Centre Nature Des Cerlatez

Saignelégier is the main village of the Franches-Montagnes, a high, open plateau in the canton of Jura where meadows, pastures with scattered spruce and low wooded ridges stretch under a wide sky. The Centre Nature des Cerlatez sits in this landscape, just outside the village, and works as a base for learning about the local environment and the unusual habitats of the plateau. The region is known for its wetlands, its cold winters and its traditional farming, and the centre is a good place to understand how these things fit together.

The Franches-Montagnes lie at roughly a thousand metres above sea level, and the cool, wet climate has produced a landscape of peat bogs, ponds and damp meadows. The nearby Etang de la Gruère is the best-known example, a pond surrounded by a peat bog and spruce forest where rare plants and animals live, and the Jura region around it has several other bogs and wetlands. Peat bogs form over thousands of years where waterlogged ground slows the decay of plants, and they store large amounts of carbon, so protecting them matters for the climate as well as for wildlife. The centre introduces visitors to these processes and to the species that depend on them, from carnivorous sundew plants to dragonflies and amphibians.

The village and plateau have a distinct identity. The area is famous for its horses, the Franches-Montagnes breed, a sturdy and versatile horse bred here for centuries, and Saignelégier holds a large horse fair, the Marché-Concours, each August, with races, parades and a festive atmosphere that draws crowds from across Switzerland. The pastures are dotted with old farms with wide, low roofs, and the plateau is a favourite of walkers, cyclists and cross-country skiers.

The centre offers an introduction before you go out into the landscape. It runs exhibitions and educational activities, with guided walks and programmes for schools and families, and it provides information about trails and conservation. It is run with a focus on education rather than entertainment, so it suits people who like to understand the places they visit. Opening days and hours are limited and change with the season, so check the schedule before you go, and book in advance for guided activities.

The centre suits families, school groups, nature lovers and anyone planning a walk to the Etang de la Gruère or other places on the plateau. Combine a visit with a stroll through Saignelégier and, if the timing fits, the August horse fair.