Cycling through the Jura Mountains
Getaway for the ‘Beau Vélo de Ravel’ TV programme
Departure : Frasne
Arrival : Clairvaux-les-Lacs
Read about the different steps of Lubiana Kepaou's cycle tour through the Jura Mountains for the TV programme 'Beau Vélo de Ravel'. This route from the 'Jurassic Vélo Tour', to cycle at your own pace, is full of spectacular sights, including Bouverans lake, Langouette gorges, the Flumen waterfalls, the Ligne des Hirondelles railroad, and Clairvaux-les-Lacs!
Belgian singer Lubiana Kepaou and journalist Adrien Joveneau came to cycle around the Jura Mountains for the TV programme Beau Vélo de Ravel. If, like them, you would also like to come and explore the Jurassic Vélo Tour, you'll find all the information about the itinerary right here!
Lubiana Kepaou Guest
Adrien Joveneau Journalist
Cycling alongside the water
The Jurassic Vélo Tour
Lubiana and Adrien followed the routes of the Jurassic Velo Tour for their cycling tour. These routes run alongside the water, an opportunity to explore the magnificent Route des Lacs (lakes route).
Day 1
Bike ride to Bouverans lake
When you get off the train in Frasne, pick up your electric bikes opposite the train station, at the tobacconist and then set off to explore Bouverans lake.
A journey along the water's edge in Drugeon valley.
Just take in the peaceful scenery all around Bouverans lake, also known as the 'Lac de l'Etonnoir'. Make sure you take the time to stop off along the way and explore the peatland.
This 22 km ride takes around 1.5 hours.
Day 2
Tour of a cheese dairy and tasting
Food is always a topic of conversation in the Jura Mountains, so one early morning, head to the Fruitière des Lacs cheese dairy in Labergement-Sainte-Marie to find out how comté cheese is made and leave with lots of delicious products.
As well as stopping by the shop, your visit here will also include:
- A live demonstration of the production of numerous local specialities every morning between 9am and 12pm.
- A film showing in a separate room, 20 min in 2 languages (French & English).
- A guided tour with tasting every Thursday morning at 9.15am, and every Tuesday during French school holidays (approx. 1.5 hours). €3 /person.
Picnic
Exploring the Source du Doubs
Late morning, head to the famous Source du Doubs, an iconic place in the Jura Mountains.
In this natural environment, you'll feel like you've gone to the ends of the earth, as you venture through the deep, narrow gorges, across peatland, past rivers and waterfalls, all surrounded by untamed wilderness.
This is the perfect place to stop off for lunch and taste some of the delicious local products you picked up that morning at the cheese dairy.
Near to the source, you'll find the town of Mouthe which is well-known as being the 'coldest town in France'.
Find out more about the Source du Doubs
Sporty afternoon
Canyoning in the Langouette gorges
After taking a relaxing break to digest your lunch, get back on your bikes and head towards the Langouette gorges for a sporty activity in the great outdoors: canyoning!
You'll be exploring the depths of Langouette gorges, accompanied by a professional instructor, for a series of jumps and abseiling, attached to a rope, and also the possibility to try out a zipwire and go through a narrow pipeline.
Please note, all the jumps can be avoided by using the equipment to abseil down these sections.
So are you ready to get into the water?
For those looking for something less daring, it's also possible to explore the Langouette gorges on foot.
There is a 1.2 km trail through this magnificent place.
DAY 3 MORNING
A walk through the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park
Now it's time to go and explore the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, either alone or with a guide who will tell you all about the area, and the local wildlife found here.
The park is a place with so much to see in terms of natural and cultural heritage.
One of France's most beautiful railway lines.
All aboard along the 'Ligne des Hirondelles'
All aboard for a ride along one of France's most beautiful railway lines: the 'Ligne des Hirondelles'! This hundred-year-old railway line crosses the Jura Mountains between Dole and Saint-Claude.
A 2.5-hour ride through Chaux forest, the well-known Arbois vineyards, the vast Grandvaux plateaus, Bienne valley, and so much more. You'll see so many cultural and natural sights along the way.
Just like Lubiana Kepaou, you can take the train in Saint-Laurent en Grandvaux and get off in Saint-Claude or go on a longer ride by getting on further away.
An added bonus:
For 5 years now, the Dole and Saint-Claude tourist offices have been organising exceptional day trips aboard a surprising tourist train. From one of these two towns, you can set off along the famous 'Ligne des Hirondelles' on a guided tour with commentary.
Excursions can be booked in advance, including meals at a restaurant, tours of museums, admission to a festival or self-guided tours of a town.
End of the itinerary
An afternoon at the Flumen waterfalls
An afternoon to explore the Flumen waterfalls.
This classified natural site can be found at the bottom of a valley close to Saint-Claude. There are 2 hiking trails available to explore this wonderful place.
The Flumen waterfall
During the programme, Lubiana was lucky enough to meet with a master pipe maker: Joseph Rimbaud from La Pipe Rit.
If you would also like to find out about this traditional profession of the Jura Mountains, we recommend stopping by Saint-Claude, the pipe capital, to visit the Pipe Rit or the pipes Chacom exhibition/museum/shop in Villars-Saint-Sauveur.
Last step
Time to explore Clairvaux-les-Lacs
The last stop on this adventure is Clairvaux-les-Lacs. From the village, there are 2 loop trails from the Jurassic Vélo Tour to choose from:
- The 'Boucle des Grands Lacs' (great lakes loop), 31 km
- The 'Boucle des Splendeurs' (wonders of nature loop), 38.8 km
On the programme, Lubiana tasted a dish made from regional products: risotto made with Vin Jaune, Morteau sausage, comté cheese and morels. This dish was concocted by chef Christelle Bolard from the Hôtel des 2 Lacs.
Added bonus: The Hôtel des 2 Lacs also sells ready-made dishes to take away from Tuesday to Saturday and there is a shop selling local products.
Practical info
The Jura Mountains are 2.5 hours by train from Paris and 5.5 hours from Brussels. There are several train stations throughout the region: Frasne, Besançon or Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. Go to the SNCF website to find out more.
For stress-free travels, call upon the agency Roule Ma Poule who will take care of your luggage transfer throughout your trip.
Browse all the points of interest Lubiana discovered while she was here on this map.
Pipes Chacom - Chapuis-Comoy & cie VILLARD-SAINT-SAUVEUR
Hotel
Hôtel-Restaurant Spa de L'Abbaye GRANDE-RIVIERE CHATEAU
Food Shops
La Fruitière des Lacs LABERGEMENT-SAINTE-MARIE58 Km
Motorbike, Road
In the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park SAINT-CLAUDE Gifts/Souvenirs
La pipe rit SAINT-CLAUDEAccommodation along the route
Beind-the-scenes
Photos taken during filming
