Parc naturel régional du Doubs, Regional nature park in Clos du Doubs, Switzerland.
Parc naturel régional du Doubs is a regional nature park of national importance in the Jura massif, following the course of the Doubs River. The river forms the natural border with Franche-Comté, except at the Clos du Doubs, where it loops into the canton of Jura. The park borders the Chasseral park on the Bernese side and the Doubs horloger park in France; the communes of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds lie only partly within its perimeter.
The region was designated as a nature park in 2012 to protect landscapes shaped by centuries of cattle and livestock farming. This decision recognized the traditional stewardship of the land by local communities.
Watchmaking has shaped daily life and local identity here for centuries, with skilled craftspeople still producing timepieces in small workshops throughout the surrounding villages. This heritage defines how the region sees itself and connects people to their work.
The area has several well-marked hiking trails, cycling routes, and cross-country skiing paths for different seasons. Villages around the park are served by public transportation, making access straightforward.
The Doubs forms the Swiss-French border along most of the park, but at the Clos du Doubs the river loops back into the canton of Jura, so that stretch of water lies entirely within Switzerland. The park works with the Chasseral park in Bern and the Doubs horloger park in France on a shared strategy for the valley.
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