ViaBerna - Stage 01 Bellelay - Tramelan

The ViaBerna leads from Bellelay along the La Sagne high moor over Côte au Roy to La Rouge Eau. At La Bottière, the route turns right and ascends on an old road and through the forest to the height of Montbautier. A wonderfully located rest area with impressive views into the Vallée de Tavannes invites you to a welcome break. Along pastures, it continues over to Rière Jorat and further to Haut de Bémont. Here the hiking trail makes a slight right turn. Over lightly wooded Jura pastures, you now follow the gently descending ridge to the rest area at Pâturage du Droit, where the tranquil route descends to Tramelan, the destination of the first stage.

Bellelay is a small place that became widely known beyond the region due to the monastery of the same name. The monastery first mentioned in 1141 was endowed with rich land holdings in the 15th century and has a varied history.

Bellelay is also the origin of the well-known cheese specialty "Tête de Moine." The invention of this spicy semi-hard cheese is attributed to the monks of the monastery. The handy wheels once served in the region also as a means of payment. The cheese is still shaved into rosettes today rather than cut. Bellelay has a historic cheese dairy with an educational trail.

The hike also passes high moors. In earlier times, peat was extracted there to be used for heating in winter. Today, the moors are protected. The Jura’s subsurface is permeable limestone rock. Therefore, in the dry landscape, water surfaces and wetlands are particularly important habitats for animals and plants.

Montbautier is a ridge belonging to the Jura. The border between the cantons of Bern and Jura runs over this height. Montbautier was once settled by Mennonites who had been expelled from the Emmental.

Located on the edge of the Freiberge, the watchmaker village of Tramelan stretches over the entire length of the valley. The village itself surprises with its diversity. The small town in the countryside offers space for various activities and features buildings with sometimes bold architecture.