La Vy aux Moines

La Vy aux Moines goes back to the Middle Ages when numerous religious communities populated the valleys of the Jura massif. During the period of the reformation, the monks fled from Môtiers. In the course of the centuries, La Vy became a trade route for salt merchants, smugglers, and refugees.

The starting point is just a few steps from the La Brévine, poste bus stop. The hike leaves La Brévine past the Reformed church and heads out across open meadows. After around an hour, the trail reaches Lac des Taillères and follows its shore. The lake forms a striking feature in the open landscape.

Beyond the lake, pastures and woodland alternate. The yellow-waymarked hiking trail continues to climb, reaching the highest point of the route at around 1,220 m near Mont Brenin, roughly halfway along. From there, the route is mostly downhill, with meadows repeatedly opening up between sections of woodland.

In the final third, the route passes Café-Restaurant Mont de Bouveresse and continues to lose elevation. The first houses of Boveresse soon come into view. From there, it is only a short distance to Môtiers, where, after a good four hours and around 15 kilometres in total, Môtiers NE railway station lies just a few steps from the end of the route.