Church art, cheese-making and circular hiking trails give a stay in La Chaux several different focuses. When planning, it helps to consider the trails’ connections to local places and the conditions for visiting separately: one circular trail starts in La Chaux-de-Gilley, another passes through La Chaux; cheese-making can be visited by prior reservation. There is also the view from Crêt Monniot and a small ski area whose seasonal operation may vary. You can prioritise culture, exercise, food and winter sports according to your interests.
Church art at Saint-Antide
The Saint-Antide parish church offers a clearly defined cultural point of interest. Its bell tower was built in 1828; this date refers to the tower, not the entire church. The parish church also features 29 statues and eight bas-reliefs. A bas-relief projects sculpturally from the background while remaining attached to the surface, unlike a free-standing statue. The construction date tells the story of the tower’s history, while the statues and bas-reliefs are additional features of its artistic decoration. If you are interested in architecture and religious art, Saint-Antide offers a specific reason to explore both aspects.
Circular trails and views at Crêt Monniot
Two circular hikes have different, clearly identifiable connections to local places. The “Crêt Monniot par la Chaux” circular trail starts in La Chaux-de-Gilley; the “Gilley de ce pas” circular hike passes through La Chaux. This answers two different questions when choosing a route: Is a particular starting point important to you, or are you looking for a trail whose route includes La Chaux? You can choose between the routes based on the connection to a place that matters to you.
Crêt Monniot reaches an elevation of 1,141 metres. Two orientation tables there offer views of the Jura Mountains, the Loue Valley and the surrounding plateaus; in clear weather, the Alps are also visible. The elevation indicates the summit’s height, while the tables identify specific features in the view. The Alps are subject to a separate condition: they are part of the panorama in clear weather. This lets you take the landscape information into account more precisely when planning, rather than assuming all distant views are equally certain.
Cheese-making by prior reservation
The Fruitière bio de la Chaux processes only organic milk. It makes Comté, Morbier, Raclette and the soft cheese “Petit Bio de La Chaux.” The product range may change; if a particular variety is important to you, check the current selection before your visit. If the fact that only organic milk is processed is also a key factor in your decision to visit, confirm this practice in advance. A tour of the cheese-making process is available by prior reservation. So book in advance if you would like to see how the cheese is made. For planning purposes, distinguish between two points: which products interest you and whether you have booked the tour in good time.
Plan for seasonal winter sports
The small La Chaux de Gilley – Cernay Blanche ski area has a drag lift providing access to three runs. Seasonal operation may vary. If skiing is a main reason for your trip, check the operating period before you travel. The drag lift and three runs describe the size of the ski area; for travel planning, it is also important to note that operation depends on the season. This sets it apart from the church and landscape features and makes the season a separate factor when choosing your stay.
Discover more destinations: Villars-Sous-Écot, Ornans, Rochejean, Montlebon, Pont-De-Roide, Buffard, Orchamps-Vennes, Bremondans
For the main travel overview: Doubs.
