Château de Joux defines the historic side of La Cluse-et-Mijoux. You can explore it on a guided tour or independently via a discovery trail. The château is also a memorial site associated with the imprisonment and death of Toussaint Louverture. Since 2004, it has been the first stop on the Route des abolitions de l’esclavage in eastern France. The combination of its memorial function and its connection to the route commemorating the abolition of slavery gives the site a clear historical focus. Château de Joux was designated a Monument historique by decree dated 18 July 1996.
Churches, chapels and Fort Malher
The local religious buildings add a range of construction and furnishing dates to this historical focus. Construction of the Church of Saint-Pierre de la Cluse began in 1698 and was completed 36 years later. Its carved, polychrome and gilded wood furnishings, including statues, are noteworthy. Notre-Dame de Montpetôt Chapel was founded in 1626; Mijoux Chapel dates from 1705 and has an 18th-century altarpiece. Saint-Léger Chapel is distinguished by its characteristic roof, which resembles an imperial roof; it is believed to be the oldest of the local oratories. Fort Malher was built between 1843 and 1851. Together, these dates place the local religious buildings and Fort Malher within a history of construction spanning from the founding of a chapel to the 19th century.
Hiking routes in La Cluse-et-Mijoux
Several named routes pass through La Cluse-et-Mijoux for hikers: the GR5, the Sentier Pédestre de l’Absinthe and the Grande Traversée du Jura à pied. If you prefer to plan a cycling route, you can consider the Grande Traversée du Jura Cyclo, which also passes through the municipality. One clearly measured option is the moderately difficult PR loop “La Cluse et le Château de Joux”: it is 11.6 kilometres long and takes about three hours. At Fort Malher, the Sentier Pédestre de l’Absinthe follows a short out-and-back route from the road to a viewpoint. This gives you a choice between a circular route with a stated distance and approximate duration, and a short walk to a named viewpoint.
Wetlands, cliffs and viewpoints
The landscape is also defined by specific habitats and viewpoints. The Bords du Doubs à la Cluse include wetlands in the valleys on either side of Château de Joux. Dry grasslands and ravine forests can be found on the surrounding cliffs and slopes of the Bords du Doubs à la Cluse. The Point de Vue du Fer à Cheval offers a view of the Doubs valley. A ZNIEFF I zone includes the Plateau du Gérot and the promontory of Château de Joux. In addition, a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation protects the château grounds and the surrounding slopes, cliffs and rocky outcrops.
Discover more destinations: Pierrefontaine-les-Varans, Bonnay, Hauterive-La-Fresse, Mouthier-Haute-Pierre, Bremondans, Geneuille, Les Combes, Consolation-Maisonnettes
For the broader travel overview: Doubs.
