The Jura Mountain Range

9 July 2023

The Jura mountain range extends over several cantons in western Switzerland. It borders the Swiss Plateau region and covers 10% of the total area of Switzerland.

In French-speaking Switzerland, the Jura mainly covers the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Bern and Jura, and in German-speaking Switzerland, the cantons of Solothurn, Basel-Land and Aargau. The Jura massif also forms a natural border between France and Switzerland.

In the cantons of Jura, Vaud, Berne and Neuchâtel, the Jura mountain range is captivated by its landscape diversity. It is always a pleasure to discover or revisit, among others, the Creux-du-Van (NE), gorges de l’Areuse (NE), Lac de Neuchâtel (NE), Lac de Bienne (BE) and Chasseral (BE).

The Jura massif can also reveal some surprises: magnificent places, such as the Dent de Vaulion (VD), the Covatannaz gorges (VD), the Taubenloch gorges (BE), the Douanne gorges (BE), the Etang de la Gruère (JU), the caves and the Préhisto-Parc de Réclère (JU), the Franches-Montagnes (birthplace of the eponymous horse, the only breed of Swiss origin), the Chemin des Vignes (vineyard trail) following the footsteps of Bacchus from Biel to La Neuveville (BE), the sentier des Monts (mountain trail) linking Mont-Soleil to Mont-Crozin (BE) and the Chemin des Crêtes du Jura (Jura ridge trail) which forms an arc from Zurich to Geneva: This long-distance route crosses two language regions and offers a magnificent view, a varied and imposing landscape.

The panorama of the Jura mountain range has its charm in all seasons, as can be seen, for example, in Saint-Brais, a small village in the Franches-Montagnes (JU).

(Source and further information: Office du Tourisme, Jura et Trois Lacs, Randonnées du Rêve, www.j3l.ch).