Jura Crest Trail, Stage 11/16

Hiking up from Les Rochats to the Chasseron, look down over Lake Neuchâtel and, further south, Lake Geneva. More than 250 km of high mountain peaks can be seen on the horizon. Cross expansive pasturelands to reach the hometown of music boxes and nickelodeons.

From the Provence, Les Rochats bus stop, the route sets off across the open heights of the Vaud Jura. Meadows and pastures dominate the landscape, interspersed time and again with stretches of woodland. After around an hour, Baume lies close to the route, and shortly afterwards the hiking trail passes directly by Restaurant La Combaz.

The route then continues along the elongated Jura heights. Constant ups and downs add up to around 780 metres of ascent before the climb to the Chasseron becomes steeper. Shortly before the summit, the greenery gives way to rocky terrain. At 1,608 m, the Chasseron towers above the Vaud Jura and marks the highest point of the hike. A few steps farther on, the Hôtel du Chasseron stands beside the trail.

From the summit area, the trail descends via Petites Roches. Open pastures alternate once more with woodland before the first houses of Ste-Croix come into view. Passing the Église de Sainte-Croix, the hike ends after around five and a half hours near Ste-Croix railway station.