Etangs de Bonfol

Etangs de Bonfol is one of the largest pond complexes in Switzerland, found beside the village of Bonfol in the municipality of Basse-Vendline, canton of Jura, in the Ajoie region. Set among fields and woods near the French border, the ponds form a nature reserve that has been protected since the early 1960s.

What are the Etangs de Bonfol?

They are man-made ponds, dug and maintained for fish farming, mainly carp. The federal landscape inventory traces pond management here back to the 15th century. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland records the ponds as early as 1497 and says the prince-bishop of Basel had them reworked between 1751 and 1754 for fishing.

The largest group in the north consists of the Étang du Milieu, the Neuf-Étang, the Champ de Manche ponds and the former Pré de l'Essert pond. A dam separates the two main basins, the Étang du Milieu and the Neuf-Étang.

Why visit?

The area is a protected reserve: the cantonal list of nature reserves names the ponds of Bonfol and Vendlincourt. For visitors that means a quiet, little-developed landscape where open water, reeds and woodland make a patchwork of habitats. Zoological surveys here have looked at water beetles, which give the Champ de Manche ponds some regional importance. Information boards around the lake describe the animals that live there.

How do you explore the ponds?

The simplest option is a walk around the water. Route sites describe an easy loop of about 4.2 km, and some walking routes starting in Bonfol pass the ponds on the way back. Allow roughly an hour, with no technical difficulty. Bring binoculars and footwear that copes with damp ground, since paths near the banks can be wet.

Is this the same place as the waste site?

Bonfol also has a former chemical waste landfill. It is a separate site and not part of the pond reserve described here.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the Etangs de Bonfol? Next to Bonfol, in the municipality of Basse-Vendline, canton of Jura, in the Ajoie region of north-western Switzerland.

Since when are the ponds protected? They have been a nature reserve since the early 1960s; sources give either 1961 or 1962.

How long does the walk around the ponds take? The easy loop is about 4.2 km, so about an hour, a little longer if you stop to watch wildlife.

What were the ponds built for? Fish farming. In 1751–1754 the prince-bishop of Basel had them redeveloped.