Loop 19: Tour of the Abbey lake

This short 6.8km walk around the Abbaye lake offers a succession of magnificent views of a mysterious place steeped in history.
The village of Grande Rivière is famous for its famous "Casino des Chauvins", a small bistro once run by the colourful local character Petit Louis. Although nothing remains of the "Casino", the village also has a cheese cooperative with a very interesting visiting gallery. The route then leads to the cute little hamlet of l'Abbaye, nestling on the shores of the lake at an altitude of 877m. The place owes its name to an abbey built in the 12th century, of which the church, remodelled in the 17th century, remains today and seems to float on the water. The magic of this circuit lies in the succession of panoramic views over this 90-hectare glacial lake, fed by underground springs of which nothing is known. The eastern shore reveals the alignment of peat bogs, marshes and meadows bordered by the Joux Derrière forest. The western edge, more indented, offers an impressive view of the Mont Noir and the thick forest of Joux Devant.
All along the route, panels explain the geology, history and subtle diversity of this particular part of the Grandvaux plateau where herds of Montbéliardes cows watch the fishermen at work on their boats.