Le Bémont: Landscape and Cultural Heritage

Le Bémont combines a rural landscape with hiking trails and individual cultural landmarks. The municipality is 1.5 kilometres as the crow flies northeast of Saignelégier, the district capital. Activities range from hiking to horseback riding and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Moorland and trails

The municipality covers part of the gently rolling plateau of the Jura. This includes marshy depressions, mostly with no surface drainage, limestone knolls and extensive pastures. The highest point in the municipality is near the farms at Les Rouges-Terres, at 1,075 metres above sea level. These details place the landscape in its geographical context without reducing its different trails and experiences to a single route.

The nationally significant Étang de la Gruère nature reserve extends partly into the municipality of Le Bémont. The raised bog in the protected area covers 56 hectares; its peat layer is up to nine metres thick and has accumulated over 12,000 years. The circular trail around Étang de la Gruère is 2.8 kilometres long and takes just under an hour on foot. Seasonal conditions may vary, so it is worth taking them into account when planning the loop.

Another hiking route passes through the hamlet of La Bosse, by its chapel and then across a meadow. The sequence of hamlet, chapel and meadow gives this route a different character from the loop at Étang de la Gruère. As local trail conditions can change, it is worth checking the latest information before setting out.

Horseback rides and carriage rides

Christophe & Aurélien Beuret offer horseback rides through the pastures from La Bosse for all levels; the address given is La Bosse 43. The offer also includes outings by horse-drawn carriage or sleigh. Ferme de la famille Rais offers guided rides for all levels and horse-drawn carriage outings. You should check the availability of rides with the Rais family before your trip.

A different option is the carriage rides with fondue offered by the Rais family in Le Bémont. The activities can thus be distinguished by what you are looking for: fondue is part of this ride, while Christophe & Aurélien Beuret also offer sleigh outings alongside horseback rides. The two providers offer different ways to experience the pastures, without requiring you to follow a particular route.

Chapel and rural heritage

The Chapelle de La Bosse was built in 1719, renovated in 1897 and consecrated in 1898. The chapel contains a Madonna and Child dating from the late 17th century. In 1975, the Chapelle de La Bosse was restored and placed under the protection of the Swiss Confederation. Its construction history, artwork and protected status provide three different points of reference for understanding this small religious building.

Another testament to rural architectural history is the remarkably well-preserved old barn at Bas-de-la-Fin. It bears the initials “Clos-Morel” and the date 1746. Together with the chapel, it shows that Le Bémont’s surviving cultural landmarks take different forms: a religious building on the one hand, and a barn bearing tangible traces of its history on the other.

A tradition in May

At the Oratoire Morel, the rural community of Rouges-Terres prays the rosary every Sunday in May at dusk. If this tradition is important to your travel plans, confirm locally that it is taking place as scheduled. The timing is specifically tied to May and dusk.

A short walk leads back to Le Bémont railway station; check train connections separately.

Discover more destinations: Lajoux, Les Enfers, La Chaux-des-Breuleux, Epauvillers, Les Genevez, Montfaucon Ju, Les Breuleux, Saignelégier.

For the broader travel overview: Franches-Montagnes.