La Bouege - hard to immagine a more idyllic terrace down on the Doubs

Auberge de la Bouège - Nicolas Fontana - La Bouège 1 - 2340 Le Noirmont - 032 953 11 48

Idyllically located down at the Doubs, 1h descent from Le Noirmont or Les Bois, the restaurant hosts a fantastic terrace onto the Doubs. Sitting under the big lime tree, with a glass of wine, one of their great menues and a little breeze it is hard to imagine a better place to stay. Rooms are simple but correct, and staying down there at the Doubs when all the day visitors have left, is a very special experience, too. If you do not want to climb up the steep slopes again, you can also follow the trail along the Doubs to Goumois, in about 2 hours, where postcar to Saignelegier leaves several times a day.

Wonderful Jura Vaudois: from Mouthe to Le Sentier

Here, Mama and ET hat already climbed 150m in altitude, and Le Liadet expected us with a great little breakfast - still under blue sky!

ET setting off on her bike, a flat stretch ahead!

Despite thunderstrom and grey massive clouds building up, ET decided to sleep! So the houses are NOT in Russia, but in the French Jura, and the yellow spot is ET deep asleep under her pellerine!

Just passed the green frontier into Switzerland, including a big, old but unfortunately dead badger! The entire border is marked by an old dry stone wall, but very think forest! So we were happy to spot the refuge and shortly below the yellow mark of the Swiss hiking trail! Still, we are close to the ridge, and ET is having her hands out to catch hail dropplets!

Safely, proud and dry down on Lac de Joux!

Well deserved Apero watching the neighbours cows of Catherine's and Andre's B&B in Le Lieu.
www.bluelotus.ch/labase/

And finally celebrating with a big piece of chocolate cake and the beach in Le Pont!

Clairbief reopened! The best Truite Bleu all along the Doubs for sure!

...our first trout! Ella Tili loved it as much as Mama!

...and despite the suggestion...

...our second trout! Simply excellent.

Not so easy to find the Cafe Clairbief! But it is full for sure at Sunday lunchtime, so reserve in advance! All contact details see www.clairbief.com

Access accross the new bridge from the South, e.g. descending on foot from Les Pommerats (2h), or

..along the Doubs from Soubey, 1h. Enjoy! And do not miss the Parfait Grand Marnier to round of the meal in the end!

Fancy an exclusive Jura Raclette?

Quail eggs on smoked raclett - on how to get it step by step:

Get some smoked Raclette cheese at Mrs. Roth Laiterie in Tramelan...(do not eat it straight away, but we admit it is extremely tasty even before turned into a raclette...!)...

...get the Chemin de Fer du Jura until the station Pied d'Or and buy at the farm of the family Scheidegger 1 Min away from the station a box of quails eggs (Wachteleier) - it is self service...
and enjoy the walk back home to Tramelan

...prepare the smoked cheese raclette and add 1 minute before the end a quail's egg on top! Absolutely delicious! Enjoy!

Happy New Year from the Jura Franches Montagnes!

Our New Year 2011 started with a delicious Jura cheese Raclette on Etang de la Gruere! Splendid sun...

...made a little girl Ella Tili happy...

...and a hot air ballon touching down on the frozen lake just in front of us to wish us all Happy New Year!

And time for some for a first nap in the new Year, too!

Snow conditions were excellent, so most of our way to Etang was on the sledge...

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2011 and any time welcome for days like this in the Jura Franches Montagnes Mountains! Looking forward to host you and should we for once not be there, the loft is always available to big and little adventurers and nature lovers, just let us know!

Great great riding in the Franches Montagnes

Franches Montagnes are a rider's paradise. The AREF has established more then 150km of signposted riding trails, with easy to be opened gates from top of a horse, a map with an overview of all the routes, and numerous places where you and your horse can stay overnight.

Our favourite place to rent horses is with the Restaurant Guillaume Tell in Le Cernil, just below Les Reussilles (about 10 min. walk along the train station from Les Reussilles on the main road to Saignelegier). They offer a wide range from pure Franche Montagnes Horses (Muschka and Makumba come recommended as reliable and strong horses also for heavier men riders), to more lively and elagant mixtures (Lina, half Franche Montagnes, half thorough bred or Milene, half blood come highly recommended). Horses are well kept, of good character, and rather affordable to rent: 20Sfr. per hour non accompanied, 25SFr. per hour accompanied. The stable is simple, at times one is expected to clean and prepare the horses yourself, but for this price we are more than ready to put a hand on ourselves. For reservations call Restaurant Guillaume Tel. 032 487 67 67. If you reserve well in advance, it is good to call half a day before again as a reminder and confirmation, particularley if weather forcast is not all that good.

Vor an overvieew on the signposted routes: www.aref.ch

And if you are a horse fan and happen to be in Muriaux (a village next to Saignelegier, on the La Chaux de Fonds-Glovelier train line) on the second week end of February, then do not miss on the winter version of the Marche Concours! Dressed up like Russian Tsars, parallel sledges run to the sounds of dramatic music great to watch, or you let yourself draw on skis by horses!

Beautiful Loop Walk along the Doubs River with at least Three Culinary Highlights

The walk starts and ends in Goumois, the bi-national community down on the banks of the river Doubs. There is a bus leaving Saignelegier at 8.41 in the morning down to Goumois, and two options to return from Goumois back up to Saignelegier at 16... and 17.... The entire trail is signposted as Chemin de la Verrerie, with reference to the numerous glass making factories that once upon a time were run along the Doubs. Some ruins are still to be seen if you follow a difficult little track along the French side of the Doubs from La Goule heading East (different to the route described);

Take an ID or passport with you as you cross the border info France;

The first culinary highlight is situated just accross the bridge from Switzearland into France in the village of Goumois: the little shop "Montagnard" runs an amazing selection of great French food, ranging from local sausages, terrines, cheese, excellent fruit, wine, fresh baguette, croissants, and also has an excellent coffee machine! So do not miss to stop for a second breakfast, and stock on some goodies on the way, or drop into his shop again before you catch return bus home!

The route then follows for a short distance the road, before forking off onto a trail within a hedge, and from then on following more or less closely the Doubs river bank. In spring the trail can be flooded, so be prepared to have to take your shoes off if you go early in the season. At one point opposite the Restaurant de la Theusseret on the Swiss side, the trail climbs up some 50m in altitude to buypass some rocks, but otherwise is easy.