Cormoret: Hiking and Culture in the Vallon de Saint-Imier

Cormoret lies in the central part of the Vallon de Saint-Imier, a long valley in the Jura, on both sides of the Schüss (Suze). The CFF railway line connects the village with Biel/Bienne and La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Hiking and Hydropower

The Sentier du Vallon runs from Saint-Imier via Villeret, Cormoret and Courtelary and back. This easy, family-friendly hiking trail is 6.6 kilometres long; the walking time is about 1 hour and 35 minutes. It also leads to the source of the Doux in a forest between Villeret and Cormoret. The trail thus connects several villages with a named natural landmark. Its length and approximate walking time give you two concrete reference points for estimating how much time to allow for the outing.

Hydropower has been used in the Vallon de Saint-Imier since the 15th century. Along the Sentier du Vallon, information boards and guided tours of hydroelectric power plants present the history of this use. This adds a technical theme to the route: while hiking, you can also learn about the region’s history of hydropower.

Valley, Rivers and Ridges

The municipal area includes the valley floor of the Schüss. Near Cormoret, the two side streams, the Dou and the Raissette, which rise from karst springs, flow into the Schüss from the left. To the north, the municipal area extends to the Montagne du Droit anticline; to the south, it reaches the Chasseral range. The 1,607-metre-high summit of Chasseral is also within the municipal area. Together with Cormoret’s elevation of 706 metres, these features give a sense of both the valley floor and the municipality’s higher-lying areas.

Near the village is a typical wooded pasture that received the Binding Award for Forest. An educational trail provides information about biodiversity and the sustainable use of forests and pastures; there is also a picnic area. This landscape offers a second perspective alongside the river and valley: here, the focus is on woodland and pasture and how they are used.

Culture and Local Traditions

Le Salon de Musique is housed in a 17th-century mill. Its offerings include organ demonstrations, guided tours of the organ’s mechanism and concert lectures. These formats combine listening to the organ with insights into how the instrument is built, as well as concert lectures. Musical performances and the organ’s mechanism thus offer different ways to engage with the instrument.

Regular local traditions in Cormoret include an Easter egg run on Holy Saturday, a village festival in late June in odd-numbered years and a Christmas market in early December. These events have different timing patterns: the village festival takes place in odd-numbered years, while the run and market follow the Easter and December calendars. Check the specific dates before your trip if you plan to attend one of these events.

Discover more destinations: Orvin, Plagne, La Ferrière Be, Courtelary, St-Imier, Renan, Villeret Be, Sonvilier

Return to the main travel overview: Courtelary.