Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois, Regional nature park in Canton Vaud, Switzerland.
The Jura Vaudois Regional Nature Park covers 530.6 km² of the Vaud Jura between the Col de la Givrine and the Col du Marchairuz, on the broad ridge of the front Jura chain at 1,300–1,400 m. It is a folded limestone landscape of wooded ridges and long combes, including the Combe de la Valouse, 70 m deep, and the 1,567 m Noirmont. Five landscape groups make up most of the park: the Orbe and Nozon gorges and valleys, the high Jura chain, the Jura foothills, the Risoux massif and the Vallée de Joux.
The park's protection began on 1 August 1973, when the Ligue vaudoise pour la protection de la nature and alpine pasture owners signed a convention at the initiative of geologist Daniel Aubert, who wanted to block ski-resort development on the Noirmont. A commission followed in 1976 to enforce the agreement. In 2010 the Parc jurassien vaudois became the Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois, federally labelled from 1 January 2013 and renewed in 2022 for 2023–2032.
The alpine pastures function as centers of dairy production where herders craft traditional cheeses using ancestral techniques during summer months. This artisanal practice shapes the landscape and remains integral to local identity.
The area is accessible year-round with trails connected to public transport and offering activities from hiking to skiing. Check specific routes and seasonal conditions before planning a visit.
The landscape features karst formations with caves, chasms, and marshes that support specialized plant communities and rare animal species. These geological features create habitats found nowhere else in the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,715 contributors worldwide.