Alongside these are a striking border landscape, a historic tower and seasonal alpine farming. This gives you different aspects of the municipality to consider for your stay: a longer hike, cultural history or views of the regional landscape.
La Rippe and the Jura Landscape
La Rippe is considered Switzerland’s southernmost Jura municipality and stretches as a long strip parallel to the French-Swiss border. In the southeast, the municipal area extends across a plateau into the Lake Geneva basin; in the northwest, it rises steeply to the Dôle range. Its 1,677-metre summit lies just 50 metres outside the municipality to the northeast. The area then slopes down towards the Vallée des Dappes. There, at an elevation of 1,240 to 1,300 metres, it borders France to the northwest. The municipality’s natural boundaries include the Combe de la Joie to the northeast and the Boiron to the east.
The regional setting is also clearly defined: La Rippe is one of the 35 territorial municipalities in the Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois. The park has been of national importance since 2013 and stretches from the Dôle to Romainmôtier. In the wider region, it offers characteristic landscapes and protected nature. This means that the municipality’s precise geography and the broader Jura setting are both available to help you put your stay in context.
Hiking and Planning Your Stay
The “Au pied du Jura” hiking route starts and ends in La Rippe. It is 13.74 kilometres long and takes about 3 hours and 21 minutes; distance and duration may vary slightly depending on conditions. The route is rated T1, or easy, in terms of technical difficulty. These details complement each other when planning: the rating describes the technical difficulty, while the distance and approximate duration indicate how much time the hike will take. If you are looking for a hotel in La Rippe, you can use this information to see whether the hike suits your planned stay, without needing to include a route through other places.
In the wider region, the hiking route also highlights the Abbaye de Bonmont. The abbey lies outside La Rippe and was built in the early 12th century. It adds a historical point of interest to the regional context of the hike, but should be distinguished from sights within the municipality.
Local History and Former Uses
The Tour de l’Horloge was built in 1844, renovated in 2003 and designated a historic monument. The tower formerly housed a municipal slaughterhouse, as well as premises for the fire brigade and municipal services. The “La Rippe, village” stop is listed as the arrival stop for visits to the Tour de l’Horloge.
The history of the Auberge de l’Etoile can also be placed in context: it was founded in La Rippe in 1710 as a municipal tavern. In 1768, it was part of a block of buildings that included a bakery, butcher’s shop and school. Another historical reference dates back to 1319. From that year, La Rippe was under the protection of Louis de Savoie, who confirmed the inhabitants’ right to use the pastures and forests. Together, these dates illustrate different chapters in the municipality’s history and its land use, without equating the tavern’s former function with its present-day operation.
Seasonal Alpine Farming
The Alpage de La Germine is located in the municipality of La Rippe. In summer, from June to October, the animals are driven to the high-altitude pastures. During the summer grazing season, cheesemakers and shepherds look after the herd and make cheese. This period gives alpine farming a specific seasonal context, while the “Au pied du Jura” route offers a hiking option with a stated distance and approximate duration. This lets you choose between a seasonal landscape theme and an activity with a specified timeframe when planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Essertines-Sur-Rolle, Grens, Arzier, Nyon, Bursinel, Rolle, Genolier, Prangins.
Go to the main travel overview: Nyon.
