NEARBY l'Arbre à Chapeaux

WHERE IS l’Arbre à Chapeaux?

L’Arbre à Chapeaux, an iconic Comtois farmhouse in the charming little town of Grand’Combe Chateleu, is located in the Jura Mountains on the Pontarlier-Morteau road, just a few kilometres from the town of Morteau and the Swiss border.

Firmly anchored on the banks of the Doubs, this centuries-old house of character is located in the heart of a protected geographical area: the Pays Horloger Regional Nature Park. In all seasons, the house is the ideal starting point for joyful walks along the surrounding trails or those of the Grande Traversée du Jura nearby.

EXPLORE THE SURROUNDING AREA ON FOOT...

The house is very close to the heart of the village of Grand'Combe Châteleu, its famous Farm Museum and its many wash houses and fountains. These peaceful, timeless places, where nothing seems to disturb the peace, generously refresh travellers who linger there!

Did you know that these fountains and wash houses, whether humble or majestic, made of stone or metal, sheltered by solid roofs or exposed to the open sky, are the subject of a very pleasant walk?

Pick up a map from the Tourist Offices of the Pays Horloger Regional Nature Park or the Grand'Combe Chateleu Town Hall. This route will guide you through the village, far from the main roads. You will discover some secret corners that only a day off school can reveal!

OR VENTURE A LITTLE FURTHER...

In Pontarlier, about 30 km away, adults can sample the famous ‘Fée Verte’ liqueur, while children will marvel at the stills in the Maison Guy craft distillery, listed as part of France's Living Heritage.

A little further away, on either side of the border, several sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the citadel of Besançon with its Vauban architecture (around 60 km away) and, on the Swiss side, the watchmaking town of La Chaux-de-Fonds with its famous MIH (International Watchmaking Museum).

There are many different ideas for outings to suit everyone, from young children to adults, outdoor enthusiasts to history buffs!

WHAT IS A ‘FERME À TUYÉ’?

Once a hearth, a warm place to gather, a kitchen and a smokehouse for preserving meat, the tuyé was where people would gather in the evening. Gradually abandoned in favour of greater comfort, tuyés have often suffered the ingratitude of “modern times”.

Dismantled, blocked up, collapsed or bricked up, many tuyés have been distorted. The one at L'Arbre à Chapeaux stands majestically and proudly in the centre of the living space, with its three centuries of history. How many secrets has it witnessed? The architecture of this fireplace is unique and truly characteristic of the Comtois farms in this part of the Jura and Haut-Doubs regions. Sitting there is like taking a trip back in time...