Farms of the Jura in winter

Dwight Peck's farm photos

The Jura mountains run in a southwest-northeast direction along the border between France and Switzerland, from Geneva (Genève) to Basel (Bâle), holding at about 1300-1400 meters altitude (4350-4500 feet), and peaking in the range of 1650 meters (5450 feet). These photos of high alpage farms in winter are mainly from the southwestern end of that range, between the cities of Geneva and Vallorbe.

L'Arzière

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L'Arzière farm (1445 meters) and communal group-overnight refuge belonging to the village of Arzier, about one hour northeast of the Col de la Givrine. The mountain Le Noirmont lies up to the right in this photo, and the French frontier just down the hill beyond that, 14 January 2001.

From the north, about 400m away, 5 p.m. on 26 March 2006

From the northeast end. Arzier is the biggest commune, geographically speaking, in the entire area, because whereas the other village properties extend up the Jura hill from the city hall to the alpage on the first ridge on top (like from Bassins, 750m, up to La Bassine at 1261m), the Arzier property extends straight up and then northward above the others. Including the farm of L'Arzière (above).

Every summer, a coalition of willing Arzier residents goes on a four-day walkabout around the perimeters of the commune's land, staying overnight at facilities like this one, presumably pre-stocked with white wine and god knows what else.