Attractions and Places To See around Les Écorces - Top 20

The area around Les Écorces is rich in natural beauty. You can visit the dramatic The Ladders of Death, a gorge route within the Doubs gorges, or the wild and deeply entrenched Combe de Biaufond, which features a path with ladders and wooden platforms alongside the La Ronde river. Other notable natural sites include the Dessoubre Valley, the splendid 27-meter Saut du Doubs waterfall, and the Gorges du Doubs.

Yes, for those seeking adventure, The Ladders of Death offers a breathtaking experience. This route features three metal ladders and a via ferrata circuit suspended between cliffs on the French-Swiss border. It's a very playful and vertiginous course with ladders, footbridges, a zip line, and cable bridges, making it one of the region's most impressive via ferratas.

Several spots offer excellent views. Le Gros-Crêt provides a nice viewpoint over La Chaux-de-Fonds and the surrounding area. The challenging The Ladders of Death also offers superb landscapes from its belvedere. Additionally, the area around Power as far as the eye can see, with its numerous wind power stations, provides expansive views across green pastures and spruce forests.

While some attractions are more challenging, the area around Power as far as the eye can see is considered family-friendly. It offers paths through green pastures and shady spruce forests, where you can observe numerous wind power stations. It's a great place for a leisurely walk with children.

Les Écorces has several historical points of interest. You can see the Town Hall (Mairie), the War Memorial erected in 1924 which commemorates villagers who died in war and features a bronze statue of Joan of Arc, and the Neo-Gothic Church constructed in 1881 with its impressive 47.50-meter high bell tower. The Saint Roch Chapel, rebuilt in 1868, is also a local landmark.

Yes, you can experience the Stepping Stones on the Doubs River. This bridge functions as a ford, allowing passage across the Doubs River with dry feet, and serves as a playful crossing point between Switzerland and France. It's a unique way to traverse the river.

There are various hiking trails around Les Écorces, ranging from easy to difficult. You can find routes like the 'Cendré Viewpoint loop' or more challenging options such as 'The Ladders of Death – Cendré Viewpoint loop'. For more details and a selection of routes, you can explore the Hiking around Les Écorces guide.

Absolutely! Les Écorces offers opportunities for both running and road cycling. There are several running loops, including routes from Les Écorces itself or nearby villages like Frambouhans. For cyclists, you can find road cycling routes such as the 'Roadbike loop from Frambouhans' or longer, more challenging rides like the 'Lac de Biaufond – La Rasse Bridge over the Doubs River loop'. Discover more in the Running Trails around Les Écorces and Road Cycling Routes around Les Écorces guides.

Visitors particularly appreciate the breathtaking experiences offered by challenging routes like The Ladders of Death, noting its vertiginous setting and playful elements. The unique river crossing at Stepping Stones on the Doubs River is also a favorite for its fun and spectacular nature. The expansive views from spots like Le Gros-Crêt and the impressive sight of numerous wind power stations at Power as far as the eye can see are also highly rated.

Yes, the "La truite du moulin" restaurant, located in an old grain mill in the Dessoubre valley, is a local highlight. It's known for its fresh trout from its own fishpond, fried dishes, and homemade ham, offering a taste of regional cuisine.

The name 'Les Écorces' means "the barks" in French. It is derived from the historical expertise of its inhabitants in woodworking and the trade of resinous tree bark. Many houses in the commune were reportedly covered in bark, reflecting this historical connection to the forest and its resources.