Saint-Imier

Saint-Imier is absolutely brimming with experiences. Visitors can ride the funicular to the top of the mountain and, depending on the season, ride back down on a bike, scooter, sledge or Segway. They can indulge their curiosity and their taste buds at the métairies, Alpine farms that make cheese and serve it straight to their guests. Meanwhile, amateur archaeologists will be inspired by the ruins of the medieval Château d’Erguel.

At 1,289 metres high, Mont Soleil marks the top of the Montagne du Droit ridge. Visitors to its astronomical observatory can make their way there along the adventure trail. For winter sports enthusiasts, Mont Soleil makes for a lovely little ski resort with seven areas and 30 kilometres of slopes for guests to discover. The mountain near Saint-Imier also connects the past and future. Alongside Switzerland’s largest solar power station, signs of a meteor strike can be seen at Champ Meusel.

The Chasseral is not just one of the highest peaks in the Jura; its national park is also fully committed to sustainability. Here, earleaf bellflowers stand side by side with shrubs and yellow gentians. Once they’ve covered the first 1,400 metres through the forest, hikers are surrounded by lush mountain pastures. The Combe Grède, a steep-sided gorge, is always worth a look, as is the Alpine panorama that stretches from the Säntis to Mont Blanc on a clear day.