Lake of Brenets

The lake of Brenets (Swiss name) or Lake Chaillexon (French name) is a natural water reserve at the border of the France (Haut-Doubs, department of the Doubs) and Suisse (Canton of Neuchâtel).

Not to confuse with the Lake Brenet, close to the Lake Joux.

Characteristics

It was dug with quaternary by the slip of a glacier in a calcareous field and marno-limestone of the Massif of the Jura then formed thanks to a natural stopping created by a rock collapse during (Pléistocène), approximately 12.000 years ago.

It is composed of three basins including the two last are called Gorges of Doubs , overhung on both sides wooded cliffs of approximately 50 meters in height. It ends in a funnel and water a fall of 27 meters called Saut of Doubs, close to Villers-the-Lake. With dimensions the Suisse of Doubs is connected by a footbridge to the side French, and this on the level of the fall of the Jump of Doubs.

The fall, more spectacular in rainy season, is classified Grand national site by the Gouvernement French. New installations on the French side make it possible to have an excellent sight of the fall.

The basin of the lake has an altitude varying of 750 m to 1.460 Mr.

Tourism

In Winter, the lake of Brenets freezes and becomes then largest natural Patinoire of Switzerland.

During the beautiful season, shuttles circulate on the lake, making it possible to the tourists to admire the rocks overhanging it. Cruisings out of water-bus are proposed at the beginning of Villers-the-Lake and Brenets

Economy

The village of the Brenets account also several Industry S clock making S, just like Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds. Many a Frontalier S (French workmen working in Switzerland) crosses Brenets daily to go on their work place.

Village of Brenets

The Marshes located in bottom of the village of Brenets, between Switzerland and France, are protected: a rare species of Fritillaire S pushes indeed in these marshes. The village of the Brenets account a Camp-site, a ground of Tennis and Football. One can reach the village of the Brenets since Locle by travelling by a small picturesque train crossing the forest. The neighborhoods of Brenets offer many possibilities of excursions.

Gastronomy

There exist several restaurants in the mountains overhanging Doubs, where one can taste various typical dishes of the area, like the Fondue and the horns with the cream.

The Gentiane is a plant which one finds in the heights of Brenets and the the Jura, which is used in the production of alcohol of gentian, other produced typical of the area.

Anecdote

Between 1947 and 1962, the Abbot Robert Simon, also called “the flying priest”, made more than 110 dives of high flight, with 40 meters height to collect money in order to save his parish of the Saone in Doubs and to save them without home. He made many dives in the Lake Chaillexon, the first in 1950 and the last the July 3rd 1983.

External bonds

Lake of Brenets
Official site of the Jump of Doubs

Random links: