Verrières-de-Joux is a mountain village in a Jura valley between Pontarlier and Neuchâtel, on a route through the Val de Travers into Switzerland. The village offers two distinct perspectives for planning a trip: a circular hike with clearly defined details and a landscape ranging from forests to higher-altitude meadows and rocky outcrops. The Church of Saint-Sébastien and the history of the Sedis factory add to these attractions. You can therefore plan your stay around outdoor activities, architectural and industrial history, or a combination of these themes.
La Joux Verte: a circular hike with clearly defined details
The moderately difficult La Joux Verte circular hike is 7.2 kilometres long. It takes about two hours to walk, with an ascent and descent of 275 metres each. The route starts and ends at the Church of Saint-Sébastien. It passes through meadows and forests, lined with traditional farmhouses. Yellow and blue trail markers and signs identifying it as Route 11 mark the route; check the markers on site. As trail conditions can vary by season, checking conditions on the day of your visit is part of planning. The distance, approximate walking time and elevation gain help you assess the route as a distinct hike, rather than deciding based only on the number of kilometres. Starting and ending at the church also connects this specific route with a historic village landmark.
Forests, uplands and flowers
Forests cover a third of the area of the municipality of Verrières-de-Joux; the forested area has doubled over the past century. The higher parts of the municipality feature species-poor meadows, rocky outcrops and hamlets, with views of Chasseron and the Alps. Rare flowers found within the municipality include marsh gentian and blue polemonium; their visibility depends on the season. One useful distinction when choosing a focus is that La Joux Verte is defined by its distance, approximate walking time and elevation gain, while the higher municipal areas encompass meadows, rocky outcrops, hamlets and views. This places a specific circular hike alongside a broader perspective on the landscape as different aspects of a stay.
Activities in the forest and snow
The forests and woodland can be explored by mountain bike, on foot, on skis or on snowshoes. Biathl’ON Xplore offers biathlon in Verrières-de-Joux. In winter, the activity takes place on cross-country skis or snowshoes; when there is no snow, it takes place on foot or on roller skis. Cross-country skiing lessons are also available for all ability levels, from beginner to advanced. These offerings can be chosen based on different considerations: the biathlon format depends on snow conditions, while the range of ability levels covered is a clear guide to the cross-country skiing lessons.
Church and industrial history
The origins of the Church of Saint-Sébastien date back to the 18th century; it was completed in 1756. Inside are a carved, gilded wooden altarpiece for the high altar, made by Maire-Sébille and Gaillard in Les Fourgs in 1756, and an 18th-century pulpit. Its pulpit box is polygonal; the paintwork imitates light-coloured wood. The church is also the starting and finishing point of La Joux Verte. This means it can be considered both a cultural attraction in its own right and a landmark along the circular hike.
Another chapter in the village’s history is the Sedis factory. The Société anonyme des Établissements Mécaniques de Verrières-de-Joux, known as the Sedis factory, was founded in 1919; the factory itself was established in 1920 or 1921. It initially manufactured hand tools such as adjustable wrenches, then later switched to producing bicycle chains. The shift between these types of manufacturing gives the village’s industrial history a concrete dimension without reducing it to a single product.
Discover more destinations: Marchaux, Rochejean, Sochaux, Dampierre-les-Bois, Le Russey, Montbeliardot, Bonnay, Orchamps-Vennes.
For the broader travel overview: Doubs.
