Hint

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

Technical information

Show Technical information content
Start location
St-Imier
Destination
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Direction
One way
Altitude (meter above sea level)
1000 m
Ascent
280 m
Descent
480 m
Distance
18 km
Duration
4 h 25 min
Duration back
4 h 40 min
Technical requirements
Easy
Physical requirements
Medium
Season
April - October
Theme
With panoramic view
More information https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/wanderland/etappe91...

Route

Chemin du Jura bernois

Moutier - La Chaux-de-Fonds
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All stages

Map

SwitzerlandMobility Map: This element is not accessible for disabled people.

Quick Facts

Route number

Stage: 4/4

Distance

18 km

Duration

4 h 25 min

Ascent

280 m

Travel information: St-Imier

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    valid: 02.05.2025 - 18.10.2025

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