Les Verrières: Village History, Hiking and Winter Sports

Les Verrières combines an unusually long village with opportunities for hiking and winter sports. The village lies at an average altitude of 950 metres; the mountains reach about 1,200 metres. Mont des Verrières lies to the south, and Les Cernets to the north of the village. Les Verrières is also on the French-Swiss border. These geographical landmarks give you a first sense of direction as you choose between village history, hiking trails and winter activities.

Village Layout and History

Le Grand-Bourgeau forms the main part of the municipality and is an unusually long, continuous linear village. Les Verrières is considered the longest linear village in the region; its settlement typology is particularly valuable. The valley’s history of occupations is also part of the local landscape: in the 18th and 19th centuries, lace-making and watchmaking became important sources of income. In 1866, there were 281 watchmakers in the municipality.

A striking landmark in the surrounding area is the Menhir de Combasson near Le Combasson, between Cernets and Chincul. The block measures 1.5 × 1.3 × 3 metres and has a hole 12 centimetres in diameter. A circular route from Les Verrières reaches the menhir roughly halfway along. Check the trail signs and access locally. The Temple des Verrières is located in Vieux-Meudon, 2126 Les Verrières, Switzerland.

The village’s history is connected with smuggling, transport by horse and trade, as well as the internment of the Army of the East, known as the Bourbakis. The “Sur les traces des Bourbaki” circular route starts and ends in Les Verrières and illustrates the reception of almost 90,000 survivors of the French Army of the East in the winter of 1871. The Bourbaki Panorama offers a 360-degree view from the location where Edouard Castres painted his panorama.

The Bourbaki mini-museum is on the first floor of the Hôtel-de-Ville restaurant and is free for all visitors. Check access before your visit. Absinthe production is also part of local history: Christiane Rey distils absinthe in the hills of Les Verrières. She carefully selects botanicals and distils early in the morning in a simple workshop. In doing so, she continues the discreet distilling traditions of the Val-de-Travers and the heritage of former clandestine distillers.

Hiking and Winter Sports

The Les Cernets mountain area offers hiking opportunities. The Route de l’Absinthe starts in the centre of Les Verrières and passes through pastureland and forest to Les Petits-Cernets at an altitude of 1,189 metres. Check trail conditions before setting out. Another hike from La Brévine to Les Verrières crosses Jura meadows, passes Lac des Taillères and then descends gently to the village on the French-Swiss border. The routes highlight different landscapes: pastureland and forest on one, meadows and a lake on the other.

Winter brings different options: the mountains around Les Verrières are suitable for cross-country skiing, while the ski lift in the centre offers downhill skiing. The information about winter activities is current as of August 2026. The Centre nordique des Cernets offers 52 kilometres of trails for classic cross-country skiing and skating. There are also two kilometres of illuminated trails and seven kilometres of marked snowshoe trails. As these activities depend on winter operations and snow conditions, check both before travelling.

The Les Verrières ski area is accessible by public transport. The seasonal Bus-des-neiges service connects Les Verrières railway station with the Hôtel-Restaurant Les Cernets. Check operating times and make a reservation for your travel dates. The transN bus route 590 connects Couvet, Fleurier and Les Verrières, continues towards Pontarlier and serves several stops in the village. Check the current timetable before travelling.

When looking for hotels in Les Verrières, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: village history, hiking trails or winter sports.

Discover more destinations: Boveresse, Travers Ne, Buttes, La Côte-Aux-Fées, Môtiers, Saint-Sulpice Ne, Fleurier, Couvet

For the overview of the wider area: Val-De-Travers.