In Le Chenit, watchmaking and the landscape have a special relationship: in Le Sentier and Le Brassus, exhibitions focus on watchmaking, while the Risoud offers a different perspective on instrument-making with its educational trail about resonance wood. Activities at Lac de Joux include hiking and seasonal pursuits. When planning your visit, it is worth choosing your main focus first—culture, a longer walk or winter sports.

Watchmaking in Le Sentier and Le Brassus

The Espace Horloger is located in a former watchmaking factory in Le Sentier. Two permanent exhibitions explore the history of watchmaking and the history of the Vallée de Joux. The site thus connects the development of a craft with the valley you are exploring.

The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus takes a different approach: its public visitor experience explores the brand’s cultural past, present and future. Nearly 300 watches are on display. Visitors can watch watchmakers and craftspeople at work in transparent workshops. The two museums therefore offer different perspectives: the Espace Horloger places watchmaking alongside the history of the valley, while the Musée Atelier focuses on a brand and the work involved in making watches. Exhibitions may change, so if you are particularly interested in specific pieces, check what is currently on display.

Resonance wood and trails in the Risoud

The educational trail about resonance wood starts at Les Grandes Roches and is six kilometres long. Eleven information panels explain the properties of the wood used to make musical instruments. Resonance wood from the Risoud is included on the Canton of Vaud’s list of intangible cultural heritage and is valued by instrument makers. The trail thus combines a specific route with a material whose significance extends beyond the forest into instrument-making.

The season determines how you can explore the trail: in the warmer months, it is accessible on foot; in winter, on cross-country skis. Weather and trail conditions can change, so check them before your visit. Les Grandes Roches is also a major cross-country skiing area, with an extensive network of forest trails in the Risoud. The connection with this sport also has a historical dimension: cross-country skiing events were held there at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games. This refers to a past event, not to a claim that it is held there today.

Hiking, winter sports and the lake

If you are looking for a longer hike, you can set off from Le Sentier on the Tour du Lac de Joux. The route initially follows the Orbe for just under two kilometres. After nearly 22 kilometres, it reaches L’Orient, then follows the Orbe back to the starting point. This makes a 25-kilometre circular route. It is a different scale from the six-kilometre educational trail in the Risoud; the distances help distinguish the two hiking options.

Winter sports also offer several options. In L’Orient, there is a floodlit alpine ski slope and a rail park with twelve features, allowing visitors to ski into the night. In periods of severe frost, Lac de Joux can occasionally turn into a large sheet of ice. At Rocheray Beach in Le Sentier, people then use it for ice skating and walking. Follow local guidance on whether the lake has been declared safe for use.

At the lake, the Ski Nautique et Wakeboard Club du lac de Joux offers wakeboarding and water skiing, including baby skiing, a jump ramp and a timed slalom course. Reservations are recommended. This is another activity on the water, regardless of whether winter turns the lake into a sheet of ice.

More ideas for your stay

For an indoor activity, Accro’Indoor is located at the Centre Sportif Vallée de Joux in Le Sentier: the adventure course is set in the structure of the ice rink. Availability may vary from person to person. The same sports centre has a wellness area with a sauna, hammam and outdoor hot tub; check whether these facilities are currently available before your visit.

Travel connections may also be worth considering: a direct train connects Le Brassus with Vevey once an hour. Timetables are subject to change, so check the connection before travelling.

For an overview of the wider travel region: Northern Vaud Jura.