Gélinottes: Neuchâtel lake never seemed so close

“I was well paid, but not really satisfied in my life. Here I am badly paid, but happy ”. At 52, Christian Caillet begins his fourth season, alongside his wife Nicole, head of The Auberge Les Gélinottesa stone’s throw from Mont-Aubert (read below). Son and grandson of restaurateurs, holder of a cfc of cook, the boss had worked twenty years in the marking of roads for the general direction of mobility and roads of the canton of Vaud.

“We bought a house in Fontanezier before the covid. We took advantage of the pandemic to walk in the region and discover the views when we arrived at the groans, ”recalls the smiling boss, when he is seated. Standing at the service, he grimaces a little these days, following knee problems. The operation will be for later, because for the moment, The big season of the refreshments Start, where you have to be able to assume. To ensure family income, his wife has retained his job 100%, while also doing his hours at the Auberge and his breathtaking view of a Neuchâtel lake that appears to be nearby.

Owner and operator of the Bistrot since 1983, Evelyne Blanchet wanted to hand over, as the seventy approaches. “I made him a proposal. She reminded me a few days later. We found an agreement, ”smiles the fifties.

Holiday chalets that have become hostel

Also dominating the lakes of Morat and Bienne and the whole Plaine Romande, the inn was born in 1951, then was enlarged in 1970. So chef at Innovation in Lausanne, René Gaille saw her vacation chalet. The man had grown up in the neighboring village of Mutrux, a stone’s throw from the cantonal border with Neuchâtel. His brother Fernand gives him a piece of land, located in the town of Concise. “There was a big pile of stones here. René equalized everything, which made it possible to create the terrace of the Gélinottes ”, explains Michel, nephew of René and son of Fernand.

At 83, Michel complains about health concerns that slow him down. Former alpagist peasant on neighboring meadows and truck driver in parallel, he still has the leste step to guide us from the point of view “on the rock”, at a quarter of an hour of walking, moving away from the official path to pass in front of his old agricultural chalet, now exploited by his niece. “When René had built the groupes, my dad had installed a 100,000 liter tank. I then created a network of pipes to feed the basins of the three neighboring pastures, ”explains the octogenarian.

The view from “on the rock”

Although knowing the place like his pocket, the former municipal of Mutrux holds a topographic map in his hand. He says he got lost once in the snow. It is difficult to believe it, even if the freshness of this July day reminds us that we are more than 1200 meters above sea level. “Watch already as Mont-Blanc is majestic,” exclaims Michel, while the point of view is approaching.

“On clear weather, you can see the Geneva water jet. And there, on the left, the Black Pointe, is the Tervin, ”he slips, index stretched on the incredible panorama. “It is not the hollow-of-van, but there is still 50 meters of cliff and no barrier,” warns the one who also exploited the inn Les Gélinottes, when he got into a couple with Evelyne.

From there, it is possible to extend the ride to the summit of Mont-Aubert for a loop of about an hour. The Tour du Mont-Aubert covers 18 km for five hours of walking.

Dreams that make you dream

But for our visit, the time has come to return to the groans, where Myriam Saffore is busy behind the stoves. “I work well when I play. Here, I feel like I come back to childhood. I want visitors to dream when I bring them their dishes, ”slips the 59 -year -old cook, who was in turn peasant, caregiver, shepherdess or tenant of The small lakes baron the heights of the Mosses.

A la carte, the traditional roast on Sunday spit, established by Michel, was taken over by Christian. “It’s no longer the same recipe, but it also works,” smiles the boss. Myriam offers beautiful salads, puff pastry with mushrooms of wood or various röstis. Flavored with the cumin of the meadows, the carrots were divine.

The cook has set up a small garden and picks the herbs used for the preparation of homemade homemade tea. The lemonade is also made on site. The hiker’s plate, a slice of cake and its salad, is also worth the passage. “It’s my puff pastry based on scout mill flour. I add nettles, plantain or crash of the meadows that I find in the surroundings, ”concludes the mother of five children. A treat for sight as on the plate.

Le Mont-Aubert, the Mont of six municipalities

Culminating at 1339 meters in the town of Bonvillars, Mont-Aubert also extends over the neighbors of Corcelles-Près-Concise, Concise, Mutrux, Onns and Tévenon. Dominating the Swiss plateau, its crest seems to be part of the Jura massif from the banks of the Neuchâtel lake, some 1000 meters below.

By consulting the topographic map, we realize that the first ridge is separated from the main chain and forms a bump housing Mont-Aubert. A deep valley of more than 200 meters separates it from the main anticline of the Jura, from which it is connected via a small pass with a locksmith. From Neuchâtel or Chevroux, this valley is clearly visible.

The view of the Alps waking up

The Auberge Les Gélinottes is home to a dormitory for visitors who would like to spend the night there. But for a really unusual night, the restaurant operators offer the Tzigi’Roulotte. Built by a craftsman from the region, it has a bay window at the back. Ideal for falling asleep with a breathtaking view of the Alps, Lake Morat and Lake Neuchâtel or enjoying the starry sky in a tranquility setting.

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