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A paradise for nature lovers, on the border between France and Switzerland, the Jura is an area of wild, green landscapes with a well preserved fauna and flora: rolling hills and forests reminiscent of Canada, lakes, deep rivers and gorges, peat land, steep cliffs, and farms and villages full of character… The Jura is also a renowned French mountain biking destination: Métabief and Prémanon are host to a variety of national and international MTB competitions and events.
Itinerary start: Rendezvous on the first day is at 9am at Pontarlier SNCF railway station.
On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Pontarlier.
Welcome to the land of the Green Fairy! The town of Pontarlier was the Absinthe capital in the 1920's. Pontarlier is a dynamic, tourist town on the border with Switzerland, boasting a rich past and history… For mountain bikers it's the gateway to a great area for riding! An unusual beast lives in the woods around the village of Vaux et Chantegrue: the "sanglier" (wild boar)… However, this one walks on two legs, talks, and sings! The “sanglier” is the name given to craftsmen who cut strips of spruce pine bark, which are then wrapped around the famous "Mont d'Or" cheese, giving it its unique flavour! Today’s route takes us towards the Lake Remoray Nature Reserve where we discover two lakes, with the Mont d'Or (1465 m) in the background. We finish the day in the village of Mouthe.
Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: 1000 m
We've got a great day of riding ahead of us. We take a last opportunity to appreciate the two lakes before we begin a climb to ride the Mont d'Or ridgelines. The alpine meadows are home to chamois and wallcreeper birds (Tichodroma), which we may be lucky enough to spot... The end of the day sees us tackle a 400 metre descent from the mountains to the town of Métabief on the downhill course that saw Nicolas Vouilloz become world champion. Welcome to Métabief!
Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Ascent: 1000 m
The beginning of the day’s ride sees us visit the village of Fourgs, high up in the Haut Doubs at 1100 metres above sea level, offering superb views of the surrounding Alps. We make a brief visit into Switzerland, where we discover an impressive peat bog that has collapsed into the earth. Our route then takes us through the narrow passage of the Château de Joux and Fort Malher, strategically placed to defend the area during the Middle Ages, before tackling a final descent that marks the end of our trip in Pontarlier.
Distance covered: approx. 40 km / Altitude gain: 500 m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: Separation on the last day is at Pontarlier SNCF railway station at around 4pm.
On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you in Pontarlier.
Itinerary start: Rendezvous on the first day is at 9am at Pontarlier SNCF railway station.
On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Pontarlier.
Leaving Pontarlier, we pass the Gallo Roman theatre, before heading into the vast forests of the Haut-Doubs. In the Vallée du Doubs, we make our way through some superb alpine prairies with views of the Doubs River, before leaving the Montagne du Larmont and heading towards the Rocher du Cerfs des Gras, overlooking the famous République du Saugeis… Our route takes us on to the Val de Morteau and our overnight stop in Le Chauffaud.
Distance covered: 45km / Altitude gain: 700m
We leave our gite for the day and head off to explore the deep gorges of the Saut du Doubs. On the border between France and Switzerland, we alternate riding on the left and right bank, mixing fun singletrack with sections of forest tracks. A short climb offers us views of the Doubs plains below, before we head to the Barrage du Chatelot, then on to the Saut du Doubs, a 33 metre high waterfall that marks the French-Swiss border. The first half of the day offers a fair amount of descending, but the afternoon finishes with a big climb. Fortunately our accommodation and welcome refreshment awaits us at the end of the day!
Distance covered: 45km / Altitude gain: 1100m
Today it's time to go and do some riding over the Swiss border ! A short climb takes us into Switzerland, and if the skies are clear offers us magical views of the northern Alps and the Neuchâtel Lake. Our route takes us along the pretty Lac des Taillères, then on to the summit of the Chasseron. We climb the Côte aux Fées before passing back into France at the village of Fourgs. The village becomes a hive of activity in winter as soon as the first snows arrive : downhill skiers, cross-country skiers dog sledders, and snowshoe walkers abound. Today's stage is the longest of the tour, but the distance is more than made up for by some superb scenery and views, as well as opportunities to discover the local culture.
Distance covered: 50km / Altitude gain: 1000m
A final stage along the shores of the Lac de Malbuisson on a fairly technical route which offers the chance to evaluate the progress made over the course of the 4 days. Our route then takes us through the narrow passage of the Château de Joux and the Fort Mahler, strategically placed to defend the area during the Middle Ages, before we tackle a final descent to Pontarlier and a well deserved aperitif…
Distance covered: 45km / Altitude gain: 800m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: Separation on the last day is at Pontarlier SNCF railway station at around 4pm.
On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you in Pontarlier.
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