Chaux-Neuve can be explored from several angles: the Nordic area with its ski jumps, a signposted circular hiking route, the parish church of Saint-Jacques and guided encounters at Parc Polaire each offer a different focus. For planning, it helps to distinguish between seasonal winter sports, a two-hour hike, and cultural and nature-related themes.
Ski Jumping and Winter Sports
The Nordic area of the Tremplins de Saut à ski de Chaux-Neuve is located in the Jura Massif, in the south of the Doubs département and within the municipality of Chaux-Neuve. The site has four types of ski jumps available for training.
The Station de Chaux-Neuve has a green and a blue ski run, a beginner slope and a toboggan run. Operations are seasonal, and the facility configuration may change; therefore, check the current status before your trip. Snowshoes, alpine skis and cross-country skis are also available for hire at the station. Rental availability may vary.
The CĂ©briot Loop on Foot
The Cébriot pédestre route is a moderate nine-kilometre loop. It is listed as taking two hours, with 210 metres of ascent and 210 metres of descent. These figures provide a concrete basis for planning the day; the route also passes through more than one type of terrain.
Along the way, the route passes the Ruisseau du CĂ©briot, the Champvent viewpoint and the ski jumps. Pasture tracks, streams and forests alternate. The ski jumps thus feature in two different contexts: as a training site in the Nordic area and as a point along the hiking route. As trail conditions may change depending on the season, check them before setting out.
Church and Historical Furnishings
The parish church of Saint-Jacques was rebuilt between 1607 and 1684, with a chapel added that had already been built in 1444. The church therefore brings together two distinct periods of construction. Its furnishings also span several periods: they include artworks and fittings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, including a triptych, a statue of Saint Peter, altarpieces and a pulpit.
Guided Animal Encounters
Parc Polaire offers guided encounters with Eurasian wildlife. The animals mentioned include reindeer, European bison and Tarpan horses; the animal population may change. The park also takes part in a European breeding and conservation programme for the European bison and the European moose. Alongside winter sports and hiking, animal encounters and species conservation are therefore distinct areas of focus.
Access to La Jaique
La Jaique can only be reached on foot or on cross-country skis. As access conditions may vary by season, check them before travelling. This calls for a different kind of planning than the CĂ©briot Loop: here, the focus is on the possible means of access, while the hiking route is described by its length, duration and elevation gain and loss.
Discover more destinations: Verrières-de-Joux, Amancey, Granges-Narboz, Les Combes, Métabief, Valentigney, Vuillecin, Étalans.
View the wider travel guide: Doubs.
