Les Platières

The habitat in the High-Combes is a result of the late clearing having been carried out during the 13th and 14th centuries, and later still during the 16th and 17th centuries. Land was leased by the Saint-Claude abbey in long strips running perpendicular to the combe in which each family could live self-sufficiently. The bottom of the combe served as prairies and hay fields, its immediate surroundings were reserved for grain farming, and the ridge was reserved for fire and craft wood and for pastures.

Born from the ingenuity of master carpenters, “strong attics”, like the one overlooking the house to your left, is also a testament to the High-Jura’s memory. Both a pantry and a safe, these attics contained grain, food and seeds, as well as a wardrobe, precious objects, tools, writings and essential goods, protected from fire and far from greedy eyes. Its walls are often adorned with crop accounting records, climate calendars and family events. Would you like to visit a strong attic? Head to the Maison du Parc in Lajoux.

Although it spends half the year on land, this amphibian also needs the shallow waters of ponds and ruts to reproduce and lay its eggs. During its land phase, the alpine newt only leaves its hiding place at night, slowly crawling on the ground in search of food. However, during its aquatic phase, it doesn’t hesitate to move around and feed, sometimes during the middle of the day. The alpine newt is a good swimmer and can spend several minutes holding its breath in cold water. You will recognise it by its characteristic bright-orange underbelly.

Notice the two small depressions in the middle of the field to your right. These circular depressions, which are usually larger than they are deep, are sinkholes. They expose the karstic soil below due to a dissolution of the rock underneath. They are created by fractures in the limestone, which become larger due to dissolution and drainage. They are often found in places where limestone has fallen victim to significant cracking, along fault lines and anticline summits, as is the case here.

If not for this cow, with a beautiful white and red-speckled coat, these landscapes would not be what they are: vast spaces devoted to pastures, scattered here and there with farms, long dry-stone walls and spinneys. Without this cow, the cheese would not be as famous as it is either! Their milk alone allows for the local production of protected designation of origin cheeses such as comté, the bleu de Gex and morbier.

From this little roof above the Jura region, you can admire the High-Jura mountain range, Bellecombe and its large grazing areas. From east to south, you can see the Montrond, the Colomby de Gex and its twin, the Crêt de la Neige, and lastly the pyramid of the Reculet. Following the line of les Plâtières, to the south-west, the triangle made by the Crêt de Chalam is unmissable.

Lu,lu,lu,lu,lu,lu … lu,lu,lu,lu,lu,lu... We’re sure you can guess why its Latin name is Lullula arborea. Yes, it’s named after that shrill, monotonous call that it makes whilst flying over low-cut lawns on a beautiful spring day. This is likely the only chance you have of seeing this bird that is extremely discreet when on the ground.