ViaJura
Overview
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Distance 23 km
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Duration 7 h
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Ascent 1100 m
Intro
From Moutier the ViaJura negotiates the Schlucht von Court (gorge) and reaches the village of Champoz via the mountain of Moron, on which stands a tower designed by Mario Botta. The route then follows the ridge before leading down to Sornetan.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-80/stage-5
Description
Moutier lies between two impressive gorges of the Faltenjura (Jura folds) in the valley basin of the Birs. Surrounded by deep valleys, gorges and wild nature, the town has much to offer with its cobblestone streets. The first machine tools were built here, and industry continues to play a vital role here.
The route starts in the east of Moutier at the railway station. Along the Birs, you cross the town, reach La Chalière and then branch off to the left to follow the pretty little La Foule stream into a gorge. Wooded rocky slopes rise to the left and right, and at a bend, you suddenly find yourself directly in front of a massive, round rock face. Continue on a narrow path through the forest and past old military installations to reach Gorges de Court.
Here the Birs flows through a rocky gorge, and the route initially runs parallel to the road for about five minutes. After an underpass, continue along the banks of the Birs, where the rushing water drowns out the noise of the road. Polished and moss-covered stones lie between the roots of the trees and their branches in the riverbed. In places, the path leads directly along massive rock faces. A narrow pedestrian tunnel in the rock and wooden footbridges make the passage easier.
Behind the gorge, you reach Court. The path branches off to the right and crosses the steep slope at the forest edge north of the village. On beautiful flower meadows, you can see over the Vallée de Tavannes. Behind Champoz, the steep climb on the Moron begins. Through the forest, you reach the broad ridge. Dead-straight dry-stone walls stretch across the hills, where several mountain farms lie between extensive Jura pastures.
The route continues on a gravel road with a reduced gradient to the Moron Tower. The observation tower, designed by Mario Botta, offers panoramic views of the Alps, the Chasseral, Mont Soleil and the Black Forest. Because several steps broke off in 2022, the tower is temporarily closed.
At an altitude of 1,319 metres, the hike's highest point is reached. Now a bright, straight gravel road leads downhill through the Jura pastures. Past molehills, beautiful trees and horse pastures, you come to the Près de la Montagne farm. The trail turns here and heads north to Sornetan. Less than four kilometres farther west is the former abbey of Bellelay, where the Tête de Moine was developed in the 12th century. After about one and a half hours, you reach Sornetan, a small village around 100 metres above the valley floor. Several typical farmsteads from the 18th and 19th centuries characterize the place.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Moutier
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Sornetan
|
| Direction |
One way
|
| Ascent |
1100 m
|
| Descent |
760 m
|
| Distance |
23 km
|
| Duration |
7 h
|
| Duration back |
6 h 30 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
May - October
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view, Through a gorge
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
