.jpg?fm=jpg&fl=progressive&fit=fill&q=80&h=1080&w=1920)
The top 10 places to recharge your batteries in Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets-Bex.
Nature inspires us, and you?
Take a break from everyday life and make time to recharge your batteries in the Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets-Bex region.
Nature and its breathtaking landscapes never fail to captivate us! In these peaceful and unspoilt places, you can find the inspiration and tranquillity offered by an imposing mountain peak, the silence of a mountain lake, the protected flora of a nature reserve or even the fascinating freshness of a glacier.
And you? What is your next destination to recharge your batteries? We present you our top 10!
The summit of La Palette at 2,170 metres offers stunning views of the Diablerets massif and Lake Arnon (Arnensee). On the way, stop for a break at the Isenau mountain chalet, where you can try a variety of local products, or at the La Marnèche mountain chalet with its terrace affording spectacular mountain views.
Recharge your batteries on the summit of La Palette
Open your body and mind to the energies of nature with a yoga pose
Take a deep breath in pure air
Contemplate the Arnon lake, which lies between the mountain and the valley
Situated at an altitude of 2,200 metres, the summit of Les Chaux high above Gryon offers unparalleled views. To the south, you can see the Dents-du-Midi. To the east, the Dents-de-Morcles and the Muverans stand out. To the north, the Miroir d’Argentine with its smooth rock face rising above the Alpine hamlet of Solalex dominates the view.
Recharge your batteries at the "Croix des Chaux"
Watch the sunset from the summit in the midst of nature, time seems to have stopped
Enjoy the moment when you reach the summit and your efforts are rewarded
Glimpse the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, with its eternal snow
Your first step onto the suspension bridge of the Peak Walk by Tissot at Glacier 3000 is a moment you will remember for a long time. Greeting the summits at an altitude of more than 3000 m, you almost experience what a bird feels. After regaining your breath on this 107 metre-long bridge, you taste victory when reaching the summit of Scex Rouge.
Recharge your batteries on Glacier 3000
Take the cable car from the Col du Pillon up to 3000 metres above sea level
Hike in a glacier landscape at the top of the Vaud alps
Marvel at the 360° view and feel very small in the face of the endless peaks spreading out before your eyes
Have brunch in the Botta restaurant and enjoy the view of the Peak Walk
The Grand Chamossaire is the highest elevation in Villars at an altitude of 2,113 metres. Boasting spectacular views of the Rhone Valley, Mont Blanc, Dents du Midi, Bernese Alps and Lake Geneva – this peak is well worth a detour! This summer, the Grand Chamossaire is easily accessible in a few minutes by chair lift from Bretaye. It is the starting point of several mountain bike routes and hiking trails to other destinations in the area.
Recharge your batteries on the summit of the Grand Chamossaire
Admire the view of lake Geneva and the neighbouring peaks
Enjoy the present moment and the view and capture the passing bliss
Feeling small in the face of the immensity of the nature that surrounds us
Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit for a dip in the lake! With a temperature between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius and reflecting the blue sky as well as the surrounding pine trees, Retaud Lake offers magnificent views of the glacier. Plan a visit to the Buvette d'Isenau alpine hut, a 30-minute walk from lake Retaud. The view is inspiring and the produce is 100% local!
Recharge your batteries at lake Retaud
After a few strokes on your paddle, let yourself drift to the rhythm of the lake's peaceful waters
Lie down on the lakeshore and enjoy the moment
Sit on a bench and gaze at the glacier towering up in front of you
Lake Retaud is worth a visit all year round, as each season adds its own touch to this beautiful alpine lake
Nestled at 1,690 metres above sea level, awaits you in a pristine, unspoilt setting. The lake is easily accessible on a 30-minute walk from the Bretaye railway station. It is located on the route of many hikes. You don’t want to miss a stop at Restaurant du Lac des Chavonnes on the lakeshore to sample its refined and traditional cuisine or to quench your thirst.
Recharge your batteries at lake Chavonnes
Fishing in the stillness of awakening nature, with nothing but a breeze gently stirring the branches and the fish roaming in the lake's peaceful waters
Resting at the water's edge and taking a moment to admire the view and enjoy this unique place
Prick up your ears and try to hear the marmots whistling which live up here
In the background, the Argentine massif and its surprisingly smooth face. There is a lake here at an altitude of more than 1,500 metres, which brings a little coolness when the temperatures are rising in the high summer. Lac de Frience is an artificial lake created in 2019. Perfectly integrated into the environment at an altitude of 1,500 metres, the lake is part of a unique recreation area surrounded by the Alpine pastures of Gryon.
In winter, the site invites young children and their parents to discover the joys of snow sports on its sledge and ski runs for beginners. In summer, Lake de Frience is the perfect place to relax and unwind facing the majestic Miroir d’Argentine.
Recharge your batteries at the shores of lake Frience
Swim in the lake on a beautiful summer day, in the morning, when everything is quiet
Take the path around the lake and sit on a bench for 5 minutes and watch the setting sun
Meditate on the lakeside and contemplate the surrounding nature
Notice the changes in the light reflected in the lake's water depending on the colour of the sky and the sunrays
This E-bike/gravel loop follows quiet roads and forest paths between Gryon, the salt mines and the Avançon gorges.
This e-bike route, also suitable for gravel, makes a loop from Gryon via the Salt Mines of Bex and along the Avançon gorges. A route on quiet roads and forest paths that take you through the plains and mountains.
The “Au fil de l'eau et du sel” (water and salt) route invites you to explore diverse countryside along a varied route in a magical setting. Just after leaving Barboleuse, you go down into the woods to the Bex salt mines. From there, you arrive at Grande Saline, and then you go up into the superb Avançon gorges, the two arms of which have their source at the foot of Les Diablerets and the glacier waters of Martinets, then you arrive at Plans-sur-Bex. Return via the Le Pars Valley. The Bex salt mines are still in operation today. A very pure salt is extracted here and this is known as “Sel des Alpes”. These mines are definitely worth a visit. You can travel through the many kilometres of galleries in the miners’ train.
Recharge your batteries on the tour route
Putting your foot down and feeling the bark of a hundred-year-old tree with your hand
Look up to the tree tops and see the blue sky
Follow the mountain stream with your eyes
Getting off your bike to sit on a bench and contemplate the view
Follow the flow of the water of the gorges of Avançon, which runs between the trees of our green forests. You will enjoy hiking along a shaded trail which takes you to the Valley of Nant and its protected nature reserve. To cool down, dip your hand into the crystal waters of the river. The Avançon in Nant has its source in the Valley of Nant at the foot of the Martinets Glacier. The river goes down towards Pont de Nant and runs through Plans-sur-Bex then Frenières, where it meets the waters of Ivouette. Converging with the waters of the Avançon in Anzeindaz, the river runs through the town of Bex then continues on to the Rhône.
Recharge your batteries at the gorges of the Avançon
Fishing along the watercourse
Walking in the silence of the forest
Watching the water flow between the rocks it has sculpted
At the top of the Valley of Nant is the Martinets Glacier. It goes down lower than 2,300 metres, an altitude where glaciers do not usually exist, and this one must have survived due to its elongated position in the shade of the rocky faces 400 metres high. It therefore remains continually shaded from the sun. Water is everywhere in the valley, not only in the glacier and its torrents, but also in the luxurious vegetation which inhabits these protected places. When walking through the valley, you will notice the abundance of the flora and its ability to colonise in the diversity of the environment, the legacies of geology, the glaciers and the streams.
Recharge your batteries in Pont-de-Nant
Walk through the alpine garden and study the plants that thrive here
Sit on the riverbank and relax to the rushing waters of the Avançon
Hike along the marked trails and discover the amazing landscapes of this valley
The Miroir de l'Argentine is a popular rock-climbing destination. Its impressive vertical wall shining like silver (argentine) makes it a unique site in the Alps. The highest peak is Arrête de l'Argentine at 2,422 metres above sea level. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the first ascent of the Miroir d'Argentine by three young students in May 1922. To celebrate this occasion and the site, which is particularly popular with locals and climbers, several events will be held around the Miroir d'Argentine throughout the summer, including a special day on 10 September.
Recharge your batteries in Solalex
Walk around the Miroir d'Argentine and marvel at the unique beauty of the landscapes you pass through
Walk along the Avançon d'Anzeindaz river and refresh yourself in its clear waters
Look up and admire the Miroir d'Argentine rock face: it glistens in the sun and turns pink at the end of the day
Let yourself be carried away by the sound of the bells of the cows that spend the summer on the Solalex alp
