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The Grande Traversée du Jura is a classic (and the first) French long-distance mountain bike route, crossing the Jura mountain range. Famous for its wild and preserved landscapes, it is a paradise for nature lovers on the border between France and Switzerland: rolling hills and forests reminiscent of Canada, lakes, deep rivers and gorges, peat land, steep limestone cliffs and quaint farms and villages… Our route takes us through the central part of the Jura mountains, from Pontarlier to the gorges of the Doubs, Métabief (a famous MTB destination), through the Regional Nature park of the High Jura to the tranquil city of Champagnole, where our tour ends. Expect very good trail riding, beautiful scenery and delicious cheese.
Itinerary start: Meeting on the first day is at 10am at Pontarlier SNCF railway station.
Welcome to the Land of the Green Fairy! Pontarlier, the capital of Absinthe in the 1920s, has managed to keep its reputation. A dynamic tourist town at the gateway to Switzerland, Pontarlier boasts a rich history... For us mountain bikers, it's also the gateway to a region that saw the birth of our favourite activity...!
The river Doubs will be our guiding light on this first stage. As soon as we leave Pontarlier, we'll be entering the republic of Saugeais, local authorities permitting. There's no need for a passport, although there is such a thing as folklore! A visit to Montbenoit Abbey will tell us a little more about this particular history, and about the famous Absinthe... Settling into a gîte for two nights.
Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: 1450 m
We leave our Chauffaud gîte for the day to devote this second stage to the steep gorges of the Saut du Doubs. Straddling the border between France and Switzerland, we successively criss-cross the banks, from left to right, alternating between beautiful playful sections and more challenging trails. A little effort propels us up the hillside overlooking the great basins of the Doubs, then we head for the Chatelot dam and its beautiful reservoir. Then there's the Saut du Doubs, a 33m waterfall marking the Franco-Swiss border. The day starts with a very good downhill section, but the afternoon ends with a slightly tough climb, but the gite is waiting for us at the end!
Distance covered: approx. 40 km / Ascent: 1200 m
This morning, we wake up to enjoy our longest stage of the trip. 75 km of breathtaking scenery. A complete stage, with the Chemin des Douaniers and the Creux du Van: ibexes, marmots and tichodromes have made their home in this former glacial cirque where nine zones of permafrost persist. Thirty to forty minutes of carrying your bike is required to reach the summit of the Haut Jura nature park. Fifteen twists and turns: be brave! We'll be rewarded for our efforts with a magnificent view of the northern Alps, including our beloved Mont Blanc at an altitude of 4,807 metres. We pass the foot of the Chasseron and the Aiguilles de Baulmes. Then comes Metabief, one of the Meccas of mountain biking since 1993, when the first official cross-country and downhill world championships were held in this exceptional site, which seems to have been tailor-made for mountain biking. Since then, the site has regularly hosted European and French championships.
Distance covered: approx. 75 km / Ascent: 2000 m
This morning, the chairlift (open in July and August only) will take us to the summit of Le Morond (1420 m). Otherwise, we'll have to push our calves to reach this viewpoint. The view of the Alps is breathtaking, with Mont Blanc at the end of our arms... The cliffs between Switzerland and France are home to a large fauna of chamois, birds of prey and ravens, as well as exceptional flora: nigritelles, soldanelles, large yellow gentians, spring flowers and orchids. It's a paradise for nature lovers. And mountain bikers, needless to say... We're in the heart of the Jura summer pastures, passing from farm to farm to plunge into the foothills of the Doubs and its peat bogs. On the Swiss side, we ride along the "Chemin des Gendarmes": small technical trails and picturesque paths through the Risoux forest to the village of Le Brassus, a charming little Swiss village at the foot of Lac de Joux and the Dent de Vaulion.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / Ascent: 1300 m
This is perhaps the most beautiful stage of our itinerary. On today's menu: lakes, mountains, the Alps, belvederes, single tracks, alpine farms, geology and glaciers, a cocktail surrounded by extraordinary scenery. Early (or late, depending on how you look at it), we skirt the glacial lakes of Joux. At the foot of the Dent de Vaulion, we begin our first ascent of the day. From our promontory at an altitude of 1482 metres, we discover 7 lakes between Switzerland and France. Mont Tendre (1678m) is not far away... Trails, forest paths and white tracks give us a new view of the Alps. An unforgettable panorama...
Further on, a diversion of a few kilometres through alpine vegetation, nestling in the heart of a limestone cavity: we're driving on an expanse of ice! A very important local economy before the arrival of the refrigerator...
The woods are far apart. We pass through the Emburnex and Couchant coombs, where marmots and capercaillie share a vast, peaceful territory.
We begin a descent through a maze of bumps and holes. What a delight!
Distance covered: approx. 55 km / Ascent: 1250 m
We switch to the French side. The border wall passes 2 remarkable points from which we overlook the Combe des Cives and the village of Chapelle des Bois. The Champion rock gives us a panoramic view of the two lakes in this region. The route is technical, with slabs and rocky passages. A great driving lesson in a dense coniferous forest. Next, we cross the Mont Noir to reach the Val Foncine. It's a lovely, never-ending descent... be careful not to miss the crossings! A final climb takes us to the Rouge Truite plateau.
Distance covered: approx. 65 km / Ascent: 1350 m
The shortest stage of our tour, and with good reason: the end of our trek is nigh. We take the old railway line down to Champagnole. This was the first electrified railway in the region. Here, timber was transported by train: the mechanism of modernity was launched... We travelled over bridges and tunnels, past waterfalls and gorges to complete our week. Lots of excitement before we put the bike away!
Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Ascent: 450 m
Itinerary end: Separation on the last day is at Pontarlier SNCF railway station at around 4pm.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
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