Ocourt: Hiking, the Doubs and History

Ocourt is a small farming village in the valley bottom of the Doubs in the Folded Jura, west of Saint-Ursanne. The village is at 424 m above sea level; Porrentruy is approximately seven kilometres to the south as the crow flies. If you choose Ocourt as your destination, you can tailor your stay to different interests: the river landscape, named trails or local history.

The Doubs Valley and the Jura Heights

Ocourt lies on the banks of the French-Swiss Doubs. In the Clos du Doubs area, the former municipal territory included a valley cut deep between two Jura mountain ranges. The flat valley floor there was 200 to 500 m wide; the slopes are mostly wooded, generally steep and partly crossed by rock faces. To the south, the former municipal territory extended to Lai Grétche at 885 m above sea level; to the north, it reached Les Chainions at 909 m above sea level, the highest point in Ocourt. On the southern slope of the Jura range are two deep erosion valleys; between them lies Montagne de Valbert at 790 m above sea level.

Hiking from Ocourt

The “Randonnée des citernes au Clos du Doubs” hike starts in Ocourt. It is described as easy, is 10.7 km long and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. The route crosses the Doubs and then follows a forest path south. Along the way, it passes a cistern described as part of Épiquerez’s unique cultural heritage. The hike thus combines a river crossing, a forest path and a named cultural site in one route. Check trail conditions before setting out; check locally whether the cistern is accessible.

A separate mountain bike route

For mountain bikes, a recommended Jurassic Bike detour leads from Col de Montvoie down to Ocourt along forest paths. It then follows the southern bank of the Doubs to St. Ursanne. The mountain bike route is not explicitly signposted. This recommendation describes a different route from the hike starting in Ocourt: it begins at Col de Montvoie and heads towards St. Ursanne. The stated hiking time therefore does not apply to the cycling route.

Church and castle ruins

The freestanding Église d’Ocourt – La Motte stands between Ocourt and La Motte. The church is mentioned as early as 1139 and provides an early historical reference point in the village’s history. Near Ocourt, at Montvoie in the Clos du Doubs, an inventory edition dated 1 January 2026 lists medieval castle ruins. The church and ruins are separate points of interest for those wishing to explore historic buildings as well as the landscape.

Plan your public transport journey

The public transport network map, valid from 14 December 2025, shows the St-Ursanne, Gare – Ville – Ocourt – La Motte connection. Check the timetable for your travel date before planning your journey. Together with the separate information about the hike and the mountain bike detour, this connection provides another practical reference point for planning your trip around Ocourt.

Discover more destinations: Courchavon, Beurnevésin, Seleute, Asuel, Porrentruy, Vendlincourt, Courgenay Ju, Bonfol

View the overarching travel guide: Porrentruy.