Loop 21: Jura Monts-Rivières

Forests, gorges, waterfalls, torrents, peat bogs and the entire upper Ain valley... This escapade plunges you into the world of the Jura high plateaux, at altitudes of between 800 and 1,000 metres.

From Champagnole, known as the "Pearl of the Jura", the first stage takes you to Syam, where the 19th-century forges have been converted into an eco-museum, and the site also boasts a superb Palladian villa. Before the village of Les Planches-en-Montagne, water has sculpted the rocks in a wild setting, starting with the gorges and waterfalls of La Langouette, followed by the gorges of Malvaux.

The ascent via Foncine-le-Haut then leads into the Val de Mouthe at an altitude of 1,000 m, a landscape of streams and peat bogs bordered by the Haute Joux forest. At Cerniébaud, a small Nordic sports resort, the landscape opens out onto rounded combes. Just enough time to pass Billecul and you arrive at the medieval town of Nozeroy, founded in the 13th century, with its ramparts and clock tower. A short diversions to the church and hermitage of Mièges is a must.

The route then descends to the source of the Ain, which gushes out of the mountain, the Moulin du Saut waterfall and the Saut des Maillys, three exceptional sites in an environment of rocks and forests. At Bourg-de-Sirod, the River Ain disappears between the rocks, only to re-emerge several hundred metres below. It's a unique sight before you reach Champagnole along the Mont Rivel, a Gallo-Roman site.

Since 2019, this loop has been awarded the "Vélo et Fromages" label. Launched by the Assemblée des Départements de France, the CNIEL, Tourisme & Territoires and Vélo & Territoires, this label promotes the cheese producers and service providers along the cycle routes. With its many AOC cheeses, including Comté, Morbier, Bleu du Haut-Jura, Cancoillotte and Mont d'Or, the Jura is naturally a 'Vélo et Fromages' department!