Mountainbiking
Le Pont
L'Abbaye
Le Pont
Le Pont lies at the northern end of Lac de Joux and also close to tiny Lac Brenet. The Vallée de Joux with its long tradition of watchmaking is a world of its own nestling in austere, untouched nature between two Jura chains.
No stream leaves the north-west lower end of the Lac de Joux, the largest lake in the Jura massif. Only a tiny rivulet flows from Lac de Joux into the tiny neighbouring Lac Brenet. The two lakes near Le Pont have no outlets above ground; the water seeps away in the karst substratum. Not until two kilometres further on at Vallorbe, does the little Orbe stream first rise from the ground again: This «Grotte de l'Orbe» is a spacious karst cave with a circuit path and a mineral exhibition.
Le Pont at 1012 m altitude belongs to the municipality of L'Abbaye. The two villages are the most northern on the Col du Mollendruz (1180 m altitude), which links the Vallée de Joux with L'Isle and Cossonay in the Lausanne hinterland.
The Col du Mollendruz forms the north-eastern end of the «Parc jurassien vaudois», a large nature park on the foremost crest of the Canton Vaud Jura. Here hikers find a park-like landscape with colourful flower-filled meadows and extensive woodland areas , repeatedly affording fantastic views of Lac Léman and the Savoy Alps e.g. from Mont Tendre. Educational nature trails and excursions lead through the park.
The Lac de Joux at 1000 m altitude is the largest area of water in the Jura massif. Famous for its favourable winds, it is a magnet for keen windsurfers and yachtsmen and also for other water-sport lovers and swimmers. There is even a scheduled boat service from Le Pont in summer. The lake nestles in an enclosed high valley, resulting in climatic conditions that practically guarantee the lake will freeze over in winter - to the delight of hundreds of ice skaters. The austere landscape is also very popular with winter walkers, snowshoe trekkers and cross-country skiers. The Vallée de Joux offers downhill skiers a small skiing area: L'Abbaye has four skilifts and Le Brassus and L'Orient each have three.
Le Pont at 1012 m altitude belongs to the municipality of L'Abbaye. The two villages are the most northern on the Col du Mollendruz (1180 m altitude), which links the Vallée de Joux with L'Isle and Cossonay in the Lausanne hinterland.
The Col du Mollendruz forms the north-eastern end of the «Parc jurassien vaudois», a large nature park on the foremost crest of the Canton Vaud Jura. Here hikers find a park-like landscape with colourful flower-filled meadows and extensive woodland areas , repeatedly affording fantastic views of Lac Léman and the Savoy Alps e.g. from Mont Tendre. Educational nature trails and excursions lead through the park.
The Lac de Joux at 1000 m altitude is the largest area of water in the Jura massif. Famous for its favourable winds, it is a magnet for keen windsurfers and yachtsmen and also for other water-sport lovers and swimmers. There is even a scheduled boat service from Le Pont in summer. The lake nestles in an enclosed high valley, resulting in climatic conditions that practically guarantee the lake will freeze over in winter - to the delight of hundreds of ice skaters. The austere landscape is also very popular with winter walkers, snowshoe trekkers and cross-country skiers. The Vallée de Joux offers downhill skiers a small skiing area: L'Abbaye has four skilifts and Le Brassus and L'Orient each have three.
Highlights
- Vacherin Mont-d'Or – a typical soft cheese, mainly produced in dairies in the Vallée de Joux and only during winter.
- Juraparc Mont d'Orzeires – halfway between the Vallée de Joux and Vallorbe, American bison, bears and wolves can be observed in spacious enclosures.
- Naturschutzgebiet Parc Jurassien Vaudois – impressive nature reserve and wonderful hiking area on the first Jura chain between Lac Léman and Vallée de Joux.
- Fort de Vallorbe, fortifications Pré Giroud - what looks like a small chalet from the outside turns out to be an underground fortification complex from World War II.
- Vallorbe karst caves – the underground outlet from Lac de Joux has created spectacular karst caves. With an exhibition of minerals from all over the world.
Le Pont lies at the northern end of Lac de Joux and also close to tiny Lac Brenet. The Vallée de Joux with its long tradition of watchmaking is a world of its own nestling in austere, untouched nature between two Jura chains.
No stream leaves the north-west lower end of the Lac de Joux, the largest lake in the Jura massif. Only a tiny rivulet flows from Lac de Joux into the tiny neighbouring Lac Brenet. The two lakes near Le Pont have no outlets above ground; the water seeps away in the karst substratum. Not until two kilometres further on at Vallorbe, does the little Orbe stream first rise from the ground again: This «Grotte de l'Orbe» is a spacious karst cave with a circuit path and a mineral exhibition.
Le Pont at 1012 m altitude belongs to the municipality of L'Abbaye. The two villages are the most northern on the Col du Mollendruz (1180 m altitude), which links the Vallée de Joux with L'Isle and Cossonay in the Lausanne hinterland.
The Col du Mollendruz forms the north-eastern end of the «Parc jurassien vaudois», a large nature park on the foremost crest of the Canton Vaud Jura. Here hikers find a park-like landscape with colourful flower-filled meadows and extensive woodland areas , repeatedly affording fantastic views of Lac Léman and the Savoy Alps e.g. from Mont Tendre. Educational nature trails and excursions lead through the park.
The Lac de Joux at 1000 m altitude is the largest area of water in the Jura massif. Famous for its favourable winds, it is a magnet for keen windsurfers and yachtsmen and also for other water-sport lovers and swimmers. There is even a scheduled boat service from Le Pont in summer. The lake nestles in an enclosed high valley, resulting in climatic conditions that practically guarantee the lake will freeze over in winter - to the delight of hundreds of ice skaters. The austere landscape is also very popular with winter walkers, snowshoe trekkers and cross-country skiers. The Vallée de Joux offers downhill skiers a small skiing area: L'Abbaye has four skilifts and Le Brassus and L'Orient each have three.
Le Pont at 1012 m altitude belongs to the municipality of L'Abbaye. The two villages are the most northern on the Col du Mollendruz (1180 m altitude), which links the Vallée de Joux with L'Isle and Cossonay in the Lausanne hinterland.
The Col du Mollendruz forms the north-eastern end of the «Parc jurassien vaudois», a large nature park on the foremost crest of the Canton Vaud Jura. Here hikers find a park-like landscape with colourful flower-filled meadows and extensive woodland areas , repeatedly affording fantastic views of Lac Léman and the Savoy Alps e.g. from Mont Tendre. Educational nature trails and excursions lead through the park.
The Lac de Joux at 1000 m altitude is the largest area of water in the Jura massif. Famous for its favourable winds, it is a magnet for keen windsurfers and yachtsmen and also for other water-sport lovers and swimmers. There is even a scheduled boat service from Le Pont in summer. The lake nestles in an enclosed high valley, resulting in climatic conditions that practically guarantee the lake will freeze over in winter - to the delight of hundreds of ice skaters. The austere landscape is also very popular with winter walkers, snowshoe trekkers and cross-country skiers. The Vallée de Joux offers downhill skiers a small skiing area: L'Abbaye has four skilifts and Le Brassus and L'Orient each have three.
Highlights
- Vacherin Mont-d'Or – a typical soft cheese, mainly produced in dairies in the Vallée de Joux and only during winter.
- Juraparc Mont d'Orzeires – halfway between the Vallée de Joux and Vallorbe, American bison, bears and wolves can be observed in spacious enclosures.
- Naturschutzgebiet Parc Jurassien Vaudois – impressive nature reserve and wonderful hiking area on the first Jura chain between Lac Léman and Vallée de Joux.
- Fort de Vallorbe, fortifications Pré Giroud - what looks like a small chalet from the outside turns out to be an underground fortification complex from World War II.
- Vallorbe karst caves – the underground outlet from Lac de Joux has created spectacular karst caves. With an exhibition of minerals from all over the world.
Arrival and return Le Pont
Adresse
Vallée de Joux Tourisme
Centre Sportif
1347 Le Chenit
Tel. +41 (0)21 845 17 77
info@valleedejoux.ch
www.myvalleedejoux.ch
Centre Sportif
1347 Le Chenit
Tel. +41 (0)21 845 17 77
info@valleedejoux.ch
www.myvalleedejoux.ch