Hiking

Jura Crest Trail
Stage 11, Les Rochats–Ste-Croix

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Jura Crest Trail
Stage 11, Les Rochats–Ste-Croix
Hiking up from Les Rochats to the Chasseron, look down over Lake Neuchâtel and, further south, Lake Geneva. More than 250 km of high mountain peaks can be seen on the horizon. Cross expansive pasturelands to reach the hometown of music boxes and nickelodeons.
The path plunges into the forest almost as soon as it begins. The Creux de la Pey domain is located at the first clearing. Walk across Jura meadows to Combaz, and then you climb a short way through the forest again. The path continues for about one and a half hours, with no major gradients, through more stretches of forest and Jura meadows. At La Cruchaude, you then start your ascent towards the Chasseron. You are still in the forest at the beginning, but the trees start to thin out after a little over 1,350 meters. On the other hand, the drystone walls are more prominent now – and with some luck, you will spot one or more chamois.
At an altitude of 1,607 meters, you have now reached the third highest peak in the Swiss Jura: the Chasseron. Hikers have Lake Neuchâtel at their feet, and Lake Geneva further to the south. As the backdrop, there is a series of Alpine peaks on the horizon, stretching for more than 250 kilometers. After the Chasseron, you descend along the crest past the Petites Roches to Les Avattes. From here, the hiking path switches to a forest road that takes you as far as Les Praises. You follow the last, lovely path, surrounded by old stands of trees, until you reach Sainte-Croix soon afterwards.
Sainte-Croix basks on a sunlit, sheltered terrace amid the scenery of the Vaud Jura. This place was made famous by Antoine Favre, the Geneva watchmaker who invented the music box here in 1796. From 1811 until the end of the 19th century, Sainte-Croix became the global centre for the manufacture of music boxes and music automatons. Nowadays, the CIMA museum (International Centre of Mechanical Art) exhibits a unique collection of these devices, and offers insights into the tradition of craftsmanship associated with them.
At an altitude of 1,607 meters, you have now reached the third highest peak in the Swiss Jura: the Chasseron. Hikers have Lake Neuchâtel at their feet, and Lake Geneva further to the south. As the backdrop, there is a series of Alpine peaks on the horizon, stretching for more than 250 kilometers. After the Chasseron, you descend along the crest past the Petites Roches to Les Avattes. From here, the hiking path switches to a forest road that takes you as far as Les Praises. You follow the last, lovely path, surrounded by old stands of trees, until you reach Sainte-Croix soon afterwards.
Sainte-Croix basks on a sunlit, sheltered terrace amid the scenery of the Vaud Jura. This place was made famous by Antoine Favre, the Geneva watchmaker who invented the music box here in 1796. From 1811 until the end of the 19th century, Sainte-Croix became the global centre for the manufacture of music boxes and music automatons. Nowadays, the CIMA museum (International Centre of Mechanical Art) exhibits a unique collection of these devices, and offers insights into the tradition of craftsmanship associated with them.
Hiking up from Les Rochats to the Chasseron, look down over Lake Neuchâtel and, further south, Lake Geneva. More than 250 km of high mountain peaks can be seen on the horizon. Cross expansive pasturelands to reach the hometown of music boxes and nickelodeons.
The path plunges into the forest almost as soon as it begins. The Creux de la Pey domain is located at the first clearing. Walk across Jura meadows to Combaz, and then you climb a short way through the forest again. The path continues for about one and a half hours, with no major gradients, through more stretches of forest and Jura meadows. At La Cruchaude, you then start your ascent towards the Chasseron. You are still in the forest at the beginning, but the trees start to thin out after a little over 1,350 meters. On the other hand, the drystone walls are more prominent now – and with some luck, you will spot one or more chamois.
At an altitude of 1,607 meters, you have now reached the third highest peak in the Swiss Jura: the Chasseron. Hikers have Lake Neuchâtel at their feet, and Lake Geneva further to the south. As the backdrop, there is a series of Alpine peaks on the horizon, stretching for more than 250 kilometers. After the Chasseron, you descend along the crest past the Petites Roches to Les Avattes. From here, the hiking path switches to a forest road that takes you as far as Les Praises. You follow the last, lovely path, surrounded by old stands of trees, until you reach Sainte-Croix soon afterwards.
Sainte-Croix basks on a sunlit, sheltered terrace amid the scenery of the Vaud Jura. This place was made famous by Antoine Favre, the Geneva watchmaker who invented the music box here in 1796. From 1811 until the end of the 19th century, Sainte-Croix became the global centre for the manufacture of music boxes and music automatons. Nowadays, the CIMA museum (International Centre of Mechanical Art) exhibits a unique collection of these devices, and offers insights into the tradition of craftsmanship associated with them.
At an altitude of 1,607 meters, you have now reached the third highest peak in the Swiss Jura: the Chasseron. Hikers have Lake Neuchâtel at their feet, and Lake Geneva further to the south. As the backdrop, there is a series of Alpine peaks on the horizon, stretching for more than 250 kilometers. After the Chasseron, you descend along the crest past the Petites Roches to Les Avattes. From here, the hiking path switches to a forest road that takes you as far as Les Praises. You follow the last, lovely path, surrounded by old stands of trees, until you reach Sainte-Croix soon afterwards.
Sainte-Croix basks on a sunlit, sheltered terrace amid the scenery of the Vaud Jura. This place was made famous by Antoine Favre, the Geneva watchmaker who invented the music box here in 1796. From 1811 until the end of the 19th century, Sainte-Croix became the global centre for the manufacture of music boxes and music automatons. Nowadays, the CIMA museum (International Centre of Mechanical Art) exhibits a unique collection of these devices, and offers insights into the tradition of craftsmanship associated with them.
Length
19 km
Ascent | Descent
780 m | 880 m
Hiking time
5 h 30 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton. Lend a hand by becoming a member in your canton.
Become a member
Aargauer Wanderwege
Dorfstrasse 7
5036 Oberentfelden
info@aargauer-wanderwege.ch
www.aargauer-wanderwege.ch