La Brévine: Trails, winter and Lac des Taillères

La Brévine offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: winter trails and cross-country skiing, historical walks, a cross-border snowshoe route and Lac des Taillères. If you are looking for a hotel in La Brévine, the time of year can be a good starting point for your plans. Around the lake and in the village, the activities vary depending on the season and the route you choose.

Lac des Taillères and seasonal activities

Lac des Taillères lies three kilometres west of the village of La Brévine. Fir trees line its southern shore, while pastureland borders the northern shore. In summer, you can swim in the lake. During periods of severe winter cold, it is possible to ice-skate on the frozen surface. The lake can be reached by car, on foot, by bicycle or on cross-country skis.

The Chemin des Taillères No. 803 runs along the shore. This 11-kilometre winter hiking route starts and ends in La Brévine, combining a set distance with the lake as a landmark. In winter, the Vallée de La Brévine also has regularly groomed cross-country ski trails of varying lengths for skiers of all ability levels.

Winter trails and cross-border views

For a shorter option, the four-kilometre La Brévine–Châteleu snowshoe route offers a point of comparison. It crosses the French-Swiss border and opens up clear views of the Vallée de La Brévine, the Alps in the distance and the Val Morteau to the north. Snow conditions and availability depend on the season; check them before setting out.

The Sentier des bornes also follows the French-Swiss border. Along the way, it passes boundary stones dating from 1766 and 1819 and reaches an altitude of 1,173 metres. On the same route, you can encounter both the border landscape and tangible evidence of its history. The La Brévine–Les Verrières hike crosses Jura pastures, passes Lac des Taillères and descends gently to the border village of Les Verrières.

Walks through village history and forest

The three-kilometre La Brévine au temps passé circular walk traces the village’s former way of life and activities through residents’ memories and anecdotes. The Temple de La Brévine, built in 1604, adds a striking landmark to this historical perspective. For those interested in the history of the paths, the Vy aux Moines offers another perspective: this medieval route was laid out by monks from Môtiers to reach the canons of Montebenoît. It is signposted in both directions for hikers and mountain bikers.

The Balade forestière et contes combines a woodland walk with information about 24 native tree species, accessible via QR codes. Some trees are accompanied by stories to read or listen to. As there is no internet access along the entire route, download the content in advance from arbresetcontes.ch. On La Brévine au temps passé, QR codes link to films about the present-day and past lives of the valley’s residents.

Temple, events and a regional speciality

The bell tower of the Temple de La Brévine features a lighting installation whose colours change according to the temperature. Five projectors come on at nightfall: red in warm conditions and blue in cold conditions. The Fête du Froid is also held every year, with a programme that includes activities, sports, competitions, performances and refreshments.

Another item to consider when planning your trip is Fondue Chaux-des-Taillères, a speciality of the Vallée de La Brévine. It comes from a cheese dairy in the valley and is served in a special bread called «Chaux-des-Taillères», together with diced bacon, shallots and Neuchâtel white wine. For a cycling trip, try the gently rolling Défi de La Brévine: this 21.4-kilometre circular route passes through three villages around the valley.

Practical services may also play a part in your travel plans: Sibéria Sport in La Brévine rents out cross-country skis and snowshoes; check availability before your trip. Les Ateliers du Bûcheron offers axe throwing, traditional sawing and archery. The offering may change. You can tailor your hotel stay to the season you have planned and the activities that interest you locally.

Discover more destinations: Le Locle, Les Brenets, Le Cerneux-Péquignot, Les Ponts-De-Martel, Brot-Plamboz.

Back to the main travel overview: Le Locle.