Cléron combines a landmark with a precise historical reference and a striking Jura setting: the Château de Cléron was built in 1320, and the village lies in the rocky reculée de Norvaux. Other features include a viaduct over the Loue, a museum devoted to the history of narrow-gauge railways, and attractions centred on cheese. Visitors can organise their stay around particular interests, focusing on heritage, landscapes and regional cheese.

The Château, viaduct and local history

The Château de Cléron was built by Humbert de Cléron in 1320. It stood on the historic salt road that passed through Cléron. This brings a specific building and a historic transport route together in one place. The Château gardens are open to visitors in summer.

The Viaduc de Cléron provides a later historical marker: built in 1910, it crosses the Loue and is located near the Château. The gap between the construction of the Château in 1320 and the viaduct in 1910 reveals two distinct periods of construction.

The Musée du Tacot et des Chemins de fer départementaux offers another perspective on the region’s history. It traces the history of narrow-gauge railways in the Doubs département and Franche-Comté from 1900 to 1953. Cléron church is also home to the statue “Saint Siméon tenant l'Enfant Jésus”.

Rocky landscapes and walking time

Cléron lies in the reculée de Norvaux, a rocky amphitheatre typical of the Jura massif. This gives the landscape a specific connection to the area, alongside its historic buildings.

The Boucle du Moine passes through nature protected as part of the Natura 2000 network. The route is listed as 24 kilometres long, with 300 metres of elevation gain and a walking time of seven hours. These figures give a clear indication of the time involved: the Boucle is considerably longer than the one-hour tour devoted to the cheeses of Franche-Comté.

Cheese and fun discoveries

Le Hameau du Fromage showcases cheese-making and exhibition galleries; the attractions also include a cheese tasting, a shop and regional products. A one-hour tour is devoted to the cheeses of Franche-Comté. Alongside the tour, the exhibition and tasting offer specific ways to explore the subject of cheese.

The Explor Games “Othylie et la Magie Noire” offers a tablet-based adventure game in Cléron. Its theme centres on a return to a school of magic in 1912. Geocaching offers a different kind of fun: discover Cléron by finding hidden objects or logbooks.

On the “Tacot tac” route, the road leads downhill to Cléron. From a preserved stone bridge, visitors can see the 14th-century Château.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rennes-Sur-Loue, Fournet-Blancheroche, Consolation-Maisonnettes, Rang, Charquemont, Montferrand-Le-Château, Hyèvre-Paroisse, Montenois.

For the main travel guide: Doubs.