Your Excursion to the Marchairuz Pass
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Your daytrip to the Marchairuz Pass The Wood Ant trail Your tailored daytrip Location Switzerland Marchairuz Allaman OUR TIP Buy your ticket on the SBB App and benefit from Supersaver Tickets Train + Bus up to -50%. 1. Your journey by train From Martigny Departure from Martigny at 09:48 am Change in Morges Departure from Morges at 11:05 am Arrival in Allaman at 11:10 am From Lausanne Departure from Lausanne at 10:58 am Arrival in Allaman at 11:21 am Once at Allaman train station Walk to the PostBus stop in front of the train station. 1 minute walk OUR TIP All timetables are available on the SBB App. Train connections are subject to change. 2. Your journey by bus Bus 720 Allaman (station) to Le Marchairuz, (pass) Departure at 11:31 am Arrival at 12:13 am Alternatively Departure at 09:31 am Arrival at 10:13 am OUR TIP Make use of our free Wi-fi! 4 steps to connect: 1. Select the «PostBus» network 2. Open your web browser 3. Follow the steps on the screen 4. Surf in full mobility! Did you know? The Marchairuz Pass is situated on a historic road that has been travelled since the 13th century. The Jura vaudois nature park Presentation / Overview Roland Gerth / Suisse Tourisme What? The Parc Jura vaudois is one of Switzerland’s regional nature parks, which has been recognised as a park of national importance since 2013. Where? The Parc Jura vaudois extends over 531 km2 (covering 20% of the canton of Vaud) from the summit of La Dôle to the village of Romainmôtier. Who? The Park is home to nearly 35,000 inhabitants and covers 4 regions: Nyon, Morges, the Vallée de Joux and the northern Jura of Vaud. Roland Gerth / Suisse Tourisme The missions of the Parc Jura vaudois As a regional nature park, the Parc Jura vaudois preserves and enhances its natural and landscape heritage. It promotes the activities of the re- gional economy based on sustainable development in the fields of tourism and leisure, energy and non-motor- ized mobility, agriculture and local businesses. The «Swiss parks product» label certifies the regional and sustainable production of its local specialties. The park raises awareness of sustaina- ble development among children and adults, residents and visitors alike. It cultivates regional identity, promotes local cultural heritage and draws everyone’s attention to its active traditions. Contact : +41 22 366 51 70 [email protected] parcjuravaudois.ch Jura vaudois nature park Hike up and over the Marchairuz Pass The Marchairuz Pass marvellously unites four regions and its people. Embark your adventure and discover the Wood Ant Didactic Trail. Practical About 1 hour 900 meters Easy June to October The trail is not accessible to strollers and wheelchairs. RIDDLE At what altitude is the Marchairuz Pass? Wood Ant Trail in the Parc Jura vaudois Step by step Wood ants, also known as «red ants» for their colour, play an essential role in our forests which is why they were the first insects put under protection in Switzerland as early as 1966. POST 1 Its anatomy The ant’s morphology consists of three parts: head, thorax and abdomen. Its tiny body is protected by armour. Can you tell us the name of what all the ants in the world have in common? Did you know that...? Ants have six legs and therefore belong to the insect family. POST 2 The sense of communication! The Wood Ant communicates with other ants by touching its antennae. Smells are like words. It uses its sense of smell to find food and likewise to orient itself. What about you? Do you know your 5 senses? Did you know that...? A Wood Ant can carry up to 40 times its weight. POST 3 A gourmand! The Wood Ant eats about everything! It is an omnivore that primarily feeds on insects, honeydew, aphids and seeds. But can you compare the contents of its plate with the menu of other animals found in the Jura vaudois Natural Park? Did you know that...? An anthill consumes up to 1.2 kg of prey (aphids, spiders, caterpillars, etc.) per year. POST 4 Everyone has his job to do! Wood ants are social insects and live according to a caste system: workers and fertile queens, princesses and princes. Each worker has an important role and according to their age, workers change activity. Will you be able to recognize the queen? Did you know that...? A Queen Wood Ant can lay hundreds of eggs a day! POST 5 From birth to metamorphosis An ant transforms from an egg to the insect you know in 4 development stag- es: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Can you tell us how long it takes an ant to grow from egg to insect? Did you know that...? A worker Wood Ant can live 2 to 3 years while a queen ant may live for up to 3 years. POST 6 One for all, all for one! Natural predators and dangers threaten the Wood Ant in every corner of its forest. But you would be surprised to learn that, despite its small size, the Wood Ant knows how to defend itself perfectly well. The greatest strength of the Wood Ant is its group spirit and the sense of community within the anthill. Did you know that...? The Wood Ant has a powerful weapon: it can propel jets of acid up to 50 cm into the air! POST 7 The master of construction The mysterious and teeming nest of the wood ants is called the anthill, but it is also referred to as a «dome» because of its shape. Rounded on the outside, it sinks into the basement with galleries that contain its deepest secrets. Can you spot a queen in the anthill? Did you know that...? An anthill can house up to 200,000 individuals! POST 8 Its ecological role The Wood Ant plays an important role in the forest and also serves nature. In particular, it contributes to the dissem- ination of plants and the fight against tree parasites. Did you know that...? The largest anthills are not necessarily the oldest! Guess what, poets even wrote about ants! Each of them looks like the figure 3! And there are masses and masses of them! There are 3333333333333 … to infinity! Jules Renard POST 9 Its annual cycle From spring to fall, the Wood Ant is in full operation: caring for the young, foraging for food, tending and defen- ding the ant farm. Phew, looking forward to winter to get some rest! Did you know that...? When the first rays of spring sunshine come out, the ants will gather at the top of the anthill to warm up. POST 10 A supercolony in the Jura Mountains The Parc Jura vaudois is home to a super- colony of wood ants. This ant network is one of the largest in Europe. Be careful though! Anthills and their inhabitants are fragile, so observe them quietly without touching them! Did you know that...? The supercolony comprises 1,200 anthills linked by more than 100 km of tracks on which the ants move along. Plan your return Bus 720 Le Marchairuz (station) to Allaman (pass) Departure at 04:48 pm Arrival at 05:30 pm Alternatively Departure at 12:48 pm Arrival at 01:30 pm To Martigny Departure from Allaman at 05:49 pm Change in Morges Departure from Morges at 06:00 pm Arrival in Martigny at 07:09 pm To Lausanne Departure from Allaman at 05:37 pm Arrival in Lausanne at 06:00 pm Anne Moscatello Other things to discover in the Jura vaudois nature park Did you know that...? The first ski competition was held on the Marchairuz Pass in 1900! Discovery center * of the Parc Jura vaudois The Discovery center of the Jura vaudois nature park features an indoor area and two theme trails: the Wood Ant Trail and the Siméon Pine Trail. The indoor area is the primary public reception area of the Jura vaudois nature park. The Discovery center opened in au- tumn 2020. Located in the east wing of the Hôtel du Marchairuz, it is freely accessible during the restaurant's opening hours. An exhibition is detailing the missions that the Confederation has entrusted to the Swiss Regional Nature Parks. Roland Gerth / Suisse Tourisme It will showcase the Park's projects related to landscape, biodiversity, soft tourism, the promotion of local products, the local economy and highlight educational projects on sustainable development. * Subject to the reopening of the Discovery center according to the Covid-19 pan- demic evolution. More information on parcjuravaudois.ch The Siméon Pine Trail This trail highlights the Park's natural resources and silvipastoral history. On the way, just two kilometres from the Marchairuz Pass. Free access. Visit the Park by bike Rent an E-Bike Anne Moscatello If you prefer to discover the park on two wheels, 3 «Rent a Bike» stations are available at the following addresses: Saint-Cergue Tourisme Saint-Cergue +41 22 360 13 14 [email protected] st-cergue-tourisme.ch Travys SA, Gare Le Sentier +41 21 845 55 15 travys.ch rentabike.ch Vallée de Joux Tourisme Le Sentier +41 21 845 17 77 [email protected] myvalleedejoux.ch For more information: parcjuravaudois.ch/velo-vtt-e-bike VOUCHER La Garenne Animal Park 20% discount on a ticket to the animal park VOUCHER Aubonne Valley National Arboretum 1 drink offered (coffee, tea or apple juice) VOUCHER Espace Horloger 50% discount on a ticket to the museum Discover all our «turnkey» LA GARENNE destinations Located in Le Vaud, La Garenne help wild animals, helping rare species to postbus.ch/your-destination reproduce, presenting many Swiss species and educating children about nature.