Etang De La Gruère

On the high plateau of the Franches-Montagnes, a short distance from Saignelégier in the canton of Jura, the Etang de la Gruère is one of the best-known wetlands in the Swiss Jura. At about 1,000 metres above sea level, it is a dark, still pond ringed by spruce forest and surrounded by a raised bog, and it belongs to a protected moorland landscape rather than to a recreational lake. The water is stained brown by peat, and the shoreline is soft, spongy ground that has taken thousands of years to form.

The pond is dammed, which is why it is described as a reservoir lake, but the surrounding peat bog is the real attraction. Bogs like this one form slowly in cold, wet climates where dead plant material cannot fully decompose, and the Jura plateau offers exactly those conditions. The result is a habitat that supports specialised plants, dragonflies, amphibians and birds that depend on open, wet ground. Protection means that visitors are expected to stay on the marked path and keep dogs under control, and it is best to treat the site as a nature reserve rather than as a place for swimming or lighting fires.

A path circles the water on a mix of earth tracks and boardwalk sections, which makes for an easy walk of about an hour. The gradient is almost nil, and the trail suits families, though surfaces can be muddy after rain. Information panels along the route explain how the bog works and which species can be spotted. In early summer the cotton grass and the low shrubs of the moor give the scene an unusual softness, and in autumn the colours of the surrounding trees reflect in the dark water. The area is much quieter in the colder months, and winter on the plateau brings snow and crisp air, with cross-country trails nearby.

Because the plateau is open and exposed, weather matters. Mist drifts across the pond at dawn and can give the place an atmospheric feel, while sunny days make the water mirror-like. Bring waterproof shoes and a warm layer even in summer, as temperatures at this altitude can be fresh.

The pond fits naturally into a day in the Franches-Montagnes. The Centre Nature des Cerlatez at Saignelégier introduces the region's wildlife, the Rochers des Sommêtres offer dramatic cliffs, and the village itself is known for its horse breeding and for the Marché-Concours, the annual horse fair held each August.