Grand Goulet and Trois Commères

History & heritage

Landscapes

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Departing from Morbier - the village having given its name to the famous black-streaked cheese and to grandfather clocks - this diverse circuit will lead you to the foot of the Trois Commères, and, at its peak, to the "balcon des Crottes" with a plunging view over the Morez viaducts.

This hike unveils a harmonious contrast between vast pastures scattered with a few isolated farms and remnants of an industrial nature, the mark of a successful union between the work of Man and that of nature. You will be seduced by the grandeur of the viaduct breaking away from the mountainside, proof of the obstinacy of human ingenuity and of Man's fierce determination to brave hostile environments for the purposes of communication.

6 points of interest

Acoustic site
Listen, the Grand Goulet acoustic site
Listen to the High-Jura? We’ve heard it all now! But there is no need to strain your ears too much in this rich acoustic landscape.

Acoustic sites are characterised by their resonance. A single echo accurately returns the sound you make once. Multiple echoes can be heard when your call is multiplied 4 or 5 times, seemingly losing a syllable with each echo. And lastly, a resounding echo seems to expand in the air, like in a cathedral, before returning to you distorted and changed. Acoustic sites are natural auditoriums.
The Grand Goulet site is easily “aroused” by hollering towards Morbier. Why not indulge in this new experience?
Fauna
The great spotted woodpecker
This is the most common woodpecker in Europe. In the forests of the Jura, this little streaked woodpecker around the same size as a sparrow, mainly builds its home in deciduous trees. When it leaves its nest, this nest may be reused by many other species such as the Eurasian pygmy owl or the common starling.
Natural environments
The Trois Commères
Now a famous climbing site, these three limestone monoliths attest to the erosion that has taken place on these bare rocks as a result of a succession of rain, freeze and thaw cycles over thousands of years.
Viewpoint
Balcon des Crottes
Here the panorama is split between three distinctive entities: the agricultural landscapes at the bottom of the Bellefontaine valley, the urban and industrial zones in Morez and on the outskirts of Bienne, and the large wooded areas of the Risoux and the reliefs over Morez. (François Wattellier/ Oxalis / ARCADE)
History & Heritage
Morbier cheese
While it is now mainly manufactured in dairy workshops, referred to as “fruitières”, Morbier cheese is originally a “farm cheese” requiring very little milk (60 kg). Its creamy texture is marked by a thin black streak through the middle. Some see this streak as an attempt to copy the blue cheese of Septmoncel, which was very popular at the time; others explain that the curd used to be produced twice daily and was protected from insects thanks to this layer of soot with natural protective properties.
History & Heritage
Morbier church
The church’s clock, dated 1840, is a “clock that rings every fifteen minutes and indicates the lunar phase using a small two-toned ball positioned above the main dial. The equation of time was engraved onto the church’s southern facade in 1842 by Pierre Claude Paget. This system was later abandoned with the advent of railways requiring the use of a universal time.” (M.P. Renaud, 2006).

Description

Starting at LA BUCLE CAMPSITE, the trail borders the campsite (yellow waymarking) before coming to "Rue des Pontets", at the roundabout, and heading right up "rue Germain Paget" for 300 m.

A good grassy path heads to the right and past the la Bucle farm, before turning left and up into the forest via a forest path that leads to Les Préhez.

The road to your right in the combe will lead you to the Goulet. Head behind the building and follow the leftmost path. A steep forest path will then lead you to the ridge at Sur les Côtes.

Opposite you, take the gravel road (yellow and red waymarking) that quickly branches off to the right and leads to the Trois Commères via a narrow trail. Continue on abother forest path to reach a road signposted LES TROIS COMMERES. To your left, the road descends to the La Bucle Pass.

At the pass, follow along the path (yellow waymarking), and then take the winding trail to your left towards the BALCON DES CROTTES. The steep trail overlooking and following alongside the railway will take you to Les Crottes.

The MORBIER church is accessible within 5 mins to your left via the Viaducts.

On returning to les Crottes, follow the trail along the mountain slope (yellow and red waymarking) and then take the stony path that heads up Sur la Gare.

Go down the road to your left (yellow waymarking). A trail bordering the Bruyères lake will take you to the Bucle campsite parking lot.

Departure : Morbier
Arrival : Morbier
Towns crossed : Morbier and Bellefontaine

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Be careful when approaching the Balcon des Crottes.

This trail uses forest paths. To respect the owners and farmers granting you passage, and for the security of livestock and wild fauna, we ask that you remain on the waymarked paths. Use the adapted passageways to get across fencing and be sure to close gateways behind you. Lastly, please keep your dog on a lead if you have one.

Wild flowers are beautiful, they may be rare and protected and often wilt quickly. Do not pick them! They will delight the next hikers.

In case of forest works (felling, skidding, etc.), for your safety, know when to stop and turn around.