La Rippe: Jura Landscape, Hiking Route and Local History

La Rippe is considered Switzerland’s southernmost Jura municipality and stretches as a long strip parallel to the French-Swiss border. Its location extends from a plateau across rising Jura terrain to a valley. For your trip planning, the “Au pied du Jura” hiking route and the historic sites within the municipality offer specific points of interest.

Jura Landscape and Border Location

In the southeast, the municipality extends across a plateau into the Lake Geneva basin. To the northwest, the land rises steeply toward the Dôle range. The 1,677-meter summit of La Dôle lies just 50 meters outside the municipality to the northeast. The terrain then descends toward the Vallée des Dappes; there, La Rippe borders France to the northwest at an elevation of 1,240 to 1,300 meters. The plateau, steep ascent and valley descent thus mark distinct landscapes within the municipality.

Natural boundaries include the Combe de la Joie to the northeast and the Boiron to the east. Both help orient visitors along the French-Swiss border.

Hiking and Regional Connections

The “Au pied du Jura” route starts and ends in La Rippe. It is 13.74 kilometers long; the estimated duration is about 3 hours and 21 minutes and may vary slightly depending on conditions. The route is rated T1, or easy, in terms of technical difficulty. This gives you details to help plan your trip, including the distance, approximate time required and technical difficulty. Check the route details before setting out if conditions are important to your plans for the day.

In the wider region, the route highlights the Abbaye de Bonmont. The abbey is outside La Rippe and was built at the beginning of the 12th century. It adds a historic regional destination to the hike’s connection with the local area and landscape.

Local History and Notable Buildings

The Tour de l’Horloge was built in 1844, renovated in 2003 and designated a historic monument. The tower once housed a municipal slaughterhouse as well as facilities for the fire brigade and municipal services. The stop “La Rippe, village” is listed as the arrival stop for visiting the tower.

The Auberge de l’Etoile also has a long history: it was founded in 1710 as a municipal tavern. In 1768, it was part of a block of buildings that included a bakery, a butcher’s shop and a school. Alongside individual buildings, shared-use areas also form part of the town’s recorded history: from 1319, La Rippe was under the protection of Louis de Savoie, who confirmed residents’ rights to use the pastures and forests.

Crafts, Alpine Farming and Nature Park

NK Manufacture develops projects centered on craftsmanship and urban culture, connected with skateboarding and skiing. If you would like to visit the studio, contact the company beforehand.

At Alpage de La Germine in the municipality of La Rippe, livestock are driven to high-altitude pastures in summer, from June to October. During the summer grazing season, cheesemakers and herders tend the herd and make cheese. This seasonal rhythm gives Alpine farming its own place among the themes that shape La Rippe and the surrounding Jura landscape.

La Rippe is one of the 35 municipalities within the Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois. The park has been of national importance since 2013 and stretches from La Dôle to Romainmôtier. Its characteristic landscapes and protected nature are part of the wider region around La Rippe.

Discover more destinations: Prangins, Bursinel, Arzier, Saint-Cergue, Borex, Grens, Duillier, Essertines-Sur-Rolle.

For the main travel overview: Nyon.