MaîcheHalfway between Montbéliard and Morteau and about ten kilometres from the Franco-Swiss border, Maîche is a small town in the Doubs department, in the French part of the Jura mountain range. It is the place of origin of the famous Comtois horse.Halfway between Montbéliard and Morteau and about ten kilometres from the Franco-Swiss border, Maîche is a small town in the Doubs department, in the French part of the Jura mountain range.
Situated at an altitude of 777m between the Doubs and Dessoubre rivers, in the middle of fir forests, Maîche is a small town of just over 4,000 inhabitants, which offers many tourist possibilities thanks to its natural and heritage assets.
It is the cradle of the Comtois horse, formerly called the "Maîchard", which was once the horse of the kings of France. It is in Maîche that the national competition of the Comtois breed is held every year in September. On this occasion, visitors enjoy entertainment, horse shows and a regional market.
We only made a very brief stop here during our 2022 "Switzerland Tour outside Switzerland", to discover the Montalembert castle and the Saint Peter church. A private residence, the castle remained hidden behind its high walls, but the church was well worth a visit.
Watchmaking was the main activity in the town for several decades, but most of this activity is now done in neighbouring Switzerland. However, Maîche is part of the
Pays Horloger ("Watchmaking Country"), a beautiful region which includes Morteau and its delicious sausage, Villers-le-Lac and its Saut du Doubs, Saint-Hippolyte and its 14th century church, and many other interesting destinations.
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