Verrières-de-Joux: Hiking, Landscapes and Cultural Heritage

Verrières-de-Joux is a mountain village in a Jura valley between Pontarlier and Neuchâtel. The village lies on a route through the Val de Travers into Switzerland. Two themes can help you plan a trip: the La Joux Verte circular hike and the local cultural heritage. If you are looking for a hotel in Verrières-de-Joux, you can first decide whether hiking, landscapes or history will be the main focus of your stay.

Landscapes between forests and pastures

One third of the municipality is forested; the forest area has doubled over the past century. The La Joux Verte route is a circular trail through meadows and forests lined with traditional farms. On the higher parts of the municipality, species-poor meadows, rocky outcrops and hamlets alternate. From there, you can enjoy views of the Chasseron and the Alps. Rare flowers found in the municipality include Koch’s gentian and blue polemonium. Their visibility varies by season. The landscape therefore includes not only forests but also open areas, scattered settlements and distant views.

La Joux Verte: circular hike starting at the church

The moderately challenging La Joux Verte circular hike is 7.2 kilometres long and takes about two hours on foot. Both the ascent and descent involve 275 metres of elevation gain. The start and finish are at Saint-Sébastien Church in Verrières-de-Joux. The route is marked in yellow and blue and signposted as Route 11. This makes it easy to assess the key details when planning your day: the distance, approximate walking time and elevation gain each indicate something different about the scope of the hike. Trail conditions may vary by season; check the signage on site.

Activities on foot and in winter

The forests and woodland areas of Verrières-de-Joux can be explored by mountain bike, on foot, on skis or on snowshoes. Biathl'ON Xplore offers biathlon in the municipality: in winter, the activity takes place on cross-country skis or snowshoes, and when there is no snow, on foot or roller skis. Cross-country skiing lessons are also available for all ability levels, from beginner to advanced. The options therefore differ depending on snow conditions and activity: several variations are offered for biathlon, while the lessons focus on cross-country skiing.

Saint-Sébastien Church and industrial history

The origins of Saint-Sébastien Church date back to the 18th century; it was completed in 1756. Inside is a carved and gilded wooden altarpiece for the high altar, made by Maire-Sébille and Gaillard in Les Fourgs in 1756. The pulpit also dates from the 18th century. Its pulpit basket is polygonal, and its paintwork imitates light-coloured wood. The two furnishings showcase different examples of the church’s craftsmanship.

The Sedis factory is also part of the village’s history. The Société anonyme des Établissements Mécaniques de Verrières-de-Joux was founded in 1919; the factory was built in 1920 or 1921. Initially, it made hand tools such as adjustable wrenches, before later switching production to bicycle chains. The company’s founding, the construction of the factory and the change in production mark distinct stages: the company was established before the factory, and production subsequently evolved from tools to bicycle chains.

Discover more destinations: École-Valentin, Consolation-Maisonnettes, Les Grangettes, Loray, Vuillecin, Bonnétage, Voujeaucourt, Valentigney.

For the broader travel overview: Doubs.