The Source

In this combe, there are several hundreds of Star Gentian plants - a vulnerable plant in Franche-Comté. This plant is home to a protected species of butterfly, the preservation of which is considered a priority: the mountain Alcon blue. This butterfly’s ecology is remarkable. The caterpillar develops in the Star Gentian’s inflorescences, and sometimes in those of the great yellow gentian. After eating the follower, it falls to the ground, where it is cared for by a specific species of ant, which carries it back to its anthill where it will spend the autumn, winter and spring with shelter and food. During this time, the caterpillar releases a smell that tricks the ants, protecting it from any attacks and convincing the little workers to feed it. Butterflies emerge at the end of the spring and must quickly leave the anthill.

Barely bigger than a dwarf hen, the Hazel Grouse’s silhouette is rather large, with short legs and a short tail. Its plumage is subtly shaded, and enables it to camouflage itself in its environment. In spring, it feeds on the buds of hazel trees or other shrubs covering the forest floor. Very discreet, you may hear it quickly fly away on your arrival. Be careful, as from June, a subject that does not fly away may be looking to protect its young. Discreetly move away.

In the Jura, the montane zone is located at an altitude between 900 and 1700 metres. In this area, forests are mostly comprised of fir trees, spruces and beech trees. Beech, which is still sometimes regionally referred to as “fayard”, is well suited to the mountainous climate. This tree produces beechnuts, which are eaten by game. The hard wood of the beech tree used to be often used by “boisseliers”, wood turners. Today, it is excellent for use as firewood. In the High-Jura, these mixed forests are usually managed according to a selection system. Unlike plantations, this method of management allows trees of different species and ages to grow on the same site, thereby ensuring increased biodiversity.

Combes and fields surrounded by hedges and spinneys, trees scattered in the middle of pastures: these are all elements that make-up what is referred to as the “edge effect”. This term is used to describe the remarkable diversity in which open-environment species, forest-environment species and species that thrive in the areas in between open landscapes and forests meet. This diverse vegetation has many surprises in store along the sides of pathways and is highly useful for farming: it provides protection against prevailing winds, limits surface runoffs and provides shelter for the crop-pest predators (such as foxes who feed on voles).

Similar in size to a sparrow, males and females are differentiated mainly from their plumage. While the male has a reddish-brown upper part and a tinged pink underpart with a light grey head and a contrasting black stripe through the eye; the female’s colouring is much darker, brown, and her underparts are vermiculated.

Located west of Saint-Laurent, near the “route de Lons-le-Saunier”, the chapel draws the eye due to its windmill shape - only its vanes are missing. It appears that this structure was once a mill for the hamlet of Voisinal de Joux. Its tapered roof, mounted on wheels is set atop its eight-metre high tower. Its vanes were broken during a hurricane in 1829. Another chapel was built on top of its remains as early as 1850. Although in bad condition since a fire in 1907, it bears the French flag that marks the border set during the second world war. Today, it is home to Marie-Thérèse, a bell cast in 1953 by the Paccard bell foundry in Annecy.

The Andelot-Champagnole general interest line was extended to St-Laurent-en-Grandvaux, and the Compagnie PLM station was opened in 1890. The Andelot-La Cluse line - which required the construction of a number of structures, including 18 viaducts and 36 tunnels - was completed in 1912. This was also the date when travelling by stagecoach stopped being practiced between St-Laurent-en-Grandvaux and St-Claude, as ensured by Louis Charnu. (PNRHJ - Collection patrimoine, “Heritage collection”)