Nice little round trip around Lake Brenets through France and Switzerland. The round trip starts at Saut du Doubs. From there it follows the GR5 to Villers-le-Lac and then runs back to Les Brenets. Along the way there are beautiful views of the old glacial lake and the route runs mostly on asphalt roads. For the section between Les Brenets and Saut du Doubs that we hiked at the end of stage 43, we now took a boat across the lake.
The GR5 runs along the French shore of Lac des Brenets, and the last kilometers of our previous stage we walked on the Swiss side.
Today we di a lap around the lake; from Saut du Doubs, where we left the GR5, we walk back to the campsite via the French shore.
It’s a small, beautiful walk and has the advantage of taking some kilometers off our next stage, which would otherwise be really long.
From Les Brenets we take the tourist boat to Saut du Doubs. It’s a 20-minute boat ride across the lake where the water is currently meters lower than normal. But because the water is so low, the beautiful cliffs on the sides are extra visible. A number of wild mountain goats (chamois) graze along the shore and we enjoy the beautiful rock formations from the water. We get off at Saut du Doubs and look for the GR5 markings. The trail immediately begins with a considerable climb on an asphalt road through the forest. Along the road there are plentifull woodland strawberrie plants, so it takes us a little longer than usual.
At the top, we walk into an open area with magnificent views of the blue-green lake. After this, the trail gradually descends into the built-up area of Chaillexon, and we continue to Villers-le-Lac. Especially on this side, it’s easy to see that where the lake should be, a green meadow is emerging. Here and there a boat still lies in the grass and in the middle meanders a small river. Too small to feed the lake.
We cross the bridge and a leave the GR5 a little later to walk back to the campsite on the Swiss side.
It’s nice to end up at the same place where we started. We haven’t had that in a long time!
