Maisod: Hiking Trails, Water Sports and History

Maisod offers several specific options for planning your day: hiking trails, historic sites and activities on the water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Maisod, you can consider what you’d like to focus on during your trip—a circular hike, time at Plage de la Mercantine or the history of the town.

Hiking trails with different focuses

The Chemin du château is a 6.9-kilometre, moderately challenging circular hike. It starts and ends at Maisod Town Hall. Along the route, there is a ten-minute out-and-back detour to the Belvedere de Sur la Fratte. This gives you two different route options to work into your plans: the circular hike and the detour; the walking time given for the viewpoint detour covers both the outward and return legs.

The playful Sentier de la sirène égarée circular trail is 3.4 kilometres long and starts in the municipality of Maisod. Its features include directional signs, a large book and crab-shaped markers. This shorter route differs from the Chemin du château not only in length but also in its playful wayfinding features. As trail features may change seasonally or require maintenance, it’s worth checking their condition on site.

Plage de la Mercantine and activities on the water

Plage de la Mercantine is mostly sandy. Part of the area is a grassy lawn shaded by pine trees. There is a large free car park at the beach. The beach is supervised from 1 July to 31 August; this seasonal schedule may be relevant when planning your stay.

Magic'nautic at Plage de la Mercantine offers motorboat rentals, with or without a licence, as well as canoeing and kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and pedal boats. Booking by phone is recommended: 06 81 12 85 47. Magic'nautic also offers boat trips to explore the shores of Lac de Vouglans, departing from either Plage de la Mercantine or Plage de Bellecin. The activities on offer may change seasonally; if you have a particular activity in mind, it’s worth calling to check.

Port de la Mercantine

Port de la Mercantine is located in the sailing area of Lac de Vouglans. It has 270 berths on seven pontoons; capacity may change over time. The berths are also designed to accommodate larger motorboats and sailboats. Port facilities include restrooms, a car park for boat owners, a picnic area, a mast-lowering device, an accessible transfer lift and a crane service for launching boats. If you require accessibility features or a particular service, check the details in advance.

History and nature in Maisod

Château de Maisod is privately owned. It was rebuilt at its current location in 1565, with the lower part of the main building and the square tower. The poet Lamartine stayed at the château in 1815. Chapelle Saint-Étienne also has historical significance: it was rebuilt in 1693 and is considered a late Romanesque chapel.

East of Maisod, a Roman road stretching more than six kilometres can be traced. It runs from the Auberge jurassienne to Coyron or Pont de la Pyle. Check the current condition of the trail on site. In spring, rare flowers can be found around Maisod, including the bee orchid and the pyramidal orchid. Sightings may vary depending on the year and conditions.

Discover more destinations: Port-Lesney, La Pesse, Jouhe, Plasne, Prémanon, Gigny, Villerserine, Prenovel.

For the broader travel overview: Jura.