In the shoes of a smuggler
The trails of smuggling, an adventure that takes you between France and Switzerland. Will you be able to avoid the customs officers?
The trails of smuggling, an adventure that takes you between France and Switzerland. Will you be able to avoid the customs officers?
The Franco-Swiss Smuggling Trails are 4 short hiking trails in the area of Pays Horloger on the French side and the Doubs Regional Natural Park on the Swiss side. In the heart of the Jura Mountains, smugglers and customs officers once coexisted, ready to do anything to accomplish their respective missions despite the dangers. Combining ecotourism and local history, each of the trails offers a fun immersion into the world of smuggling. Follow in the footsteps of these men of the past, experience the adventure with the suggested itineraries.
Route duration : 5 days
Length of the route : 60 km
Highlights : 4 watchmaking museums, border markers, the Saut du Doubs, watchmaking town planning listed as UNESCO heritage…
Transport: The return journey can be made by train using the Ligne des Horlogers.
Made up of 5 stages, the route allows you to discover several remarkable tourist sites including the Saut du Doubs and its basins, but also to familiarize yourself with watchmaking know-how through the collections of 4 museums dedicated to watches and watchmaking (Morteau, Villers-le-Lac, Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds).
Along the way, you can appreciate the cultural and architectural heritage of the region: the watchmaking town planning of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds, listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the border markers that mark the border areas, the Jura farms, etc.
From Maîche to Maîche (France) through the woods.
77 km of walking route in 5 stages.
Loop route
5 steps
77 km
ON THE WAY:
the Belvederes of the Cendrée, of the Guillaume rock, of the false orchard,
the Ladders of Death, an emblematic site of Franco-Swiss contraband,
the Doubs gorges,
Lake Biaufond,
the bell ringers' pavilion and the Maison Monsieur site,
the President Fir, more than 2 centuries old, 45 m high,
the typical Jura landscapes, peat bogs and glacial valleys.
From Saint-Ursanne (Switzerland) to Saint-Hippolyte (France).
45 km of walking route in 3 stages.
Route duration : 3 days
Length of the route: 45 km
Strong points :
The medieval town of Saint-Ursanne, the Vallée d'Or and the small Franche-Comté town of Saint-Hippolyte
De Morteau (France) or from Saint-Ursanne (Switzerland)
252 km of mountain bike route in 7 stages.
Route duration : 7 days
Length of the route: 252 km
Strong points :
The Doubs waterfall and its pools, the Ladders of Death, the Belvedere of Cendrée and the panorama of the Sommêtres, the customs huts
To find out everything about the Smuggling Trails and organize your hike.
Everything you need to know about the Smuggling Trail
You want a well-organized stay, they take care of everything!
For those who love to roam, the GR5 and the Grande Traversée du Jura pass through Pays Horloger, more info on this page.