⛰️ The 17 Most Beautiful Gorges in French-speaking Switzerland in 2020

Gorges of Western Switzerland

La Torpille presents the most beautiful gorges in Western or French-speaking Switzerland. The path through the gorges requires between 1 and 2 hours of walking but remains fully accessible to everyone. It is an opportunity for a family walk with magnificent landscapes and footbridges overlooking the void.

It should be noted that the gorges listed by the Torpille team are those that can be visited using a path. Some gorges are particularly impressive but not easily accessible, such as the Ricard gorges under the Niouc suspension bridge or the Salentze gorges under the Farinet footbridge.

The Ricard gorges from the Niouc bridge.

The Salentze gorges from the Farinet footbridge.

The gorges of Western Switzerland are classified by 3 geographical regions.

See more details about geography of Western Switzerland.

Legend:

🏆 Ranking of the gorges (3 ⭐ max)
🏃 Ranking of the course (3 ⭐ max)
📍 Geographical location (district)
📐 Ride length
⌛ Round trip or loop time
👍 Particularities to be observed during the walk
💲 Are the gorges charged or not?
🔥 Indicates if grilling is possible somewhere on the course
📝 Full details on the gorges

Alps Gorges

The majortiy of the Alps gorges are located in the Trient region, west of Martigny.

Durnand Gorges

The Durnand Gorges are among the most impressive in French-speaking Switzerland with a loop that begins by climbing up the gorges on wooden footbridges and descending into a pine forest. The ticket office is located at the reception desk of the Auberge des gorges du Durnand.

🏆 Gorges ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Martigny VS
📐 Length: 1.5 km
⌛ Time: 1 hour
👍 Features: Glacial pots, 14 waterfalls, 330 steps.
💲 Chargeable
🔥 Barbecue: NO
📝 See all the details

The Durnand Gorges.

A video on the Durnand Gorges.

Dailley Gorges

The Dailley Gorges are similar to the Durnand Gorges with a steep ascent into the bed of the gorges and a descent into the forest.

🏆 Gorges ranking(max 3⭐): ⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐⭐
📍 Region: Saint-Maurice VS
📐 Length: 4.5 km
⌛ Time: 2 hours
👍 Features: Waterfall, view of the Rhône valley, 600 steps.
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Dailley Gorges.

A video about the Dailley Gorges.

Triège Gorges

The route of the Triège Gorges offers a loop by climbing up the gorges and going down through the forest and the picturesque village of Le Trétien.

🏆 Gorges ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Saint-Maurice VS
📐 Length: 1.0 km
⌛ Time: 45 minutes
👍 Features: Old stone bridge, SBB water intake, Trétien village
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: NO
📝 See all the details

The Triège Gorges.

A vidéo on the Gorges of Triège.

Trient Gorges

The course of the Trient Gorges is completely on flat wooden footbridges at the bottom of the bed of Trient River bed. From the path, the height of the cliff is very impressive. Admission is charged through the flower shop.

🏆 Gorges ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Martigny VS
📐 Length: 0.4 km
⌛ Time: 30 minutes
👍 Features: Very high rock walls, Geuroz bridge
💲 Chargeable
🔥 Barbecue: NO
📝 See all the details

The Trient Gorges.

A video about the Trient Gorges.

Mysterious Gorges

The Mysterious Gorges, reachable after a steep descent from the Tête Noire car park, allow you to go to the bottom of the bed of the Trient river to enjoy pretty waterfalls between large boulders. The path of these gorges is very old since it dates back to the end of the 19th century.

🏆 Gorges ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐
🏃 Course ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Martigny VS
📐 Length: 2.8 km
⌛ Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
👍 Features: Temple of the nymphs, panoramic viewpoint overlooking Finhaut
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Mysterious Gorges.

A video about the Mysterious Gorges.

Vièze Gorges

The Vièze Gorges are not very impressive and short but have several advantages that the other gorges do not have, such as didactic panels all along the route, the passage through a suspension bridge crossing the gorges and the very short distance that separates them from a city, that of Monthey.

🏆 Gorges ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐
🏃 Course ranking (max 3⭐): ⭐
📍 Region: Monthey VS
📐 Length: 2.3 km
⌛ Time: 1 hour
👍 Features: Old wooden bridge, hanging bridge
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Vièze Gorges.

A video about the Vièze Gorges.

Défago Gorges

The Défago Arcade is located upstream of the Vièze gorges in the Val d’Illiez and consists of an impressive path carved into the vertical rock face opposite the village of Champéry. Once you have visited the gallery you can return to Champéry, either by taking a small free train or by foot down through the “Vallon des Rives” and its old chalets.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Saint-Maurice VS
📐 Length: 3.8 km
⌛ Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
👍 Features: High vertical walls, Dahu Accrobranche
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: NO
📝 See all the details

The Défago Arcade.

A video about the Défago Arcade.

Borgne Gorges

The Borgne Gorges, which form the Val d’Hérens, are particularly deep, the path is set back from the impressive rock faces. However, they do offer visits to three unusual sights. The natural Pyramids of Euseigne, the hot water springs of Combioula. and the hermitage of Longeborne.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Val d’Hérens VS
📐 Length: 9.8 km
⌛ Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
👍 Features: Pyramids of Euseigne, hot water springs of Combioula, hermitage of Longeborgne.
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

A bridge on the Borgne Gorges.

A video about the Borgne Gorges.

Jura Gorges

The gorges in the Jura are located in the canton of Vaud and Neuchâtel and are dug by rivers in the limestone. It should be noted that the Torpille team does not visit any attraction in the canton of Jura and the French-speaking part of the canton of Berne, the Bernese Jura. These 2 regions have pretty gorges such as the Perrefitte, Douanne or Court Gorges for the Bernese Jura and the Pichoud Gorges for the canton of Jura.

Areuse Gorges

The course of the Areuse Gorges does not make a loop and runs downhill along the bed of the Areuse River in shallow gorges except for the passage through the magnificent Brot stone bridge. The course is located in a beautiful natural region.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Val-de-Travers NE
📐 Length: 11.3 km
⌛ Time: 3 hours
👍 Features: Brot bridge, power stations, new bridge, Boudry Castle and wine Museum
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

Brot bridge in the Areuse Gorges.

A video about the Areuse Gorges.

Nozon Gorges

The route of the Nozon Gorges links the Croy station and the Sarraz river. The gorges are not very impressive but offer many points of interest along the route such as the Dard waterfall at the beginning of the route.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐
📍 Region: Jura vaudois VD
📐 Length: 6.4 km
⌛ Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
👍 Features: Dard Waterfall, St-Loup Cliff, “milieu du monde” pond, Sarraz Castle, Horse Museum.
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

the Dard waterfall.

A video about the Nozon Gorges.

Tine de Conflens

The Tine de Conflens near the Sarraz is the junction of the Veyron and Venoge rivers. The latter makes a pretty waterfall at the place of the confluence. In summer, it is possible to swim there.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐
📍 Region: Jura vaudois VD
📐 Length: 1.1 km
⌛ Time: 40 minutes
👍 Features: Waterfalls of the Veyron and Venoge, swimming in summer
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Tine de Conflens.

A video on the Tine de Conflens.

Covatannaz Gorges

Like the Areuse and Nozon Gorges, the Covatannaz Gorges are linear and connect two train stations. In contrast with the other two, the Covatannaz gorges are particularly deep but the path remains set back from the gorges for the majority of the route.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐
📍 Region: Jura vaudois VD
📐 Length: 5.6 km
⌛ Time: 1 heure 30 minutes
👍 Features: View of Lake Neuchâtel, high rock walls, Vuiteboeuf Church
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Covatannaz Gorges.

A video on the Covatannaz Gorges.

Poëta-Raisse Gorges

The Poëta-Raisse Gorges are the furthest from the car park with a walking time of about an hour. The path to visit them can be dangerous for small children but remains the most beautiful walk of all the gorges.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐⭐⭐
📍 Region: Val-de-Travers NE
📐 Length: 8.3 km
⌛ Time: 3 hours
👍 Features: Môtiers Waterfall, military toblerones, Môtiers Castle.
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Poëta-Raisse gorges.

A video on the Poëta-Raisse gorges.

Seyon Gorges

The route of the Seyon Gorges goes down from Valangin Castle to the city of Neuchâtel at the top of the gorges. The path remains set back from the gorges in most of the route except for the terminal part at the mills of the Gor du Vauseyon. This part of the route is the most beautiful.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐
📍 Region: Neuchâtel NE
📐 Length: 4.5 km
⌛ Time: 60 minutes
👍 Features: Castle and collegiate church of Valangin, mills of the Gor du Vauseyon
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Seyon Gorges.

A video on the Seyon Gorges and the mills of the Gor du Vauseyon.

Pre-Alps Gorges

The gorges in this section are located in the cantons of Fribourg and Vaud.

Chauderon Gorges

The loop route of the Chauderon Gorges above Montreux begins by going up the Baye de Montreux River and then back to Glion, from where you can enjoy a pretty view of the Lake Geneva basin. Finally, long stairs lead to the starting point.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐⭐
🏃 Course ranking: ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Riviera VD
📐 Length: 3.9 km
⌛ Time: 2 hours
👍 Features: Highway bridge, View of the lake from Glion, Telegraph path (1000 steps)
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Chauderon Gorges.

A video on the Chauderon G0rges.

Jogne Gorges

The Gorges of the Jogne form a beautiful loop course passing through the Montsalvens dam. The way back goes through the ruins of the castle of Montsalvens.

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Note parcours: ⭐⭐⭐
📍 Region: Gruyère FR
📐 Length: 5.4 km
⌛ Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
👍 Features: Montsalvens dam, ruins of Montsalvens castle.
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Jogne Gorges.

A video about the Jogne Gorges.

Gottéron Gorges

🏆 Gorges ranking: ⭐
🏃 Note parcours: ⭐⭐
📍 Region: Sarine FR
📐 Length: 9.7 km
⌛ Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
👍 Features: Puppet Museum, old town of Fribourg, chapel of the Lorette.
💲 Free
🔥 Barbecue: YES
📝 See all the details

The Gottéron Gorges are not very impressive but allow you to take a nice walk in the countryside and enjoy beautiful views of the old town of Fribourg.
Gottéron is a river that flows into the Sarine, its name is well known to be that of the Fribourg ice hockey team.

Comparative table

The table below provides a comparison of the different gorges. The “Gorges ranking” indicates the beauty of the gorges themselves seen from the path and the “Course ranking” gives an appreciation of the course and its associated curiosities. The canton of Geneva is the only one in French-speaking Switzerland that does not have a gorge.

Drag the table to the right to see the entire contents.

	Areuse	Borgne	Chauderon	Covatannaz	Dailley	Durnand	Défago Arcade	Gottéron	Jogne	Mysterious	Nozon	Poëta-Raisse	Seyon	Tine de Conflens	Trient	Triège	Vièze
Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction		Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction	Attraction
Picture
Gorges ranking	⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐
Path Ranking	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐
Canton	Neuchâtel	Valais	Vaud	Vaud	Valais	Valais	Valais	Fribourg	Fribourg	Valais	Vaud	Neuchâtel	Neuchâtel	Vaud	Valais	Valais	Valais
Region	Jura	Alps	Pre-Alps	Jura	Alps	Alps	Alps	Pre-Alps	Pre-Alps	Alps	Jura	Jura	Jura	Jura	Alps	Alps	Alps
Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course	Course
Short description	Descent from the Noiraigue to the Boudry train station.	Descent from the pyramids of Euseigne to Bramois.	Ascent by the gorges path, passage to Glion and back down to Planches.	Descent from Sainte-Croix station to Vuiteboeuf station.	Forest road then climbing the gorges. Back down into the forest.	Ascent of the gorges along footbridges, descending into a pine forest.	Ascent through the gallery and down a road through the "vallon des rives".		Ascent from the gorges to the Montsalvens dam and back through the ruins of the Montsalvens castle.	Descent into the forest to the footbridges of the gorges. Back through the forest.	Descent from Croy station to La Sarraz station.	Ascent from the car park to the gorges then back down through Le Breuil and the Château de Motiers.	Descent from Valangin Castle to the mills of the Gor du Vauseyon	Descent from Parking and up the same path.	Go and return on the footbridges at the bottom of the gorges.	Climb along the gorges, descend into the forest and the village of Trétien.	Departure from the Old Bridge, ascent of the gorges by the side of the power plant and descent by the other side.
Particularities on the route	→Old stone bridge. →Power Plants. électriques. →Nouveau pont →Château de Boudry et musée du vin.	→Pyramids of Euseigne →Cambioula Hot Springs →Power plant	→Pillars of the highway bridge →View of Lake Geneva at Glion →Territet-Glion Funi and the Rochers train from Naye to Glion. →Telegraph path (1000 steps)	→View of Lake Neuchâtel. →High rock faces. →Church of Vuiteboeuf.	→Waterfall. →View on the Rhone Valley. →600 steps.	→Giant's kettle and 14 waterfalls. →330 steps.	→Accrobranche du Dahu	→Puppet Museum →Old Town of Fribourg →Lorette Chapel	→Montsalvens dam. →Ruins of Montsalvens castle.	→Nymph Temples →View point on Finhaut.	→Dard Waterfall. →Cliff of St-Loup. →"Milieu du monde" pond. →Castle of La Sarraz →Musée du cheval.	→Môtiers waterfall →Toblerones →Môtiers castle	→Castle and church of Valangin. →Mills of the Gor du Vauseyon.	→Veyron watrfall →Venoge waterfall →Swimming	→Gueuroz Bridge. →The route is only on footbridges at the bottom of the river. →100m of rock face height.	→Old stone bridge. →CFF water intake. →Trétien village	→Old Bridge →Power plant →Suspended footbridge
Are the gorges secure?	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️
Start	Noiraigue station. (Arrival at Boudry station)	Pyramids of Euseigne	Rochers de Naye train bridge in Planches.	Sainte-Croix station. (Arrival at Vuiteboeuf station)	Village of Granges (Salvan)	Durnand gorges restaurant, Bovernier.	Parking at garage Rey-Bellet Champery	Parking in Fribourg old town..	Parking of the Jogne gorges, Broc.	Tête-Noire (Trient) parking.	Croy Station (Arrival at La Sarraz station).	Gorges parking.	Church of Valangin	Ferreyres car park	Flower shop "Floral Design" in Vernayaz, before the gorges.	Road bridge over the Triège, Le Trétien (Salvan)	Old wooden bridge.
Departure altitude (meters)	750 (Arrivée 450)	958 (Arrivée 503)	444	1066 (Arrivée 589)	924	613	1018	550	720	1204	645 (Arrivée 483)	758	647	489	460	1020	423
Possible loop	❌	❌	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	❌	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Min Time (minutes)	180	160	120	90	120	60	105	150 ?	150	90	90	180	60	40	30	45	60
Free of charge?	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️
Distance km	11.3	9.8	3.9	5.6	4.5	1.5	3.8	9.7	5.4	2.8	6.4	8.3	4.5	1.1	0.4	1	2.3
Time by train or bus to reach the start point	25 1 train / hour	65 ~ 1 bus / hour		25 1 train / hour							10 1 train / hour		4 (Bus) 2 bus / hour
Positive altitude difference	0	0	256	0	410	150	310	0	190	220	0	430	155	30	5	145	202
River	Areuse	Borgne	Baye de Montreux	Arnon	Salanfe	Durnand	Vièze	Gottéron	Jogne	Trient	Nozon	Ruisseau du Breuil	Seyon	Venoge Veyron	Trient	Triège	Vièze
Access by public transport	→Neuchâtel-Buttes train →Noiraigue stop	→Sion-Les Haudères postal bus →Pyramides of Euseigne stop	→Rochers de Naye train →Planches station stop	→Yverdon-Sainte-Croix train →Sainte-Croix stop	→Mont-Blanc Express train →Salvan stop	→Martigny-Le Châble train →Bovernier stop	→Monthey-Champery train →Champery stop	→Bus →"Eglise Saint-Jean" stop	→Bulle-Broc train →Broc stop	→Bus →Tête-Noire stop	→Vallorbe train →Croy stop	→Neuchâtel-Buttes train →Môtiers stop	→Neuchâtel-Villiers bus →Valangin stop	→Bus →Ferreyres, La Tine stop	→Mont-Blanc Express or CFF train →Vernayaz stop	→Mont-Blanc Express train →Le Trétien stop	→CFF Saint-Maurice train
Route creation	1874-1880				End of 19th century. Restoration: 1990s	1877 (Restored in 1987)	1864		early 20th century, restored in 1993	1884		1871			1870	1870, restored in 2014
Restaurants on the path	Restaurant La Truite		Buffet de la gare Glion		Auberge du Vallon de Van		Cantine des Rives	Pinte des 3 canards	Buvette d'alpage Chez Boudji
Point of view from the route	❌	Val d'Hérens	Lake Geneva Basin	Plateau and Alps	Rhône Valley towards Martigny	❌	Champéry,Val d'Illiez, Leysin	Old town and cathedral	Gruyère region and castle, Moléson	Finhaut and Trient valley	❌	Val-de-Travers	❌	❌	❌	Trient valley	❌
Pictures	❌					❌					❌		❌	❌	❌		❌

Mapping of gorges

The following link shows the geographical location of the gorges in Western Switzerland.

Questions

What are the deepest gorges?

The path of the Trient gorges at the foot of the river has a rock wall height of more than 100 meters.

What are the prettiest routes?

The Durnand and Poëta-Raisse gorges offer the most beautiful routes in the form of a loop.

What are the gorges in which you can swim?

The Tine de Conflens offers the prettiest spot to swim at the foot of the Venoge Falls.

Which route is suitable for a person who has difficulty moving around?

The only route that can be suitable for people with reduced mobility is that of the Trient gorges. The path is short and without any difference in height.

What are the paying gorges?

The only two paying gorges in French-speaking Switzerland are the Trient and Durnand gorges.

Since what age can a child go through the gorges?

All gorges are feasible for children from 4 years old.

How do you equip yourself to do the gorges’ routes?

A simple walking equipment is needed.

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⛰️ The 17 Most Beautiful Gorges in Western Switzerland in 2020