The Great Jura Crossing on Foot takes itinerant hikers all along the Jura crescent on the paths of the mythical GR®5 and GR®9.
The journey usually begins in the north in the country of Montbéliard.
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 river of Doubs.
While rubbing shoulders with the Swiss border, it follows its meanders until Villers-le-Lac, then gives way to a bucolic atmosphere between meadows where Montbéliarde cows graze, and deciduous forests. This is the territory of the typical Comtois farms with imposing "tuyés" where sausages and hams are smoked, which you will certainly eat during the stopover.
Pontarlier past, the Fort-de-Jouxthen Saint-Point Lake mark the approach to the summit of the Doubs: the 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.
À mouth, a village well known for its harsh winters, you arrive at the source of the river that you have been following since the beginning of your journey and which gave its name to the department, the Doubs, .
Afterwards, you will go through Chapelle-des-Bois, its valley and its two lakes, nestled between the Mont-Noir forest and the Risoux cliffs.
In the Redheads, let yourself be told the story of The Massacre Forest before crossing it and imagine the bird that lives here, because if you tread on its territory, you have little chance of coming across it: the capercaillie, which still lives in our forests, is a very discreet animal. Its presence is the result of a preserved natural environment, the legacy of a natural and rustic mountain.
Another little effort while crossing the very beautiful High Combs and you will be able to admire the high Jura chain which will soon welcome you. Hiking on this one is a feast for the eyes. The landscapes that open up to you will remain etched 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 unfold in folds down to the plain.
You leave the Jura department for that of Ain which hosts the highest peaks of the massif. Here you access the mountain hike with some dizzying passages.
After the lock of Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, you go back up on the very wild Retord plateau. In spring, its fields are covered with daffodils. These flowers with a very delicate fragrance are picked and sent to the great perfumers.
All you have to do is make a stop at the magical Arvière Charterhouse which can only seduce by its situation which forces contemplation. The Large Dovecote awaits you peacefully 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.
The adventure you experienced, on the way, at the stopover in the evening, meeting the men who live there and who make this living territory what it is today, will leave unforgettable memories in your heart.
