Gorges de la Langouette

Gorges de la Langouette is a narrow limestone ravine carved by the Saine river in the commune of Les Planches-en-Montagne, deep in the French Jura mountains. Tucked inside the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, it is the kind of place that surprises first-time visitors: nothing on the road hints at how deep the river has cut into the rock just a short walk away.

How did the gorge form?

Over thousands of years the Saine has eroded the soft limestone bedrock of the Jura plateau, cutting a fissure roughly one kilometre long. At its deepest points the walls drop between 15 and 47 metres, while the narrowest section of the channel measures only around 4 metres across. The river rushes through with real force, spinning whirlpools, small cascades and rounded potholes gouged out by stones tumbling in the current. Seen from above, it's hard to guess that such a deep, tight slot lies hidden beneath the forest canopy.

What is the walking trail like?

The marked path covers about 1.2 kilometres and starts right in the centre of the village of Les Planches-en-Montagne. Wooden walkways and viewing platforms are suspended over the ravine, giving visitors a close look at the rushing water below, the moss and ferns clinging to the damp rock faces, and the dense woodland that wraps around the gorge. Along the way, six information panels explain how the landscape was shaped, why the water moves with such force, and what role the gorge once played for local residents. Walking it at a relaxed pace takes around 25 minutes, though it's worth slowing down at each viewpoint rather than rushing through.

What's waiting at the far end?

The trail builds toward a waterfall about ten metres high, tumbling down a series of rock steps. It once powered a small hydroelectric installation; today it stands mainly as a dramatic centrepiece of the walk, at its most striking in spring or after heavy rain, when the Saine's flow visibly swells.

Where exactly is it located?

The Gorges de la Langouette lie between the centre of Les Planches-en-Montagne and the small locality of Montliboz, in the Jura department within the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. The surrounding landscape is typical of the higher Jura plateau, with extensive beech and conifer forest, open pastures, and numerous streams that have cut into the limestone over time.

When is the best time to visit?

Most visitors come in July and August, when the weather is reliable for walking and the surrounding forest is at its liveliest. Travellers who prefer quieter trails may want to consider visiting outside peak summer weeks, when the walkways are less crowded and it's easier to take time over the rock walls and the sound of the water.

Frequently asked questions

How deep is the Gorges de la Langouette? The ravine's walls drop between 15 and 47 metres, depending on the section.

How long is the walking trail? The marked path is about 1.2 kilometres long and takes roughly 25 minutes at a relaxed pace.

Is there a waterfall along the way? Yes, the trail leads to a waterfall around ten metres high that once powered a small hydroelectric installation.

Where does the trail start? The starting point is in the centre of the village of Les Planches-en-Montagne.

Which river carved the gorge? The gorge was cut by the Saine river as it flowed through the limestone bedrock of the Jura.