Discover Les Bois

When looking for a hotel in Les Bois, the focus of your trip can help guide you: the municipality combines trails and winter sports with golf and regional cultural history. From La Chaux-de-Fonds, Les Bois is the western gateway to the Canton of Jura and the Franches-Montagnes plateau.

Landscape and orientation

Les Bois lies at an altitude of 1,035 metres in the southwestern part of the Franches-Montagnes, on a slope that gently descends to the south. The municipality covers a gently rolling section of the Jura plateau. Marshy depressions, mostly without surface drainage, and limestone knolls are part of this terrain, as is an extensive area of pasture on the plateau. There, tall spruce trees, standing singly or in groups, break up the open spaces.

To the northwest, the Doubs valley, cut canyon-like into the Jura plateau, forms the municipal boundary; wooded valley slopes with bands of rock define this stretch. To the west, the municipality extends as far as the Combe du Valanvron, an erosion valley that joins the Doubs valley at Biaufond. On the plateau, pastures and individual spruce trees shape the landscape, while the Doubs valley is deeply incised.

Trails and activities

In Les Bois, horseback rides are offered on designated bridle paths. Walking trails run along the Doubs, and mountain bike tours follow designated routes. In winter, cross-country skiing excursions are possible in the forests around Les Bois; snow conditions vary. The activities therefore differ by mode of travel and landscape: the walking trails follow the river, while horseback and mountain bike tours use their own designated routes.

Lac de Biaufond is the starting or finishing point of the trail through the Gorges de la Ronde. The route connects Les Bois with Biaufond via the Échelles de la Mort. Along the way are several footbridges; the trail also passes numerous caves and reaches Biaufond through a well-preserved natural landscape. If you are looking for a connection between Les Bois and Biaufond, this route centres on the gorge, footbridges and caves.

The mapped trail Sur les traces du Paysan Horloger runs through the municipalities of Les Bois and Le Noirmont. Along rural paths, it introduces the history of the farmer-watchmakers of the Franches-Montagnes. This gives it a different focus from the trail through the Gorges de la Ronde: here, the history of the farmer-watchmakers is the defining theme.

Golf and culture

Golf Club Les Bois has an 18-hole course set in the characteristic landscape of the wooded pastures of the Franches-Montagnes. The holes alternate between forest and more open terrain. The contrast between these two settings is part of the course’s character.

The Musée du Ski is housed in the former restaurant at Le Boéchet station and traces the development of skiing from its beginnings to the present day. Two timelines show the development of alpine and Nordic skiing. This lets you explore both disciplines through their respective timelines in the same museum.

At Maison Rouge, visitors can freely explore the stables of the Fondation pour le cheval and the exhibition about the Franches-Montagnes horse. Another museum, in the basement of the Espace Paysan Horloger building, traces the history of the farmer-watchmakers. The two places cover different aspects of regional culture: the Franches-Montagnes horse and the history of the farmer-watchmakers.

Historical traces and getting there

The Moulin de La Mort supplied the people of Les Bois and the surrounding area with flour; it burned down on 12 April 1893. The surviving plague cemetery was established in 1636. These dates offer two specific historical reference points, from the everyday provision of flour to the area’s earlier history.

The regional Chemins de fer jurassiens network includes the La Chaux-de-Fonds–Saignelégier–Glovelier connection and the La Chaux-de-Fonds–Le Noirmont–Les Breuleux–Tramelan–Tavannes connection; Les Bois is on the second line. If you are including rail travel in your plans, check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Les Genevez, Lajoux, Les Breuleux, Le Noirmont, Les Enfers, Le Bémont, Montfaucon Ju, Saignelégier

For the broader travel overview: Franches-Montagnes.