Lajoux is a village in the Canton of Jura where three educational trails begin at the post office in the village. Their different stops combine viewpoints with distinctive landscape features and traces of culture. If you are planning a stay, the themes of the trails can be a useful starting point: water and gorges, marshland, or an old Roman road.
Choose hiking trails by theme
The Sentier de l'eau offers panoramic views over the Franches-Montagnes. In the Les Beusses area, the Gorges du Miéry, with their potholes, and the Grotte de Lajoux are among the trail's stops. Viewpoint, gorge and cave sit side by side here, giving this trail a different character from the other two educational routes.
On the Sentier du fer, a fen and Les Rotschets, with its panoramic views, are notable points. The Sentier de la Chaux includes the Puits Willy and a peat bog. The Gouffre de Lajoux, also known as the Gouffre de Koby, is another feature in the BĂ©roie section. Grainvie, an old Roman road, is also a point of interest on this trail. You can choose according to the features that interest you: gorges and a cave, marshland and views, or a well, peat bog and old road. All three trails start at the same place, by the post office.
Karst and wooded pastures in the landscape
The municipality of Lajoux includes caves, caverns, swallow holes and natural dolines, or sinkholes. These terms refer to different forms of karst; together, they give a broader impression of the area's geological diversity than a single cave alone. These natural features are therefore a focus in their own right, alongside the named stops on the hiking trails.
The woodland landscape also has clearly distinct features. Bois-des-Joux is the only area in Lajoux that can still truly be described as a wooded pasture. Wooded pastures are also an essential part of the Franches-Montagnes' distinctive landscape. CĂ´te-d'Oye covers 18 hectares of woodland. A 99-year agreement was signed with the Swiss Confederation to establish a nature reserve, and CĂ´te-d'Oye became the first forest reserve in the Canton of Jura. Bois-des-Joux and CĂ´te-d'Oye thus represent two different aspects of the woodland landscape, and do not refer to the same thing.
Church, art and a local product
Lajoux church brings together several specific artistic and design features. Eight stained-glass windows created by Coghuf depict the life of Christ from his mother's perspective. Silvio Casagrande renovated and redesigned the church. The rough-stone altar and two wooden statues come from Bellelay. For travellers interested in art and church design, this is a place with both a distinct collection of works and connections to different artists and places of origin.
Bec sur Lajoux is a point of interest associated with the artist Denis Schneider. Another local connection comes from manufacturing: the Girolle® is still produced in Lajoux by Métafil-laGirolle SA, the company where it was invented. Since production status can change, it is advisable to check for current information if this is important to your travel plans.
More activities and route options
L'Équipe à Sugus runs a riding school in Lajoux and offers guided rides for up to seven people, as well as carriage rides for up to four people. These activities complement the hiking trails with another way to explore the surroundings. Service details may change; confirm the latest information before making plans.
If you are considering a hike with a destination outside Lajoux, you could look into the Balade en Courtine: it starts and ends in Lajoux and goes as far as Bellelay. This sets it apart from the choice of three educational trails, all of which start in the village by the post office. When looking for a hotel in Lajoux, it therefore helps to start by deciding whether you would like to focus your stay on the themed trails, the karst and woodland landscape, or the cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Les Bois, Montfaucon Ju, Les Enfers, Le BĂ©mont, Le Noirmont, La Chaux-des-Breuleux, Epauvillers, Les Genevez.
For the wider travel overview: Franches-Montagnes.
