VerticAlp Emosson ; A Walk Between Two Dams in Valais

Discovering VerticAlp Emosson means riding three rail installations. It also means walking on the Emosson dam, facing Mont Blanc.

VerticAlp Emosson

A Bit of History

VerticAlp Emosson is a Swiss tourist railway company, operated by Verticalp SA. It is located in Le Châtelard, in the municipality of Finhaut, in Valais. Its installations have a long history. The funicular was built in the 1920s, for the construction of the Barberine dam. This old dam now lies beneath the waters of Lac d’Emosson. Today, these installations make it possible to discover the impressive landscapes of the Swiss Alps in comfort. Nature, history or adventure: the setting is breathtaking.

A Walk Between Two Dams

VerticAlp Emosson ; A Tourist Railway Company

The park offers three main installations to explore the region. The Le Châtelard funicular, one of the steepest in the world, has an 87% gradient. It climbs to an unbeatable view. The little panoramic train then crosses breathtaking landscapes to the foot of the Emosson dam. Finally, the Minifunic lifts visitors to the top, above the dam. The site can be reached by road or by the Mont-Blanc Express train, from Martigny to Le Châtelard. These installations combine comfort and adventure. They run during the summer season, from late May to late October.

The Émosson Dam, a Giant of the Alps

Commissioned in the 1970s, the Émosson dam rises 180 metres. It holds back a large artificial lake, shared between Switzerland and France. The structure produces electricity for both countries. Not far from the lake, dinosaur tracks were discovered in 1976. These footprints, several hundred million years old, can be visited in summer on guided hikes.

VerticAlp Emosson ; A Swiss Walk

This visit is a chance to rediscover Switzerland through an unmissable site in Valais. After the funicular, the panoramic train leads to the foot of the dam. The Minifunic then reaches the top.

The walk starts gently along the dam, with a splendid view of the lake and Mont Blanc. The terrain quickly becomes wilder, between paths, trees and patches of snow. A break at the Vieux-Emosson hut is a chance to regain strength. The climb then continues towards a second dam, the Vieux-Emosson. Higher up, a breathtaking panorama rewards the effort. An exceptional walk and an unforgettable experience in the heart of nature. For fans of hydraulic structures, the Grande-Dixence (in French) is also well worth a visit.

Le Châtelard, 1925 Finhaut
Website

VerticAlp Emosson