Culture & Gastronomy Published on 30/03/2021

Eager to learn more about CERN, while enjoying nature and practicing sports with your children? The Big Bang trail is for you.

Your mission, should you accept it, is to solve 10 riddles spread over 10 stations at CERN in order to restart the Large Hadron Collider.
Each station is made up of explanatory signs and interactive kiosks on a specific scientific theme.. 
Once the 10 riddles are solved, a code will appear. Send your code to Passeport.bigbang@cern.ch to find out if it works.

The trail

A French-Swiss circuit to be completed by bike without time limit or legs to follow. You are free to move at your own pace on the 54 km trail. This one is marked and maintained but be careful the itinerary sometimes takes very busy roads. So be careful and follow the road signs.

Take advantage of the good weather to make a day trip out of it with a picnic break, the ATLAS, CCC, Neutrinos, CMS, Acceleration stages have equipped rest areas or parks nearby or along the way.

Your equipment

Passport with the enigmas, 2 levels are proposed: children from 8 years old or family + where a glossary of technical terms is provided: atom, big bang, particles…
Maps: A general map with the route + IGN map indicating the time and distance between each stage of the circuit (the average time between 2 platforms is 4 km or about 30 minutes) but also the places to see on the way.
Bring your own bike or you can rent one (in France or in Switzerland)

Before you saddle up:

  • Ensure that you have the proper cycling equipment
  • Make sure you have your identity card
  • Get the Big Bang passport at the Pays de Gex Tourist Office, at the town hall (call first to make sure they have it) or download it online.
  • Check the maintenance of the platforms by clicking here

To further explore the CERN when it reopens its doors to the public

Visit on your own of the permanent exhibitions:

  • Universe of particles, in the Globe of Science and Innovation: discover CERN’s major missions in a unique and spectacular setting
  • Microcosm, in the reception area of building 33: this exhibition offers an insight into the CERN adventure
  • Guided tours of 2 hours by booking directly with CERN at least 15 days in advance. The tours are free and take place from Monday to Saturday (according to a fixed schedule).

While waiting for the reopening, you can take a virtual tour of CERN by clicking here

5-4-3-2-1-0 Discover CERN and explore the mysteries of the universe.

A little glossary to help you find your way around:

*CERN : European Center for Nuclear Research, founded in 1954 by 21 member states. CERN is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world, and the World Wide Web was conceived here.

*LHC : A ring 27 km in circumference that serves as a gas pedal for particles to collide with each other. These collisions allow us to study and understand the Universe. The LHC or Large Hadron Collider is the largest and most powerful particle accelarator in the world. It was built in the 1980s, buried an average of 100 meters underground, between the Jura Mountains (France) and Lake Geneva (Switzerland).