Chemin du Jura bernois
Overview
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Distance 18 km
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Duration 4 h 25 min
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Ascent 280 m
Intro
On the way to “Watch City” over the green meadows of Droit de Renan with plenty of time to stand and stare. Swiss perfection at the end of the route: immerse yourself in the history of time at the La Chaux-de-Fonds International Watch Museum.
Description
St. Imier nestles between Mont-Soleil and Chasseral. In 1992, what was then the largest solar power plant in Europe was built above the village. An adventure trail connects the energy plant with Switzerland’s largest wind farm, Mont Crosin, which produces electricity for around twenty thousand households.
The hike begins at the mountain station of the cog railway above St. Imier on a stunning trail through the forest. The hillside drops off steeply to the left. The view extends across Vallon de Saint-Imier and the Chasseral. The trail then continues across high Jura pastures with ancient trees. Moss-covered drystone walls line the path, and a sea of daffodils blooms here in spring. You reach La Cibourg via a surfaced road running past isolated mountain farms.
The railway line is in view the rest of the way. A gentle descent leads into the urban landscape of La Chaux-de-Fonds. You walk along a superb path, lined with rows of trees to the left and right, before reaching the built-up areas. Old, poorly-maintained blocks of flats come directly after a district with detached houses.
La Chaux-de-Fonds is the hometown of Le Corbusier. He built his first architectural creations here. The original hamlet came into being at the beginning of the 16th century, and from the 17th century watchmaking played a defining role. In 1794, aggressive fires destroyed most of the buildings. After this tragic event, the city was rebuilt, based on a rational, rectangular grid of streets of largely uniform construction. This still makes for an impressive cityscape today.
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 |
St-Imier
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
La Chaux-de-Fonds
|
| Direction |
One way
|
| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1000 m
|
| Ascent |
280 m
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| Descent |
480 m
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| Distance |
18 km
|
| Duration |
4 h 25 min
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| Duration back |
4 h 40 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Season |
April - October
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| Theme |
With panoramic view
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Quick Facts
Route number
