The Cooks

The landscapes and structures along the railway line that serves the High Jura - now called the “Ligne des Hirondelles” (Swallows’ line) - have contributed towards a story of true human adventure. This line was born from the engineering and the tenacity of men who, between 1860 and 1912, laid one hundred and twenty-three kilometres of tracks, drilled thirty-six tunnels, and built eighteen viaducts - the most famous of which linked Morbier to Morez. With competition from roadways, the line lost most of its past economic interest but soon became a touristic attraction. The houses called “les Cuisiniers” (the Cooks) are named after the kitchens that were once set up to feed the railway line workers during the early 20th century. Learn more about the “Ligne des Hirondelles”: www.saint-claude-haut-jura.com/ligne-hirondelles.html

Junipers, also called the “pauper’s pepper”, attest to the dryness of this nutrient-poor and calcareous soil which is typical of dry grasslands. The very name “dry grassland” refers to a dry land subject to arid conditions for part of the year. This dryness is not necessarily the result of a lack of rainfall. It is mainly due to the nature of the soil: a draining (with limited water reserves), thin, nutrient-poor soil that is exposed to the sun for long periods of time.

Notice the entrance to the Lézat tunnel, also known as the Gouille-au-Cerf tunnel. This tunnel is 1,742 meters long and was built between 1906 and 1911. With 9 viaducts and 18 underpasses, it is one of the longest structures on the line between Morez and Saint-Claude, the last section of the Andelot - La Cluse line, which opened on 10 August 1912. Today, the line is known as the “Ligne des Hirondelles” (Swallows’ line) due to the heights of its viaducts and its winding path through the Jura mountains. Learn more about the “Ligne des Hirondelles”: www.saint-claude-haut-jura.com/ligne-hirondelles.html