Pré-de-l'Essert

Escape and spirituality are two words that best describe this trail. Indeed, this loop is traced in the Javroz valley, where the Chartreuse de la Valsainte, a monastery of national importance founded by Carthusian monks in 1295, is walled in.

• From Les Plans, you descend towards the Javroz river, which you cross via a footbridge. You climb up the Rio de l'Essert valley towards “La Scie”; the route is marked out in the forest. The brook on the eastern side of the Reposoirs forest is easily crossed by a small bridge.
• Before reaching La Scie, turn left towards Pré de l'Essert. From the path, you'll see a jewel of a chapel on a promontory, with a roof covered in tavillons, built in 1146 by the monks of Hauterive. You'll then pass the Pré de l'Essert farm, the highest farm in the canton of Fribourg.
• Continue on to the forest, then cross the Javroz river. On the last part of the route, you can admire the Javroz valley and the Valsainte monastery.

The trail is signposted in both directions with retro-reflective markers. You can park at the start of the trail, or take the Alpin bus to La Valsainte.