Montézillon is a settlement in Rochefort on the southern slope of Les Pommerets, at an altitude of about 758 m. A visit can combine hiking with an insight into the biodynamic farm L’Aubier. The trails vary considerably: alongside a walk of about an hour, there are routes with stated distances and elevation differences, as well as a full-day tour that ends in Montézillon.

Hikes with different route profiles

The Montézillon–Montézillon loop is a walk of about an hour near L’Aubier. Another hike leads from Montézillon to Auvernier, through forests and vineyards to the lake. This gives you a choice between a walk with an approximate duration and a route described by its sequence of landscapes.

The hike from Montézillon to La Tourne is listed as 7 km long, with 600 m of elevation gain. The loop via Montézillon, Chambrelien and Rochefort, returning to Montézillon, is 9 km long and has an elevation difference of 250 m. The full-day tour from Les Hauts-Geneveys to Montézillon covers 15 km, with 700 m of ascent and 900 m of descent. These figures indicate different route lengths and elevation profiles; the 15 km tour is explicitly described as a full-day tour.

The municipal routes also differ in their grading and course. The TransRochefort “East–West” route starts at the Abri PC Est in Montézillon, is rated moderate, and can also be cycled by mountain bike. The route “Forêt Montezillon,” rated easy, leads from the Rochefort cemetery via Montézillon and back to the cemetery. The named routes can therefore be distinguished by their stated difficulty ratings and starting and ending points.

Ferme de L’Aubier and regional cuisine

The biodynamic farm Ferme de L’Aubier covers 40 ha and stretches from Montézillon to the Col de la Tourne at an altitude of 1,200 m. The farm is home to dairy cows, a bull, heifers, calves and pigs. Visits to L’Aubier’s Ferme-Fromagerie are possible by contacting the farm in advance; advance contact is also required to visit L’Aubier’s Demeter cheese dairy.

The connection with the farm continues in the kitchen: Restaurant L’Aubier sources most of its beef, veal and pork from the biodynamic farm. The one-day seminars offered as “Les Samedis de L’Aubier” are open to everyone; breaks, drinks and lunch at the restaurant are included. For orientation on site: the L’Aubier shop is on the same level as the restaurant, right next to the hotel reception.

Rochefort and the surrounding landscape

In the surrounding area, Rochefort lies on the southern slope of the Jura and high above Lake Neuchâtel, about 9 km as the crow flies west of Neuchâtel. The municipality includes the Merdasson Valley, the Areuse Gorge and the Jura high pastures near La Tourne. Around the La Tourne pass, extensive high pastures are dotted with characteristic, imposing spruce trees. These details relate to the wider municipal area and help place Montézillon in its landscape setting.

A road connection is also described for this municipality: it leads from France to Neuchâtel via Val-de-Travers. The tours themselves provide a more concrete basis for planning your time: from the loop taking about an hour, through the hikes with stated distances, to the full-day tour to Montézillon. If you would also like to plan a farm visit, contact L’Aubier in advance.

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