Attractions and Places To See around Les Gras - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Les Gras, a village in the Doubs department of France, include a mix of historical landmarks and natural sites. The area is characterized by its position between Mont Châteleu and the Rochers du Cerf, with the Theverot stream flowing through. Visitors can explore traditional farms, a 19th-century fountain, and various natural features like gorges and waterfalls. The region offers opportunities for hiking on marked trails, including sections of the GR5 and GTJ routes.
Best attractions and places to see around Les Gras
- The most popular attractions is Col sur le Mont, a trail that offers a low-traffic pass between Grand'Combe-Châteleu and Ville-du-Pont. This route provides a pleasant ride through alternating meadows and forest sections.
- Another must-see spot is Starting point of the Poëta-Raisse gorge, a waterfall and gorge. This location features a picnic area and parking, serving as an entrance to the Poëta-Raisse Gorge.
- Visitors also love La Brévine Weather Station, a man-made monument. This site is known for recording some of Switzerland's lowest winter temperatures, earning the area the nickname "Siberia of Switzerland."
- Les Gras is known for its historical sites, natural features, and extensive hiking trails. The area offers a variety of attractions to see and explore, from architectural heritage to scenic natural landscapes.
- The attractions around Les Gras are appreciated by the komoot community, with more than 60 upvotes and 16 photos shared by visitors.
Last updated: June 22, 2026
Starting point of the Poëta-Raisse gorge
Highlight • Waterfall
There are a few parking spaces, a large log cabin for picnics, and a signpost.
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Môtiers village center
Highlight • Settlement
Môtiers: from the Latin monasteries, meaning church or monastery. The foundation of Môtiers merges with the foundation of the priory of St-Pierre, probably in the 10th century in a still sparsely populated Val-de-Travers. The village developed around the monastery, then rich and powerful. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Counts of Neuchâtel were the rulers of Val-de-Travers and were represented by lords. The castle, first mentioned in 1344, became their residence. At the beginning of the 16th century, the construction of an inn and the famous "town house" began: it is the Hotel des Six-Communes. The building, as it can still be admired, dates from around 1590.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau stayed there from 1762 to 1765, but his disputes with the pastor of Montmollin forced the philosopher to leave Môtiers for the Ile Saint-Pierre. The 19th century left the capital a little distant from the industrial development of the rest of the district. There are a few small watch factories, a few absinthe distilleries and a company still present in the priory buildings that produces sparkling wines using the champagne method.
In 1987, the municipality developed a policy to protect its architectural heritage. The character of the village and the quality of its cultural and artistic life make Môtiers a place appreciated by visitors.
Text / Source: Val de Travers, Rue du Temple 8, 2114 Fleurier
val-de-travers.ch/page/motiers#:~:text=Histoire%20du%20village%20de%20Mostier%20-%20Moustier%20-,d%C3%A9veloppe%20autour%20du %20monast%C3%A8re%2C%20alors%20riche%20et%20puissant.
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La Brévine Weather Station
Highlight • Monument
Temperatures of −30 °C are not uncommon, earning the place the nickname "Siberia of Switzerland". At the La Brévine measuring station, on January 12, 1987, −41.8 °C was recorded, the lowest temperature ever measured at an official MeteoSchweiz station in Switzerland.
For the 1991–2020 normal period, the average annual temperature is 5.3 °C, with January at −3.5 °C being the coldest and July at 14.4 °C being the warmest monthly average temperatures. On average, around 183 frost days and 36 ice days are to be expected here. There are an average of 15 to 16 summer days per year, while an average of one heat day is recorded.
The MeteoSchweiz measuring station is located at an altitude of 1050 meters.
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Asphalt Mines of La Presta
Highlight • Historical Site
In 1711, the first modern scientist specializing in the field of asphalt, the Greek doctor Eirini d'Eyrinys, identified the first deposits on the northern anticline of Val-de-Travers. Initially interested in the therapeutic effects of this material, he laid the foundations for its modern use in his "Dissertation sur l'asphalt ou ciment naturel".
The first mine was open-pit and it seems well established that exploitation only concerned the Combe-Vaubayon deposit until 1812. The documents available do not agree on the exact date (around 1830) when the La Presta deposit on the southern slope of the valley would have started to be exploited.
After passing through various hands, the mine became the property of an English company, the "Neuchâtel Asphalte Company Ltd.", in 1873. It should be noted that asphalt, like salt, is subject to royal law and that in 1873 the latter charged a sum of around CHF 5 per tonne (around CHF 15 per tonne in 1986).
Around 1960, NACO Ltd. was taken over by one of the most powerful road companies in Europe, the British company Tarmac.
The asphalt mines of Presta were thus used artisanally and then industrially from 1712 to 1986 before being opened to the public.
Text / Source: Les Mines d'asphalte du Val-de-Travers
mines-asphalte.ch/a-propos
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Travers Village and Stone Bridge
Highlight • Settlement
The area of the 24.7 km² former municipal area includes the eastern section of the Val de Travers, which has a flat valley floor around 600 m wide. East of the village, the Areuse curves northwards, passes the narrow point between the steep slopes of Côte Lambercier and Côte de Rortier and then enters the Noiraigue basin, the western part of which also belonged to Travers. In the south, the municipal area extended over the densely wooded steep slope (Bois des Lacherels) to the anticline of the Chasseron. In the very southeast, at Soliat, it reached the upper edge of the Creux du Van rock arena, where the highest point in Travers was at 1410 m above sea level. To the north, the municipal area extended over the Rotel plateau and the Crêt de Sapel (1210 m above sea level) to the height of Roumaillard (1263 m above sea level) and into the dry valley of Combe Pellaton. This lies in the catchment area of the Vallée des Ponts high valley, the extreme southwest of which belonged to Travers. Particularly on the Rotel plateau and on the Crêt de Sapel there are extensive Jura high pastures with the typical mighty spruce trees, which stand either individually or in groups. In 1997, 4% of the municipal area was used for settlements, 43% for forest and woodland, 52% for agriculture and just over 1% was unproductive land.
Travers included the hamlets of Vers chez Montandon (730 m above sea level) to the right of the Areuse, Vers chez le Bois (837 m above sea level) on the northern slope of the valley and Le Sapelet (1098 m above sea level) on the southern slope of the Crêt de Sapel as well as numerous individual farms on the valley slopes and on the Jura heights. Neighbouring communities of Travers were Couvet, La Brévine, Les Ponts-de-Martel, Brot-Plamboz, Noiraigue and Gorgier in the canton of Neuchâtel and Provence in the canton of Vaud.
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Popular around Les Gras
Tips from the Community
Just a few hundred meters from the edge of the village is the entrance (or, coming from the other direction, the exit) of the Poëta Raisse Gorge. It can be visited and hiked free of charge. There are a few parking spaces, a large log cabin for picnics, and a signpost.
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Absinthe! Try this high-quality drink with its great history!
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Take the hike all the way up. The nature is beautiful with beautiful trails!
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In the heart of the mysterious land of absinthe, you'll find the magnificent Môtiers Waterfall and a beautiful forest hike through the Poëta Raisse Gorge. Not far from the idyllic village of Môtiers, home to the Maison de l'Absinthe (House of Absinthe), the Rousseau Waterfall and the Grotte de la Cascade (Cascade Cave) mark the starting point of a hike full of contrasts. The gorge trail begins here, leading through a series of ravines and past waterfalls. A fitting setting for the land of absinthe, where some have even claimed to have seen a fairy. The hike concludes with a verdant meadow landscape leading down to Fleurier. Opening Hours May 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023
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History of the village of Mostier - Moustier - Môtiers Môtiers: from the Latin monasteries, meaning church or monastery. The foundation of Môtiers merges with the foundation of the priory of St-Pierre, probably in the 10th century in a still sparsely populated Val-de-Travers. The village developed around the monastery, then rich and powerful. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Counts of Neuchâtel were the rulers of Val-de-Travers and were represented by lords. The castle, first mentioned in 1344, became their residence. At the beginning of the 16th century, the construction of an inn and the famous "town house" began: it is the Hotel des Six-Communes. The building, as it can still be admired, dates from around 1590. Jean-Jacques Rousseau stayed there from 1762 to 1765, but his disputes with the pastor of Montmollin forced the philosopher to leave Môtiers for the Ile Saint-Pierre. The 19th century left the capital a little distant from the industrial development of the rest of the district. There are a few small watch factories, a few absinthe distilleries and a company still present in the priory buildings that produces sparkling wines using the champagne method. In 1987, the municipality developed a policy to protect its architectural heritage. The character of the village and the quality of its cultural and artistic life make Môtiers a place appreciated by visitors. Text / Source: Val de Travers, Rue du Temple 8, 2114 Fleurier https://www.val-de-travers.ch/page/motiers#:~:text=Histoire%20du%20village%20de%20Mostier%20-%20Moustier%20-,d%C3%A9veloppe%20autour%20du %20monast%C3%A8re%2C%20alors%20riche%20et%20puissant.
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Bitumen Bitumen (Latin pix tumens, "sweating pitch", "earth pitch", "grave pitch") is (according to DIN EN 12597) the name for the dark-colored, semi-solid to hard, sticky hydrocarbon mixtures obtained during the gentle processing of petroleum. It is also present in natural asphalt. Due to its low content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), bitumen has replaced the previously used coal tar and is now used for the same purpose, primarily in road construction and for sealing work. Bitumen is a colloidal system made up of a dispersant, the maltenes, and the asphaltenes and petroleum resins dispersed in it. Text / Source: Wikipedia https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitumen
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Frequently Asked Questions
What natural attractions can I explore near Les Gras?
Les Gras is surrounded by impressive natural sites. You can visit the Starting point of the Poëta-Raisse gorge, known for its scenic beauty and a picnic area. Mont Châteleu, dominating the village at 1,302 meters, offers magnificent views and is accessible via marked hiking trails. The Chaudières Waterfall, with its unique "giant cauldrons," is also a notable natural feature.
Are there good hiking opportunities around Les Gras?
Yes, Les Gras is a hub for hikers. Numerous marked trails are available, including sections of the famous GR5 and GTJ routes. For more specific routes, you can explore the Running Trails around Les Gras guide, which includes routes like the 'Chaudières Falls – Vieux-Châteleu loop from Les Gras'.
What historical sites are there in Les Gras?
The village of Les Gras boasts several historical landmarks. You can explore the Saint-Renobert Church, featuring architectural elements from the 16th to 19th centuries, and traditional old farms that showcase the region's agricultural heritage. A beautifully renovated 19th-century fountain and a monumental cross from the same century also add to the village's historical charm.
Are there any unique or unusual places to visit near Les Gras?
Absolutely. Consider visiting the La Brévine Weather Station, known for recording some of Switzerland's lowest winter temperatures, earning the area the nickname "Siberia of Switzerland." Another unique site is the Asphalt Mines of La Presta, where asphalt was mined for three centuries, now open to the public for tours.
Are there family-friendly activities or attractions around Les Gras?
Many attractions around Les Gras are suitable for families. The Starting point of the Poëta-Raisse gorge offers a picnic area and easy access to a beautiful natural site. The Môtiers village center is also considered family-friendly, with its historical charm. The La Brévine Weather Station and the Asphalt Mines of La Presta also fall into this category.
Where can I find scenic viewpoints near Les Gras?
For breathtaking views, head to Mont Châteleu, which offers magnificent panoramas of the Swiss Alps and the Val de Morteau. The Col sur le Mont also provides a great viewpoint, especially for cyclists, with alternating meadows and forest sections.
What cycling routes are available around Les Gras?
The area around Les Gras offers diverse cycling routes. You can find options for road cycling in the Road Cycling Routes around Les Gras guide, including challenging loops like 'Pontarlier – Chemin du Train near Doubs'. For more general cycling, the Cycling around Les Gras guide features routes like 'Little Siberia' and 'Arc jurassien: La Brévine Loop'.
Is there parking available at the Poëta-Raisse gorge?
Yes, the Starting point of the Poëta-Raisse gorge has a few parking spaces available, making it convenient for visitors to access the gorge and its picnic area.
What is the best time to visit Les Gras for outdoor activities?
The region around Les Gras is ideal for outdoor activities during the warmer months, typically from spring through autumn, when hiking and cycling trails are most accessible and the weather is pleasant. However, the area, particularly near La Brévine, is known for its harsh winters, offering a unique experience for those interested in cold-weather phenomena.
What cultural events or festivities take place in Les Gras?
Les Gras hosts various festivities throughout the year, contributing to its vibrant village charm. These include a garage sale in June, the Pea Evening in February, an Easter egg hunt in spring, the Women's Festival and Men's Festival in June, music concerts, and the Gras Festival in September.
Are there any climbing spots near Les Gras?
Yes, for climbing enthusiasts, La Dalle des Gras is a known spot in the area for climbing activities.
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