Hiking
Jura Crest Trail
Stage 15, Col du Marchairuz–St-Cergue
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Jura Crest Trail
Stage 15, Col du Marchairuz–St-Cergue
The trail leads through parkland-like landscape with scattered alpine huts and a lacework of kilometre-long dry stone walling, partly through a nature reserve established in 1972. It’s worth making a short stop to the ruins of the ancient monastery Oujon.
The Parc jurassien vaudois is a regional nature park covering about 100 km2. It extends across the wide crest of the first Jura chain, between the passes of the Col de la Givrine to the south-west and the Col du Mollendruz. The beautiful path from Marchairuz soon leads to the forest of the same name. This is followed by a wonderful plain about three-and-a-half kilometres long, bordered by dry-stone walls and the edge of the forest.
Just over a hundred metres higher up, we reach the Crêt de la Neuve. This is certainly the high point of the hike in terms of views: the panorama encompasses the full arc of Lake Geneva, Savoy south of the city, the Vaud Alps and the famous peak of Mont Blanc.
The gentle descent across flowering meadows and past Perroude du Vaud and Le Planet is enchanting. After Le Planet comes another beautiful vantage point, before a fairly steep descent on a forest path. Passing by Les Frasses, we leave the splendid meadows behind for about 45 minutes and continue on a forest road to the ruins of the Couvent d’Oujon, a former Carthusian monastery. The route crosses the last few Jura meadows and soon leads us along a paved road towards the centre of St-Cergue and the end of the stage.
Just over a hundred metres higher up, we reach the Crêt de la Neuve. This is certainly the high point of the hike in terms of views: the panorama encompasses the full arc of Lake Geneva, Savoy south of the city, the Vaud Alps and the famous peak of Mont Blanc.
The gentle descent across flowering meadows and past Perroude du Vaud and Le Planet is enchanting. After Le Planet comes another beautiful vantage point, before a fairly steep descent on a forest path. Passing by Les Frasses, we leave the splendid meadows behind for about 45 minutes and continue on a forest road to the ruins of the Couvent d’Oujon, a former Carthusian monastery. The route crosses the last few Jura meadows and soon leads us along a paved road towards the centre of St-Cergue and the end of the stage.
The trail leads through parkland-like landscape with scattered alpine huts and a lacework of kilometre-long dry stone walling, partly through a nature reserve established in 1972. It’s worth making a short stop to the ruins of the ancient monastery Oujon.
The Parc jurassien vaudois is a regional nature park covering about 100 km2. It extends across the wide crest of the first Jura chain, between the passes of the Col de la Givrine to the south-west and the Col du Mollendruz. The beautiful path from Marchairuz soon leads to the forest of the same name. This is followed by a wonderful plain about three-and-a-half kilometres long, bordered by dry-stone walls and the edge of the forest.
Just over a hundred metres higher up, we reach the Crêt de la Neuve. This is certainly the high point of the hike in terms of views: the panorama encompasses the full arc of Lake Geneva, Savoy south of the city, the Vaud Alps and the famous peak of Mont Blanc.
The gentle descent across flowering meadows and past Perroude du Vaud and Le Planet is enchanting. After Le Planet comes another beautiful vantage point, before a fairly steep descent on a forest path. Passing by Les Frasses, we leave the splendid meadows behind for about 45 minutes and continue on a forest road to the ruins of the Couvent d’Oujon, a former Carthusian monastery. The route crosses the last few Jura meadows and soon leads us along a paved road towards the centre of St-Cergue and the end of the stage.
Just over a hundred metres higher up, we reach the Crêt de la Neuve. This is certainly the high point of the hike in terms of views: the panorama encompasses the full arc of Lake Geneva, Savoy south of the city, the Vaud Alps and the famous peak of Mont Blanc.
The gentle descent across flowering meadows and past Perroude du Vaud and Le Planet is enchanting. After Le Planet comes another beautiful vantage point, before a fairly steep descent on a forest path. Passing by Les Frasses, we leave the splendid meadows behind for about 45 minutes and continue on a forest road to the ruins of the Couvent d’Oujon, a former Carthusian monastery. The route crosses the last few Jura meadows and soon leads us along a paved road towards the centre of St-Cergue and the end of the stage.
Length
17 km
Ascent | Descent
460 m | 860 m
Hiking time
4 h 35 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
Hints
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton.
Vaud Rando
Place Grand-St-Jean 2
1003 Lausanne
contact@vaud-rando.ch
www.vaud-rando.ch
