mist]. The Mont D'Or on the other side is great too, and then there is Lac de Joux, where a lot of hiking [around it] is done.
We just did some walking at Gorges d'Orbe, beautiful too. Although I am not sure of this is part of Jura still..

There is walking path signs everywhere too, I love that. but I gues this goes for entire Suisse

A route that I like very much for a day trip is Porrentruy to St. Ursanne. It's a half-day hike which drops you down into a wonderful ancient town with an interesting gothic/romanesque cathedral/ex-monastery. Sweeping views along the way, varied between mountains and flat, forests and plains.

Just the other day, my girlfriend and I took the berg train from Nyon to La Cure and there's a nice 4-5 hour loop hike along the French/Swiss border. Amazing on a clear day!

Here's the website we used. It was pretty easy to follow though once you find it, just follow the yellow markings and hiking signs.

Porrentruy to St.Ursanne is shown here linked to the GPS Tagged Hikes Thread.

This seems to be turning into a hiking Thread so I'm going to move it over to the place where it will most easily be found by other hikers.

I've run from Vallorbe down to St Cergue.

The section from Crete de la Nueve south to St Cergue is mostly forested and not the best. Mont de Bierre is nice, as is Mt Tendre. Dent de Vaulion is OK, some of the "trails" around there are of questionable quality, even the ones that aren't cow pastures, although I did enjoy the ascent from the South much more than the ascent from the North. Mont d'Or is quite nice as well, but ascent is mostly double track. I Havent seen anything south of La Dole, but the highest part of the Jura Crest is that way in France, looks like a lot above treeline.

How is the planning going RetiredInNH? Hope you'll pop in for a cup of coffee, an absinthe or a meal at some time.

Wellmood, get in touch if you want to meet for coffee or a walk - as we are not far from Vallorbe. Hope you are enjoying the lovely Spring weather in the Jura.

The Jura Höhenweg is pretty spectacular and you can pick out bits you're interested in. It's pretty varied with some great views. Have you looked at that yet? It's in wikipedia.

In English look up for Jura Ridgeway. Some links have excellent maps, descriptions and photos.

And some more Porrentruy to St Ursanne stuff here

Lovely walk, but watch out for dogs.

I like Vallee de joux very much. I am just a bit afraid that it may be a bit disappointing for you after the Alps. I spent time around lake Winnipesaukee in NH and it is comparable (and I'd rather go to NH than the Jura to be honest).
The French Jura has some interesting sights. The salines d'Arc et Senans for example but there are many others (I reckon you are looking for hiking, not sightseeing so it may not apply):



For the French Jura, I think the Michelin guide is pretty good:
http://www.amazon.fr/Franche-Comt%C3...1795631&sr=8-2

Hi Odile, thanks for the information. I would love to meet you if I have the opportunity!

This year is shaping up as an exploratory year, with light hiking between a week in Mürren and two weeks in the Val d'Hérens (one week each in Évolène and Arolla).

I am thinking (in fact, about to make reservations) of a week in Bienne, with hikes to the Chasseral, the Gorges of the Douanne from Macolin, and a hike in the vineyards above Douanne. I would probably spend a day in Berne (last time I saw the bears they had not yet moved to their new home ), and probably one in Fribourg or Gruyère (or both, as things work out).

I would like to stay in a reasonably priced hotel and would be grateful for suggestions. Using the tourist office online reservation tool I found the Hôtel Restaurant Artus Bienne. Is anyone familiar with it?

While I read about the dryness in Switzerland we are having one of the wettest springs I can remember in the Northeastern USA. It is dry this morning so I am about to go out for a short hike.

As you know Evolène and Arolla are favourites of mine too. Great Bed and Breakfast at La Tour, between Evolène et Les Haudères, run by friends Patric and Madeleine, called 'La Grande Peur dans la Montagne' (from a book by Ramuz a Suisse Romand author).
Can't help with accom in Bienne - hopefully somebody else here will. We are near Chasseron, not Chasseral. Anyway, depending on timing - perhaps 'à bientot'. We had a bit of a storm this pm, thunder and a good downpour - so will have to go 'morilles hunting' tomorrow.

My Jura knowledge is limited to a great two-day hike I did about a year ago...I started in La Chaux de Fonds and went to Le Ponts de Martel to spend the night...from La Ponts de Martel I went to Neuchatel through a really nice canyon. The hike got a little long approaching Neuchtel the second day, but there are bus and train options.

Any tips near Basel (on max 1h drive)? With kids, but good walkers.
Thanks!

If you want to stay 'up there' in the wild, walk up to Chasseron (from Buttes (NE) or from St Croix/Les Cluds/Les Rasses (VD) and stay at

www.chasseron.ch

then down the other side.