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The Grande Traversée du Jura (GTJ) by bike is a unique opportunity to ride across the Jura Mountains, along fairly quiet routes. Cycle touring enthusiasts will be riding far from the main roads, from the Pays de Montbéliard in the Doubs as far as Bugey in the Ain, via the Haut-Jura Nature Park. This is a fascinating and welcoming area, with extraordinary, varied landscapes. The route is 375-km long and can be adapted to everyone's needs and level of ability.
Vélo dans les Hautes Combes - GTJ vélo
Benjamin Becker / BFC TourismeWhether you are used to cycle touring or not, this route is guaranteed to please everyone! It is a route that is accessible for road bikes, it avoids the busy main roads, and it runs across rolling hills with natural scenery that will literally take your breath away! This is the perfect cycle touring route for cyclists who want to embrace their surroundings.
The Grande Traversée du Jura (known as the GTJ!) by bike will take you past the most beautiful places in the Jura Mountains.
Nature reserves, the Haut-Jura regional nature park, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, gorges and steephead valleys, small valleys and sheer ridges, cirques, lush green pastures, vineyards, peatland, hilltop villages, and so much more. The scenery is so diverse. The wide variety of landscapes will provide a wonderful change of scenery.
From Montbéliard, the 'City of Princes' with its château and pastel-coloured houses, to Culoz in the south, you'll be crossing through some pretty towns and authentic villages:
These peaceful destinations are all surrounded by breathtaking scenery and are the perfect places to stop for a break and learn more about the secrets and traditions of the Jura Mountains.
The itinerary was created with one goal in mind: to provide an opportunity to explore different areas of the region in an enjoyable way, without risk or difficulty. This is not the kind of route with a succession of uphill climbs! If you encounter any difficulties, there are alternative routes available.
And to make sure everyone is happy, there are other routes available that will take you up the legendary mountain passes:
- the Col de la Faucille (1,323 m and 703 m positive incline),
- the Mont d’Or (1463 m and 958 m positive incline),
- The Col de Menthières (1,136 m and 620 positive incline) and the Col de Cuvery (1,178 m and 355 m positive incline)
- or even the Grand Colombier (1,498 m) from Culoz (18.30 km and 1,255 m positive incline!), a historic uphill climb that is only suitable for experienced cyclists.
This last route was created in 2021 and is a 256-km alternative with a whole host of surprises in store.
This loop trail passes by several UNESCO sites and crosses some breathtaking landscapes: Lac de Chalain, Cascades du Hérisson, Gorges de la Langouette, Lac Saint-Point, Source du Lison, Vallée de la Loue, vineyards, etc.
Every day there are wonderful new discoveries to make!
Detailed descriptions of the itinerary, alternative routes, maps, accommodation and stopovers, tourism and cultural must-sees, historic and natural heritage sites, and so much more. So much practical information to help you plan your cycle touring experience.
This guidebook was specifically designed to help you plan your GTJ by bike, and offers suggestions to divide the route up into 10 sections of around 40 km each, to do at your own pace!
Do you like riding in areas where the uphill climbs are a bit too much for you? Choose to use an electric bike for a more all-round experience of the GTJ!
The specialists and cycling establishments along the route can provide all sorts of options (electric bikes with on-board GPS, electric MTBs, hybrid bikes, etc.), the GTJ guidebooks are being updated and there are now plenty of Bosch latest-generation charging stations in the various towns along the way. The entire 370-km cycle route is now equipped meaning that you can set off with peace-of-mind and without all the strenuous effort!
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Vélo dans les Hautes Combes - GTJ vélo
Benjamin Becker / BFC Tourisme
