La Vesancière

La Vesancière is a rustic, unstaffed mountain shelter in the Haute Chaîne du Jura Nature Reserve area. It’s a simple backcountry stop with a roof and sleeping space on a mezzanine; it also has a fireplace/cheminée and a large shelter space beside the hut, but it’s very rudimental overall.

Plan as if you’ll have no drinking water at the hut: there’s no water nearby, with rainwater collection as the only practical option. Access is possible via forest roads plus short hikes—either along the La Vattay-Divonne route (about 3.5 km from the Baraque de Touppinet) or via Vesancy (about 2.5 km from the Baraque de Touppinet). The route that climbs from Vesancy is closed to motor vehicles in winter and spring, and access to the chalet area can be restricted from mid-December into late June due to wildlife protection zones.

Use of the shelter requires advance contact with the managing association; use is free but you need to arrange access by contacting the association. Within the reserve, follow local regulations closely—fires are restricted to the designated hearth, and dog access, camping/bivouacking outside permitted areas, and other protected-area rules apply.