Le Noirmont: Jura Trails, the Doubs and Watchmaking
Accommodation in Le Noirmont
Le Noirmont lies at 971 m above sea level on the Jura plateau of the Franches-Montagnes, right on the edge of the deeply incised Doubs Valley. The area combines open high plateaus and Jura pastures with forests and a striking river valley. This gives you a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: hiking, mountain biking, the history of watchmaking and local cheese-related offerings.
Landscape and trails around Le Noirmont
The municipality covers part of the gently rolling plateau of the Jura. Its landscape includes marshy hollows, mostly without surface drainage, limestone knolls, extensive Jura pastures, scattered or clustered large spruce trees, and woodland. Along the northwestern boundary, the Doubs flows through a canyon-like valley cut into the Jura plateau. The valley slope, around 500 m high and densely forested, is crossed by numerous rock ledges and ridges, including Grosse CĂ´te and Roche Gipois.
The striking rocky ridge of ArĂŞte des SommĂŞtres, with the ruins of Spiegelberg, lies along the northern boundary. Spiegelberg is at 1108 m above sea level; at 1170 m above sea level, Point de Vue is the highest point in Le Noirmont. The two elevations therefore refer to different named points within the municipality.
The “Des Franches-Montagnes au Doubs” hike leads from Le Noirmont down into the Parc naturel régional du Doubs and then onto the Arête des Sommêtres ridge, whose rock face drops into the valley. The “Boucle au départ du Noirmont” is a 14 km family hike with an approximate duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. Trail conditions may vary. The 30 km “La Goule Bike” loop (No. 713) for mountain bikes starts and ends in Le Noirmont. It passes through dense forests, along a particularly wild riverbank and then through typical Jura landscapes. These routes offer different kinds of outings: a hike with a stated approximate duration and a longer mountain bike loop starting and finishing in Le Noirmont.
Watchmaking and local history
The Musée de la Boîte de Montre in Le Noirmont is the first museum devoted exclusively to the manufacture of watch cases. Housed in a fully renovated former workshop, it features two types of workshop typical of the region: a workshop for turning round watch cases dating from the 1850s and a mechanised workshop from the 1920s. Two different periods and ways of working are presented side by side.
The former churches are also part of the area’s history. The former church of Le Noirmont stands on the foundations of a 16th-century chapel consecrated in 1513. The former Saint-Hubert church dates from the 17th century; its nave was rebuilt in 1883–1884. It was decommissioned in 1969 and now serves as a cultural events centre.
The sculpture at the roundabout evokes the municipality’s history, economy, cultural life and community associations through local motifs. These include the Franches-Montagnes Carimentran carnival, Franches-Montagnes horses, watchmaking and the “Le Chant du Gros” music festival.
Local offerings and getting there
During opening hours, the Fromagerie des Franches-Montagnes in Le Noirmont offers a tour of its demonstration cheese dairy by reservation, along with visitor experiences such as the “Char apéro” and the “Sac découverte”. Check reservation requirements and the availability of your preferred experience before visiting.
Initium offers three-hour introductory workshops in watchmaking. In Le Noirmont, there are also four-hour workshops on assembling a watch, as well as full-day workshops that include an introduction to watchmaking, a meal and watch assembly. Workshop formats may change, so check current availability before booking.
The Chemins de fer du Jura serves Le Noirmont station and Creux-des-Biches station on request. Check the timetable separately when planning your journey.
Discover more destinations: Saignelégier, Epauvillers, Le Bémont, Muriaux, Les Bois, La Chaux-des-Breuleux, Les Breuleux, Les Enfers
For the regional travel overview: Franches-Montagnes.
