The Gorges de l’Orbe

The Orbe is best known for its caves, which are a very popular tourist attraction in the summer when it is hot. Indeed, you can drive right up to the entrance of the caves. These caves, along with the nearby Grotte aux Fées, are part of a whole underground network, some parts of which have not yet been completely explored.

Another, but less well-known, attraction is the Orbe Gorges. These extend for about 10 kilometers between the Le Day and Orbe. Even though a little effort is required to cross them, they also offer some respite from the heat in the summer. The Orbe Gorges are part of the Via Francigena, a long-distance hiking trail that starts in Canterbury and ends in Rome. The Via Francigena allows you to discover some of the most beautiful parts of Switzerland, as it crosses the Grand Saint Bernard Pass.

The day we did this hike had been preceded by a period of heavy rainfall. As a result, there was a lot of water, and the environment was particularly noisy. Some parts were especially spectacular because of the amount of water.

From the Le Day station, you just have to go down to the Day dam to find the start of the hike. Below the dam, you follow the left bank of the Orbe until you reach the Ile power plant, where the trail leads to the other side of the river. Along the trail on the right bank, you sometimes must pass through short tunnels. You are then quite high above the river, which you do not follow closely.

At Les Clées, you cross the Orbe again to climb up through the small village at the foot of the castle of the same name. After Les Clées, you walk along a good forest path first, before continuing on a slightly wilder trail. However, you are still quite high above the river. At one point, a fork in the trail would have allowed us to cross the river again and take a slightly more exposed trail. We decided to continue and pass by the Montcherand Grotto. This is a magnificent cave, unfortunately marred by the parties that must take place there.

After passing near another power station, you continue along the right bank of the river until you reach the sports ground. From there, a small climb leads you to the center of the medieval town of Orbe.

Route: Le Day – Day Dam – Les Clées – Montcherand Cave – Orbe
Distance: 14.2Km
Elevation gain: 230m positive / 540m negative
Duration: 4h