Le Chenit: Watchmaking, Risoud and Lac de Joux

Le Chenit brings together watchmaking, forest trails and seasonal activities on Lac de Joux. Options range from watchmaking exhibitions and a themed educational trail to hikes and winter sports. Which of these interests matters most to you can help shape your stay.

Watchmaking and craftsmanship

The Espace Horloger is located in Le Sentier in a former watch factory. Two permanent exhibitions focus on the history of watchmaking and the Vallée de Joux. In Le Brassus, the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet offers a different perspective: it provides the public with an immersive experience of the brand’s cultural past, present and future. Nearly 300 watches are on display there; visitors can watch watchmakers and craftspeople at work through transparent workshops.

The two museums thus offer different ways to explore the subject: the Espace Horloger covers watchmaking and the history of the Vallée de Joux, while the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet focuses on a single brand and its workshops.

Resonance wood in the Risoud

The resonance wood of the Risoud also connects craftsmanship and cultural heritage. Instrument makers value this wood, which is included on the Canton of Vaud’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The resonance wood educational trail starts at Les Grandes Roches. Along its six-kilometre route, eleven information panels explain the properties of the wood used to make musical instruments.

The educational trail is accessible on foot in the warmer months and on cross-country skis in winter. Weather and trail conditions can change, so it is worth checking current conditions before your visit. Les Grandes Roches is also a major cross-country skiing area, with an extensive network of forest trails in the Risoud. Cross-country skiing competitions were held there during the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games—a historic link between the area and the sport.

Hiking and winter sports

For a longer hike, Le Tour du Lac de Joux starts in Le Sentier and initially follows the Orbe for just under two kilometres. After almost 22 kilometres, the route reaches L’Orient; it then follows the Orbe back to the starting point, completing a 25-kilometre circular route. These details make both the initial section and the full length of the hike clear. Plan your route according to current trail conditions.

In L’Orient, there is a floodlit alpine ski slope and a rail park with twelve features, where you can ride into the night. The facilities are seasonal, so check opening hours before you travel. This makes it easy to distinguish winter sports planning from the more year-round themes of watchmaking and the educational trail.

Activities on the lake and in Le Sentier

During severe frosts, Lac de Joux occasionally freezes over to form a large expanse of ice. It is used for ice skating and walking, including at Rocheray beach in Le Sentier. This activity depends on frost conditions; follow local safety guidance and check whether the lake has been officially opened. On Lac de Joux, the Ski Nautique et Wakeboard Club du lac de Joux offers wakeboarding and water skiing, including baby skiing, a jump ramp and a timed slalom course. Reservations are recommended.

Accro’Indoor, an adventure course in the structure of the ice rink, is located at the Centre Sportif Vallée de Joux in Le Sentier. Availability for individual visitors may vary. The Centre Sportif also has a wellness area with a sauna, hammam and outdoor hot tub; check the current availability of these facilities before your visit.

For travel, a direct train connects Le Brassus with Vevey every hour. As timetables are subject to change, it is advisable to check the connection before setting off. If you are looking for hotels in Le Chenit, choosing between watchmaking, hiking and seasonal activities can be a helpful starting point for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: L’abbaye, Vaulion, L’abbaye, Donneloye, Vugelles-La Mothe, Concise, Grandson, Ballaigues.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.