At Étang de la Gruère, a marked circular trail leads around a pond in a nature reserve of national importance. The protected area covers more than 120 hectares, including a 56-hectare peat bog. The circular route is 2.8 kilometres long and takes just under an hour on foot—a useful guide to how much time to allow for this visit to nature.
The pond also tells a story of earlier use: in the 17th century, an artificial dam was built there to power a mill. Nature and history meet here, but the site is more than just the story of its origins. If you’d like to learn more about Étang de la Gruère, you can book a guided tour through Centre Nature Les Cerlatez. Check booking and operating details before your trip.
Étang de la Gruère is accessible by bus route B32 between Saignelégier and Tramelan. Possible stops are listed as Saignelégier, La Theurre, and Saignelégier, Moulin de Gruère. Check current operating details before setting out.
High plateau, pastures and trails
The Franches-Montagnes district lies in the canton of Jura, Switzerland. In the broader region, the landscape forms a high plateau in the Jura covering around 200 square kilometres, at an average elevation of around 1,000 metres above sea level. The terrain is gently rolling and includes fir and spruce forests, wooded pastures, meadows and fields separated by dry-stone walls. You’ll encounter this landscape on the Franches-Montagnes Tour mountain-bike circuit, which passes through forests and green meadows and along numerous dry-stone walls.
For exploring on horseback, guided rides and visits to horse-breeding farms are offered in Franches-Montagnes. Another option is Attelage du Terroir in Les Bois, where you can discover the landscape on a horse-drawn wagon or carriage. The ride also includes a culinary experience: fondue is prepared and served on a wagon pulled by two Franches-Montagnes horses.
Equestrian culture and regional discoveries
Franches-Montagnes is considered the birthplace of the Franches-Montagnes horse, the only horse breed of Swiss origin. The subject is presented in various ways: Le cheval des Franches-Montagnes is a didactic, interactive exhibition about the horse. In Saignelégier, the Marché-Concours national de chevaux is considered the most important event in the canton of Jura; every year it attracts tens of thousands of spectators. Check dates and the programme separately when planning your visit.
Crafts and food can also be explored in different ways. At Initium’s workshop in Le Noirmont, visitors assemble a mechanical watch together with a local master watchmaker; check booking arrangements before your trip. The Fromagerie de Saignelégier offers guided tours about the production of Tête de Moine AOP, followed by a cheese tasting. Visits are available on request; check the arrangements in advance. The Fromagerie des Franches-Montagnes offers a different focus: interactive games introduce traditional cheesemaking knowledge, followed by tastings of cheese and other regional products.
Two museums with different focuses offer glimpses into ways of life in the past. The Musée rural jurassien is housed in a large, two-part farmhouse dating from the 16th century, with a shingle roof and a hipped roof. It shows the former living conditions of two farming families and offers insight into rural life in centuries past. The Musée du Ski – Le Boéchet is located in the former restaurant at Le Boéchet railway station. Its permanent exhibition uses two timelines to show the development of alpine and Nordic skiing. Guided tours are available on request and last between one and one and a half hours.
Another way to discover the landscape is through wind energy: the educational trail at Peuchapatte offers insights into wind energy, the wind and the Franches-Montagnes region. The region’s attractions thus bring together nature, equestrian culture, crafts and history, without requiring you to focus on just one theme.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Les Breuleux, Les Enfers, Le Noirmont, Montfaucon Ju, Saignelégier, Le Bémont, Epauvillers, Les Bois, Muriaux, Les Genevez, Lajoux, La Chaux-des-Breuleux.
Return to the main travel overview: Jura.
