Marchairuz - Mollendruz crossing
From the Marchairuz Pass car park, head towards Mont Tendre, through the forest and pastures to admire the flora and fauna of the Jura vaudois regional nature park!
You'll pass a number of alpine chalets before reaching the very top of Mont Tendre, from where you'll have a panoramic view of Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel.
On the way back down, you can stop off at the Mont Tendre refreshment bar before continuing on to the Mollendruz pass.
Chemin des crêtes (Traversée Marchairuz - Mollendruz) 2020 ©MRT (3)
Chemin des crêtes (Traversée Marchairuz - Mollendruz) 2020 ©MRT (2)
Chemin des crêtes (Traversée Marchairuz - Mollendruz) 2020 ©MRT (5)
Mont Tendre 2020 ©MRT
Chemin des crêtes (Traversée Marchairuz - Mollendruz) 2020 ©MRT (1)
Chemin des crêtes (Traversée Marchairuz - Mollendruz) 2020 ©MRT (6)
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Espace Découvertes
Enter the world of the Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois thanks to its "Espace Découvertes" at the Marchairuz Pass! Here you can discover projects related to the landscape, biodiversity, slow tourism, the promotion of local products and the local economy or with education for sustainable development.
There are two trails to explore in the surrounding area:
- The Sentier du Sapin à Siméon, 1.5 km from the pass in the direction of Bière, describes the natural riches and tells the sylvopastoral history of the Park.
- The Wood Ant Trail, at the Marchairuz pass, presents this little insect in a playful and educational way for the pleasure of young and old.
Espace Découvertes (©ParcJuravaudois)
Espace Découvertes Marchairuz (©ParcJuravaudois)
Espace Découvertes Marchairuz (©ParcJuravaudois)
Espace Découvertes Marchairuz (©ParcJuravaudois)
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Mont Tendre
Mont Tendre (1,679 m) is the highest point of the Swiss Jura. At its summit, you will discover a magnificent 360° panoramic view from the Alps to the forest of Risoud, including Lake Geneva and the majestic Mont Blanc.
Hiking enthusiasts reach the summit by the Suisse Mobile route "Chemin des Crêtes du Jura", a 5-hour walk that leads from the Mollendruz pass to the summit, 500 m higher, before descending to the Marchairuz pass. Mont Tendre bears its name well: the ascent from the Mollendruz pass is suitable for beginners’ hikers and is done in stages. The descent is also gradual, as far as the Marchairuz pass.
The summit is also accessible to the less sports minded, thanks to the road that leads from the village of Montricher, at Pied du Jura, to the Mont Tendre Alpine café where tasty traditional dishes are served. From there, there is only about fifteen minutes to walk to reach the highest point of the Swiss Jura.
Mont Tendre (Claude Jaccard)
(©Vincent Bailly)
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Mont-Tendre Alpine chalet
The Alpine café offers traditional meals prepared with local products. The dishes are cooked only on a wood fire with a motto: "from the pitchfork to the table fork"! The pastures of Mont Tendre extend all around the highest peak of the Swiss Jura, the highest point being 1,679 metres above sea level. It is an ideal stopover for hiking and mountain bike enthusiasts, the alpine pastures being situated on the Suisse Mobile route n°5 "Chemin des Crêtes du Jura"; it is the midway point between the passes of Marchairuz and Mollendruz.
Buvette du Mont-Tendre (© Vallée de Joux)
Buvette du Mont-Tendre (© Vallée de Joux)
(© MRT)
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Mollendruz Chalet
The Chalet du Mollendruz welcomes visitors in a pleasant space.
Food lovers can taste fondues or a delicious Vacherin cheese prepared in the oven as well as various alpine dishes including homemade pies, before or after the effort, with a beautiful view on the region of Lake Geneva and the Alps.
When the access road to the chalet is snowed in, it becomes a sledging run for the pleasure of the little ones.
Chalet Mollendruz (Stephanie Montesinos / Steph'M Photographies)
Chalet Mollendruz (Stephanie Montesinos / Steph'M Photographies)
Chalet Mollendruz (Stephanie Montesinos / Steph'M Photographies)
Chalet Mollendruz (Stephanie Montesinos / Steph'M Photographies)
Chalet du Mollendruz (© Morges Région Tourisme)
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The Mollendruz
From Lausanne or Morges, the pass is one of the main accesses to the Vallée de Joux, a kind of link between the Lake Geneva area and Lac de Joux.
The road is very well maintained, is pleasant to ride and has numerous turns. At the top, you will find a large car park, which is very frequented during weekends and holidays. This car park enables you to park your vehicle in order to discover the ridges of the Jura, on foot or by mountain bike during the summer.
In the winter, the Mollendruz region offers winter ambiance and landscapes. Many cross-country ski trails, snow walking trails and snowshoeing trails are the delight of outdoor enthusiasts and winter enthusiasts.
Mollendruz (© Morges Région Tourisme)
(©MRT)
(©MRT)
(©MRT)
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Nordic Sport
Snowshoe & Cross-country skiing equipment rental in winter| E-Mountainbike & hiking equipment rental in summer | Accompanied hikes all year round
Nordic (© MRT)
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