Hikes
Galerie Défago
Champéry
-1/5°
Suitable for hikers of all abilities, this walk consists of a path hewn into the rock and offers commanding views over Champéry.
Difficulty
EasyLength
8.69 kmDuration
2:40 h
Description
Take a natural path hewn into the heart of the rock, where the word “GALERIE” (“GALLERY”) can be seen in block capitals above you. Located on the large cliff face opposite the village of Champéry, on the other side of the Vièze river, this inscription marks the start of one of the most beautiful walks in the area. Spanning over 600 metres, this path follows a natural ledge, home to a wide variety of plants. The views open up more and more the further along the path you go. At the end of the path, you’ll be rewarded by a magnificent panorama of the village of Champéry. Take the time to admire the valley in its entirety and spot the bell tower of Illiez and the village of Troistorrents.
Turn-by-turn directions
The hike starts at Champéry station. From here, the path crosses the Vièze river and climbs to one of the region’s most significant attractions – a path hewn into the cliff faces above the village. Emmanuel Défago, a local businessman, opened this gallery in 1864. The path mainly follows a natural ledge along the cliff face. At certain spots, the workers had to dig into the rock to create a continuous path. One century later, this passage has been extended to 600 metres in length, opening up spectacular views over Champéry and the valley below. At the end of the gallery, the route continues towards Val-d’Illiez, passing through Les Rives. At Les Esserts, you will start your descent to the bottom of the valley, before climbing back up to the village of Val-d’Illiez, passing by the former sawmill.
Start
Champéry (train station) (1033m)
Destination
Val d’Illiez (train station) (947m)
Author's recommendation
Conquer a series of eight zip wires, one of which is 180 metres in length, in the treetop adventure park Accrobranche du Dahu.
Technical information
Altitude
1237m
870m
Ascent
+370m
Descent
-460m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Getting there
Information
Public transport
From Geneva or Brig, take the Simplon line to Aigle. Change for the regional train (AOMC) to Champéry.
Approach
Motorway A9 exit 18 (St-Triphon), then follow the direction of the Portes du Soleil via Collombey, Troistorrents, Val-d'Illiez and finally Champéry.
Parking
Large car park at the Champéry train station.
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
