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Did you know? The Col des Mosses is the centre of Europe !
Published on 04.06.2026
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That's not a mistake
Les Mosses is a European hydrographic centre!
A European waterway hub
The pass lies precisely on a watershed, also known as a hydrological divide. It is at this natural boundary that the fate of rainwater and streams is determined, depending on which side of the slope they flow down.
- On the north side (Château-d’Oex), the waters flow into the Sarine, then the Aare, the Rhine… before ending their journey in the North Sea.
- On the south side (Aigle), the waters feed into the Grande Eau, then the Rhône, Lake Geneva, and once again the Rhône, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
In other words, just a few metres at Les Mosses are enough to determine which sea a drop of water will end up in! This division between the Rhine and Rhône basins makes the Col des Mosses a true geographical and hydrological crossroads at the heart of the Alpes Vaudoises.
The caretaker of the Mosses water tower © Camille Gander
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Col des Mosses
Coming to Col des Mosses
On-site parking and transport
Brochures and maps
Practical information
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Office du Tourisme Les Mosses - La Lécherette
Route du Col des Mosses 106
1862 Les Mosses
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+41 24 491 14 66
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