The highlight of the visit is of course the opportunity to taste the products! We are most definitely in the land of cheese here. Comté, Morbier, Bleu de Gex, Cancoillotte... if you're a fan of cheese you won't be disappointed!
Meet some of the passionate locals!
A summer weekend in Haut-Doubs
Welcome to Haut-Doubs, the land of Comté cheese, absinthe and picture-perfect scenery. This weekend is a chance to see all the must-sees of the area, the very best of this small destination in the Jura Mountains. Come and explore the most beautiful landscapes here on foot, in a canoe or with a MTB. Learn all about how Comté cheese and local absinthe are made. And above all, meet some of the locals who are fiercely passionate about their region, and delighted to share this passion. What are you waiting for?
Day 1 - morning
Chapelle-des-Bois, a lake and Comté cheese
Come and meet Fabrice at his organic cheese dairy in Chapelle-des-Bois at 8 am. The cow's were milked the day before and the milk has to be transformed within 24 hours, so there's no time to waste!
In this cheese dairy that is very characteristic of the mountains here, the traditional Comté cheese is made every morning. They also produce other local cheeses from our mountains such as Morbier and Mont d'Or.
Fabrice is passionate about his profession! He knows his job very well and is always delighted to share his expertise. Visitors are always captivated by his tour and his expert know-how. He works according to traditional, thousand-year-old methods that are fascinating.
The land of cheese!
Picnic and hiking at the Lac des Mortes
Head to the Lac des Mortes for a short walk that is easy to access. The loops trail departs from the centre of the village and it takes around 3 hours to complete. The route will lead you over some beautiful wooden walkways through the peatland.
You'll be passing by not just 1, but 2 lakes on the way: the Lac des Mortes and Bellefontaine lake. These lakes are wonderful places for biodiversity and the atmosphere is reminiscent of Canada.
Where can you fill your picnic basket?
All the delicious products you'll need!
Stop by the Au Doux Panier grocery shop in the centre of the Chapelle-des-Bois village. You'll find a wide range of local, homemade delights there including yoghurts, deli meats and lemonade.
Day 1 afternoon
MTB over the ridges of Mont d’Or
Sam Péridy from the MTB school in Métabief will be your guide. He is triple world champion in Downhill MTB!
Let us reassure you though, you don't need to be a pro to ride along the ridges of Mont d'Or with him. As you ride along the cliff edge, the panoramic view of the Alps is simply incredible!
Up there, you'll be surrounded by wide-open spaces. On one side is the cliffs, and on the other is the region's typical landscapes: meadows as far as the eye can see with Montbéliarde dairy cattle grazing away peacefully.
Sam is a champion who loves to share his skills! He can adapt to any level of ability and will give you some great technical tips for dealing with steep sections. Even though the Jura Mountains are part of a mid-mountain range, there are still some serious uphill and downhill sections! He will also share with you his in-depth knowledge of the Métabief resort and the surrounding environment.
Find out more about Mont d'Or
Day 2 - morning
Canoeing on Saint-Point lake and the Doubs river
Time for a change of scenery! After the ridges, it's time to head for the shores of the superb Saint-Point lake.
The guides will greet you at the Grangettes leisure complex, for a trip out onto the lake and then down the river that runs into this lake: the Doubs.
First, there's a short briefing to introduce you to the canoe and how to use the paddles. Then it's time to set off and experience the joys of canoeing on the lake and river. As you paddle along, you'll be in awe of your surroundings, with nature serving as the only backdrop from start to finish.
Around a bend in the river, the majestic Château de Joux appears before you and is definitely worth a visit.
Hire a canoe
A closer look at Saint-Point lake
Saint-Point lake is the 3rd biggest natural lake in France. In the summer, you can go swimming from the beaches on the shores. There are also boat trips available to see the lake from a different perspective.
Day 2 - afternoon
Find out about absinthe and meet the passionate producers
This is a beautiful place! The Bourgeois distillery is in a rural hamlet, inside a superb farmhouse that has been completely renovated by the owners.
You'll be greeted by Mélisse, the owner's friendly dog, and the owners themselves, Anne-Sophie and Arnaud. This is where they chose to set up their organic Absinthe distillery where they produce and grow the plants needed to make this local aniseed-flavour liqueur (wormwood, lemon balm, fennel, hyssop, etc.)
This is yet another opportunity to meet a passionate producer. Arnaud knows everything there is to know about the history of absinthe and he loves to share this knowledge with visitors.
Absinthe is a fascinating product, from the secrets of its production, to growing the plants, the time when it was forbidden and its recent revival!
Fontaine à Absinthe
Une belle fontaine à Absinthe pour des dégustations exceptionnelles !
Guillaume Perret
Where can we sleep and eat?
