Bellelay is known as the birthplace of the Tête de Moine cheese. This is why the village has a Tête de Moine museum, where you can buy various local products, including the famous cheese. It is also the starting point of the Via Berna, which crosses the Bernese Jura, runs along the Aare and ends at Susten.
We had decided to follow the Bellelay Trail, which is a loop trail that takes you through the Petit-Val. However, there is another trail in the Petit-Val that you can follow, and there are signs along the Bellelay Trail to guide you to it.
The Bellelay Trail, although it passes through typical Jura landscapes, is somewhat disappointing because there are few viewpoints. Indeed, it is only in the vicinity of Moron, Sornetan and Fornet-Dessous that you pass through open spaces. The section of the trail that runs along the rock face above the Pichoux Gorge also offers some beautiful viewpoints, although they are often hidden by vegetation.
From Bellelay, you follow the road to Moron. Although this road is normally not very busy, there was a lot of traffic on the day we did this hike, which spoilt the experience a bit. From Moron, the rest of the trail is mainly downhill until you reach the Sorne River. From there, you climb up to the edge of the rocks, and there a small, unmarked trail leads you down into the Pichoux Gorge, to the Blanches Fontaines.
A gentle descent followed by a steep climb takes you to the houses in Fornet-Dessous, where you find the pastures. From there, you cross the hill to return to the starting point in Bellelay.
Itinerary: Bellelay – Moron – Sornetan – Le Pichoux – Fornet-Dessous – Bellelay
Distance: 15 km
Altitude gain: 640 m
Duration: 4h30
Vorheriger Beitrag
