Vermes in the Jura combines a striking landscape with natural history and church art. The Gabiare has carved the Gorges du Tiergarten into the limestone; the village lies in a widening of the valley at the northern foot of Mont Raimeux. A botanical trail, the Arche de Noé gallery and the Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul offer different highlights for a stay.

Landscape and local history

The former municipality of Vermes encompassed the Gabiare basin, the Tiergarten gorge and the northern slope of the Mont-Raimeux range. At its highest point within this former municipal area, the ridge reaches 1,241 m above sea level. Since 1 January 2013, Vermes has been part of the municipality of Val Terbi, formed by the merger of Vicques, Vermes and Montsevelier.

Church and wall paintings

The Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Vermes was built in 1723 on the foundations of a medieval chapel. It contains a cycle of Gothic wall paintings from the beginning of the 15th century, depicting episodes from the lives of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The building and the cycle of paintings therefore date from different periods: the paintings predate the church built in 1723, which stands on the foundations of a medieval chapel. The Swiss Confederation classifies the church as a historic monument.

Botanical trail and hike

The Sentier botanique Vermes is a one-kilometre educational trail with numerous information panels about the surrounding flora and fauna. It begins at the entrance to Vermes on the road from Vicques and leads to the Plain-Fayen pasture. There, a forest hut offers places to rest and picnic; there is also a small children’s playground with swings.

The Le Tiergarten hike also leads to Vermes. Behind the church, a hiking-trail marker points to the start of the Sentier botanique. This gives hikers a clear point of reference in the village.

Arche de Noé gallery

At the entrance to the Gorges of Vermes, the Arche de Noé gallery displays more than 3,000 taxidermied animals in natural-looking settings. Visitors interested in the work behind the specimens can learn about it in a short film or through a window into the workshop. The gallery is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Choosing what to explore

When deciding what to explore, it is worth noting the difference between the two natural-history attractions: the botanical trail teaches visitors about the local flora and fauna, while the gallery displays taxidermied animals and introduces the work of the taxidermist. The church offers a cultural and historical contrast, with its medieval foundations and Gothic cycle of paintings. This lets you decide whether the landscape, natural history or church art will be the highlight of your stay.

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