Vauffelin is part of the municipality of Sauge in the Bernese Jura administrative district of the Canton of Bern. The village lies at an elevation of about 707 metres above sea level and around seven kilometres northeast of Biel as the crow flies. High-stem orchards and dry pastures give the landscape a distinctive character; village history, a walk through the village and the DTC Dynamic Test Center offer further points of interest when planning your stay.
Meadows, pastures and orchards
At Les Prés-Dieu, high-stem orchards shape the landscape of Vauffelin. South of the village, this heritage of fruit trees is still well preserved; renewal measures were carried out between 2008 and 2021. Aerial photographs from 1937 and 1956 show high-stem orchards forming a belt of trees around Vauffelin. The landscape can therefore be viewed both in its described present-day form and in light of its earlier structure.
The «Droit de Vauffelin» wooded pasture in the municipality of Sauge covers about 35 hectares. Of this area, 17 hectares are included in the Swiss Federal Inventory of Dry Meadows and Pastures of National Importance. There are also dry meadows and pastures east of Vauffelin, home to an exceptional diversity of plant and animal species. Those interested in nature and cultural landscapes will find different facets here: a named pasture area, inventoried sections and species-rich dry habitats.
Hiking and views
The hike «Au-dessus des pâturages jurassiens à la frontière linguistique» passes through Romont and Vauffelin on its way to Plagne. On this route, Vauffelin is one stop in the sequence of villages between Romont and Plagne. For a different perspective, visit the Prés de la Montagne viewpoint above Plagne: from there, you can look out over Vauffelin and see the Bernese and Central Swiss Alps. The route through the village and the viewpoint offer different ways to experience the landscape.
Village history and architecture
Excavations on the grounds of the Temple de Vauffelin uncovered remains of three successive medieval churches. The present-day church of Vauffelin was built in 1715, reusing older walls. Archaeological traces of several earlier churches and the construction of the present church offer different insights into the village’s history. As of 1 January 2026, the Reformed church is listed in the Canton of Bern’s Cultural Property Protection Inventory under «Sauge (Vauffelin)» as a Category B object.
A statue honouring Elise Benoit-Huguelet (1820–1906) stands in the village square. A row of old farmhouses lines the main road. The village’s political history is also connected with Sauge: Vauffelin was an independent political municipality until 2000, when it merged with Plagne to form the municipality of Sauge. Those interested in architecture and local history can thus consider historic traces, public monuments and the municipality’s development together.
The DTC and getting there
The DTC Dynamic Test Center offers driving safety courses on its test track in Vauffelin. The exercises include acceleration, braking and fast cornering. The test site can also be used for group events. Visitor parking is available in front of the site. These activities make the DTC a destination in its own right, alongside the landscape and village history.
Bus line 71 runs several times a day directly from Biel railway station to the Dynamic Test Center in Vauffelin. Vauffelin is also served by bus lines 70 and 71; rail connections are available in Frinvillier. For your specific journey, it is worth checking the timetable for the connection you need. This lets you choose between the direct bus to the test centre and the other transport connections mentioned.
For the wider travel overview: Bern.
