Fournet-Blancheroche / La Perdrix

The GTJ by MTB ("GTJ VTT") has taken you up to the Plateau de Maîche, with verdant pastures where Montbéliarde cows graze, their milk producing Comté cheese. The way now takes you along ledges perched above the Doubs Gorges, providing several viewing points over the Saut du Doubs waterfall and its pools. Entering the Pays de la Saucisse (Sausage Country – the nickname from the little sausage-producing town of Morteau), admire the magnificent Franche-Comté farms with their distinct hearths (tuyés), sometimes with renowned local smoked meats drying outside: Morteau sausage, dried ham and rustic bacon – specialities to try on a picnic or at a meal.

Grande Traversée du Jura by mountain bike from Fournet-Blancheroche to La Perdrix

This long stage offers some easy cycling. The first part goes through high meadows where you have to negotiate a good number of fences, with a way to pass provided for mountain bikes. Before Le Pissoux, take care cycling along the slippery descent at the level of Gourdavi. Between Le Pissoux and the Saut du Doubs, the high-perched route is often wet. From here, the stage becomes easier, the main challenge being the shift in altitude between Grand Combe Châteleu and La Perdrix.

Three portions of ‘GTJ Light’ alternatives are described in the Carto Guide of the "GTJ à VTT", enabling you to bypass the main technically difficult parts on this stage. There’s also a more technically and physically challenging alternative stretch you can opt for between Morteau and Combe Benoît.

Unmissable sites

• Viewing points (belvédères), farms topped by typical tuyé chimneys, with local charcuterie drying outside, and Comtois carthorses in the fields
• Saut du Doubs, a waterfall almost 100ft in height
• Morteau: Musée de l'Horlogerie (on clock-making); local charcuterie-makers; the bell foundry
• Grand'Combe Chateleu: farm-museum on popular traditions and arts; Comté cheese ageing cellars (caves d’affinage)