Switzerland Guide
The Arc Jurassien
The Vallée de Joux
The secluded Vallée de Joux is a long thin valley sandwiched at 1000m between the Grand Risoud pine forest, which conceals it from France, and the parallel Mont Tendre range, which cuts it off from Lake Geneva. This is perfect summer walking country, with many routes along the valley floor beside the Lac de Joux, while the thickly wooded valley sides turn into cross-country skiing heaven in winter. The valley has its own, bracing microclimate, reminiscent of Alpine areas 400m higher in altitude: temperatures of -20°C on the valley floor are not unknown in winter, and precipitation tops 1800mm a year.
Between the small Lac Brenet and Lac de Joux is Le Pont village. Roads run west from Le Pont along both shores of the Lac de Joux; the south road passes through L'Abbaye with ruins of a medieval abbey. Both roads meet at the end of the lake at Le Sentier, chief town of the valley and a one-time watchmaking centre. Le Brassus, 4km southwest, is pretty, quiet and boasts nothing at all to divert you from the wilds of nature all around. From here all the way southwest to the Col de la Givrine above Nyon is the Parc Jurassien Vaudois ( 
www.parc-jurassien.ch ), Switzerland's second-largest protected natural environment.