Northern Vaud Jura: Nature, Culture and Tours

If you’re looking for a hotel in the Northern Vaud Jura, you can plan your trip around what interests you most: karst landscapes and wildlife watching, a particular hike, cultural heritage or a seasonal experience by the lake. The region offers a variety of options, from natural features and viewpoints to museums, historic buildings and regional visits.

Nature, Karst and Wildlife

The Jura vaudois Regional Nature Park stretches across three regions, including the Jura-Nord vaudois. As part of the Jura Mountains, the park features a typical karst landscape of peat bogs, caves and sinkholes. The Grottes de Vallorbe offer a closer look at the geology: formed by the River L’Orbe, they feature stalactites, stalagmites and limestone columns. The visitor route leads into La Cathédrale, a chamber more than 30 metres high, and ends at the Trésor des Fées, which houses a collection of 250 minerals from around the world.

Above Vallorbe, Juraparc offers the chance to observe wolves, bears and bison in an extensive, natural-style park where the animals roam semi-freely. Wildlife-watching opportunities may vary. The park also has a playground and an enclosure with farm animals, which are especially popular with children.

Hiking and Winter Tours

A challenging circular hike from Sainte-Croix covers 12 kilometres and leads to the Chasseron, the highest peak in the Nord vaudois. From the summit, depending on visibility, you can see the Alps, Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Geneva and the Nord vaudois plain. Since Roman coins were discovered there, the Chasseron has also been associated with an ancient place of worship. Seasonal conditions may affect whether the hike is accessible.

Another option is a hike through the Gorges de Covatannaz. It starts at Sainte-Croix railway station; for the return journey, the “Travys” panoramic train connects via Baulmes to Sainte-Croix or continues to Yverdon-les-Bains. Check current train services before travelling. For winter days, the Sainte-Croix / Les Rasses region has three ski touring routes, each taking around 1.5 to 2 hours with an average elevation gain of 450 metres. Snow and route conditions may vary.

Thermal Spring and Lakeshore

In Yverdon-les-Bains, the thermal baths are built around a sulphurous spring that emerges from the ground at 29°C. The facilities include two pools, whirlpools, a sauna, bubble baths, massage jets and activated water currents. The water temperature is 34°C in winter and 28°C in summer. Check current access arrangements before visiting the thermal baths.

Yvonand’s sandy beaches slope gently into the water and have a low current, making them particularly suitable for children. Seasonal activities include pedal boats, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, sailing, motorboating and kitesurfing. Equipment availability may vary. The thermal baths and the lakeshore offer different ways to include water-based activities in your travel plans.

Cultural Heritage and History

The Abbatiale de Romainmôtier was built between 990 and 1028 to plans based on the church of Cluny. Today, it regularly hosts church services and concerts. The Roman mosaics of Orbe-Boscéaz offer another journey through time: they come from nine rooms in a luxurious Roman villa and depict deities, geometric trompe-l’œil patterns and scenes from Greek mythology, including the Labyrinth of Theseus and the Minotaur. The mosaics are protected in four pavilions and can be visited seasonally.

The Château de Grandson was associated with the Battle of Grandson in 1476, a decisive event in European history. Following its reopening on 1 April 2026, the permanent exhibition “Grandson: 1000 ans d’histoire” covers more than 1,000 m² across 15 rooms and four floors; exhibition details may change. In Vallorbe, the Musée du fer et du chemin de fer presents the history of railways and ironworking across five rooms. Its model railway tracks extend for 227 metres. The museum is located on the site of the Grandes Forges, where six water wheels on the Orbe are in operation.

Cycling Route and Regional Visits

The 49-kilometre Route du Pied du Jura 50 cycling route connects Yverdon-les-Bains with Bière and passes the Roman mosaics of Orbe-Boscéaz and the Abbatiale de Romainmôtier. Check route conditions and signage before setting off. This makes it easy to assess the route by its length and the cultural sites along the way.

Visits related to regional products can also be part of your travel plans. The Cave des Viticulteurs de Bonvillars welcomes visitors six days a week to discover its specialities. Cellar and vineyard tours, as well as participation in events, are available by reservation. Seasonal visits to truffle gardens in Bavois, Bonvillars, Mathod and Suchy include explanations from truffle growers, a truffle-hunting demonstration with a truffle dog and tastings of truffle-based products. Dates and providers may vary.

Discover more destinations: Grandevent, Yverdon-Les-Bains, Cronay, Le Sentier, Sainte-Croix, Romainmôtier-Envy, Les Rasses, Le Lieu, Vuiteboeuf, L'abbaye, Villars-Burquin, Bullet Vd, L'auberson, Concise, Montagny-Près-Yverdon, Yvonand, Orbe Vd, Champvent, Giez Vd, Baulmes, Le Chenit, Mathod, Donneloye, L'abbaye, Vallorbe, Bonvillars, Ballaigues, Grandson, La Praz, Vugelles-La Mothe, Onnens, Vaulion.

Back to the main travel overview: Vaud.