Baulmes

Baulmes appeals to visitors with a range of interests: hiking and woodland scenery are part of the area’s character, alongside a museum and historic sights. If you are looking for a hotel, it may help to decide whether you would rather focus on trails and nature or on culture and local history. Highlights include the Aiguilles de Baulmes, two hiking options with different formats, a collection covering several subject areas, and buildings from different centuries.

Hiking and woodland

Since 2003, the Aiguilles de Baulmes have been designated both a natural forest reserve and a special forest reserve. The reserve can be reached by train from Baulmes station and via Les Mouilles. It is considered a habitat for chamois. The Tour des Aiguilles is a carefully marked circular hiking trail.

The Trail 7K Baulmes starts at the station and passes through the countryside around the village. It is 7 kilometres long and has 649 metres of elevation gain. The two routes differ in format: the Tour des Aiguilles is a circular route, while the Trail 7K’s distance and elevation gain provide a different guide for planning a hike.

Another woodland attraction is the Sentier des Géants, created by the municipality, which highlights three monumental trees. In Baulmes, suitable old trees have been marked since 1966; they are allowed to complete their biological cycle, through death and decay. The Sentier des Géants draws attention to individual trees, while the marking practice takes account of their entire biological life cycle.

Museum and local history

The Musée de Baulmes offers a self-guided visit across three exhibition levels. Its collection includes domestic and craft objects as well as historic and prehistoric artefacts from Baulmes and the surrounding region. The museum is in the centre of the village, about five minutes from the station. It is housed in the former Maison de la Dîme, whose construction dates to around 1500. The collection and the building thus reveal different aspects of the area: objects from several subject areas and a house dating back roughly five centuries.

The Eglise de Baulmes is part of the European network of Cluniac sites. It was first mentioned in 1228 under the name “Saint-Pierre.” Visits are possible by prior request. The Tour de l'Horloge was built in 1750 and is classified as a historic monument; it can only be visited by prior request.

The Abri de la Cure is a prehistoric rock shelter and is considered national cultural heritage. Evidence of human settlement there dates to around 13,000 BC. This early date differs markedly from the later-dated buildings in Baulmes and offers a broader perspective on the depth of the area’s history.

Discover more destinations: Romainmôtier-Envy, Donneloye, Yvonand, Onnens, Bonvillars, L'abbaye, Sainte-Croix, Villars-Burquin

For the regional travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.