Discover Les Planches En Montagne

Les Planches En Montagne combines hiking routes with a landscape shaped by water, geology and history. This is particularly evident in the Langouette Gorges, which are associated with legends and history. Different route lengths and difficulty ratings are available to help you plan your outings: La Montagne Ronde is rated easy, while the “Eaux vives, Eaux dormantes / Langouette” circular hike is rated difficult. The cultural themes also extend beyond the landscape, exploring earlier uses of water.

The Langouette Gorges and the Saine

The Langouette Gorges form a 47-metre-deep canyon shaped by the Saine. Potholes, water steps and cascades characterize this landscape. The “Eaux vives, Eaux dormantes / Langouette” route follows the Saine past waterfalls, deep gorges and small lakes. This route therefore focuses on different forms of waterscapes, not just a single viewpoint.

Those interested in the cultural interpretation of the site will also find connections to legends and history in the gorges. Along the Sentier des cascades et gorges de la Langouette, six information panels explain the themes of water, geology and built heritage. This adds context about the site’s natural and cultural themes to the view of the terrain.

Compare hikes by length and difficulty

La Montagne Ronde is a 4.9-kilometre hiking route in Les Planches-en-Montagne, rated easy. It starts and ends at Le Martinet. These details provide a useful guide if you would like to include a shorter route with an easy rating in your plans.

The “Eaux vives, Eaux dormantes / Langouette” circular hike offers a different option: it is 9.8 kilometres long, rated difficult and listed as taking 2.5 hours. It is twice as long as La Montagne Ronde, and its difficulty is also rated differently. The route is part of the Échappée Jurassienne trails. Check current trail conditions before setting out, as they can change.

The “Entre Saine et Lemme” route passes through Les Planches-en-Montagne and connects the Morillon rocks, the Langouette Gorges and the Prés Grillet viewpoint. It offers another named connection between scenic locations. The route details, length and difficulty can help you choose between the hikes; it would not be appropriate to apply the ratings for one hike generally to another.

Nature and traces of earlier water use

Along the “Eaux vives, Eaux dormantes / Langouette” route is the protected Forêt du Paradis biotope area, which also includes the municipality of Les Planches-en-Montagne. This protected area is one aspect of the landscape, alongside the water features described along the route. The hike also explores the historical use of water: it once powered mills, sawmills, forges and eyeglass workshops. This context concerns uses in the past and highlights the connection between water and regional work.

The existing car park at the Langouette site has been expanded and renovated to help visitors find their way around. It has dry toilets that are accessible year-round. Check the current condition of the facilities before your visit. This allows you to plan your practical starting point and the themes of your stay in Les Planches En Montagne separately.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Amour, Mournans-Charbonny, Baume-Les-Messieurs, Poligny, Maynal, Molamboz, Plasne, Charézier.

For the broader travel overview: Jura.