L'Auberson: Border History, Cheese and Winter Trails

L'Auberson is known as a long street village at an altitude of 1,100 metres. Its attractions range from the history of the French-Swiss border and settlement to cheese-making and winter activities in the Jura. You can get to know the area through different themes, depending on your interests: historical educational trails, insights into cheese production or seasonal activities in the snow.

Border history and archaeological traces

The Sentier des Bornes is an educational trail with eleven information panels about the history of the border between France and Switzerland. It also covers iron ore mining and the transition from farming to the manufacture of music boxes. Medieval villages are another topic: during a war, their residents fled from Les Fourgs in France to L'Auberson in Switzerland, and the villages were abandoned. The trail thus links border history with the history of work and settlement.

The Sentier des Bornes is mostly flat and is considered suitable for everyone. However, weather and trail conditions can affect its suitability. The Balade archéologique de L'Auberson focuses on something different: it shows traces of land clearance associated with human settlement in the area since prehistoric times. Among the visible traces is the entrance to a gallery in an iron mine shaft. Physical access to individual traces may vary.

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and natural ice

The L'Auberson cross-country skiing area offers a total of 25 kilometres of classic and skating trails. Grooming depends on the season and weather. There is also a signposted 8.8-kilometre snowshoe loop. It runs between Col des Etroits, Vers-le-Bois, L'Auberson, Le Carre, La Vraconnaz and Noirvaux-dessus; whether it can be used depends on snow conditions. The trail kilometres describe the overall offering, while the 8.8 kilometres refer to a single loop.

The Centre nordique L'Auberson et Mont des Cerfs in the Jura offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in a landscape of forests, sunny plateaus, pastures and a nature reserve. From L'Auberson, you can also reach the Centre nordique des Fourgs in neighbouring France and the Centre nordique de la Côte-aux-Fées in Val de Travers, in the canton of Neuchâtel. Check route conditions according to the season.

When weather conditions are suitable, the natural ice rink at Bas-de-la-Combe offers ice skating. It is located in a hollow in the Jura Mountains and is considered one of the few natural ice rinks in French-speaking Switzerland. The rink is dependent on the season and weather. Winter activities therefore differ not only by type, but also by the conditions that determine whether they can be enjoyed.

Cheese and regional culture

The Tyrode cheese dairy has a visitor gallery. The educational tour described in December 2023 covers the secrets, history and processes of cheese production, as well as the region, its history and traditions. Check the current access arrangements before visiting.

In nearby Sainte-Croix, MuMAPS presents the Baud brothers' collection of watches, singing bird boxes, dolls and animated pictures. The collection also includes a 1900 fairground organ with a mechanical orchestra.

Discover more destinations: Yverdon-Les-Bains, Grandson, Vuiteboeuf, La Praz, Bonvillars, Yvonand, Villars-Burquin, Vugelles-La Mothe.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Jura, Vaud.