The Great Crossing of the Jura on foot takes itinerant hikers all along the Jura crescent on the legendary GR®5 and GR®9 trails.
The journey generally begins in the north in the Montbéliard region. Don't hesitate to take the time to visit the city of the princes of Württemberg. Very quickly, it evolves towards the highest plateaus to descend towards the very beautiful Doubs river. While skirting the Swiss border, it meanders along its path to Villers-le-Lac, then gives way to a bucolic atmosphere between meadows where Montbéliard cows graze, and deciduous forests. This is the territory of typical Comtoise farms with imposing “tuyés” where sausages and hams are smoked, which you will certainly eat during the stopover. Past Pontarlier, Fort de Joux, then Lake Saint-Point mark the approach to the summit of Doubs: Mont d'Or (1 m). From there, a magnificent panorama of the Alps will force you to contemplate... you are in the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park. From spruce forests to green valleys, the path winds through this preserved space with a rich natural heritage. In Mouthe, a village well known for its harsh winters, you arrive at the source of the river that you have been following since the start of your journey and which gave its name to the department, the Doubs. Subsequently, you will pass through Chapelle-des-Bois, its valley and its two lakes, nestled between the Mont-Noir forest and the Risoux cliffs. In Les Rousses, listen to the story of the Massacre forest before crossing it and imagine the bird that lives here, because if you tread its territory, you have little chance of coming across it: the capercaillie, which lives still in our forests, is a very discreet animal. Its presence is the result of a preserved natural environment, heritage of a natural and rustic mountain. A little more effort crossing the very beautiful Hautes-Combes and you will be able to admire the high Jura range which will soon welcome you.
Hiking on it is a feast for the eyes. The landscapes that open up to you will remain engraved in your memories. To the east, behind the Lake Geneva basin, the Alps with their white-capped peaks sparkle in the sun. To the west, the Jura plateaus extend into folds to the plain.
You leave the Jura department for the Ain department, which hosts the highest peaks of the massif. Here you access mountain hiking with some dizzying passages. After the Bellegarde-sur-Valserine lock, you go back up to the very wild Retord plateau. In spring, its fields are covered with daffodils. These very delicately scented flowers are picked and sent to great perfumers.
All you have to do is make a stop at the magical Chartreuse d'Arvière which can only seduce by its location which forces you to meditate.
The Grand Colombier awaits you quietly with a breathtaking panorama of the Rhône. Your journey into the heart of unspoiled nature, rich in colors, scents and sounds, is coming to an end.
