La Grande traversée du Jura à vélo - GTJ à vélo

The dream of discovering a region in a different way! Cycling at your own pace along small country roads, the Grande traversée du Jura by bike is an ideal way to immerse yourself in the nature of the Jura Mountains. Departing from Montbéliard, where you can choose between a historic visit to the Château des Ducs de Wurtemberg or an industrial tour of the Musée de l?Aventure Peugeot, which recounts the history of the Peugeot marque, the GTJ by bike follows the Jura crescent. It soon climbs up to the first hills to reach the Doubs Horloger Regional Nature Park. Its imposing farmhouses, topped by "tuyés" where cured meats (Morteau sausages, ham on the bone or bacon) are dried, its bucolic atmosphere with flower-filled meadows where Montbéliarde cows graze peacefully, and its small, welcoming villages are ideal travel companions. Not far away, the Doubs river, which marks the border with Switzerland, serves as a guide to Pontarlier. The town is a gateway to the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park. The imposing Fort de Joux, perched on a rocky outcrop, watches over the region all the way to the shores of the grandiose Lac Saint Point, whose iridescent color changes with the weather. The Doubs river winds its way up to its source at Mouthe. A short hop and the department of Jura replaces that of Doubs. The first village, Foncine-le-Haut, is worth a stop to visit the source of the Saine, a beautiful river for fly-fishing. The road climbs higher to reach the emerald waters of Lac de l'Abbaye. From village to village, the road winds its way to Lajoux in the Hautes Combes of the Jura. A descent into a new valley, a new river and a new département: the Ain. At the foot of the rolling Jura peaks flows the Valserine, which will be the GTJ?s new cycling companion all the way to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. One more effort and you'll reach the Plateau de Retord and its unique natural environment. The Bugey region, with its agricultural identity, winds its way through a symphony of valleys and plateaus that lead to the end of the journey. But it's up to you to decide whether you want a gentle or a sporty end, because ahead of you lies the famous Grand Colombier, well known to all cycling enthusiasts and feared by the riders of the Tour de France. As a partner of the GTJ, BOSCH is providing charging stations for GTJ cyclists in 10 towns along the GTJ cycle routes!