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Les Granges-Gérignoz - l'Etivaz 

Suggestions

  • famille
  • agriculture
  • mobilité
  • énergie
  • tourisme
  • faune
  • biodiversité
  • vélo
  • patrimoine
  • randonnée
  • produit
  • alpage

Stage info

The precipitous limestone slopes of La Pierreuse dominate the landscape of Les Granges-Gérignoz. The highest mountain in the range, the Gummfluh, surges skyward like an arrowhead. The trail begins here in the Gérine valley. The first stage leads downhill to the hamlet of Gérignoz before climbing to an altitude of over 2,000 metres up to the grassy plateau of Plan de la Douve. The ascent, which first passes through forests and then pastureland, runs along the imposing jagged rock faces that bear more than a passing resemblance to the Dolomites. This is where eagles, falcons, chamoix and ibex reign supreme. The trail continues past the Col de Base, over scree, through La Case, and further uphill to Plan de la Douve. Surefootedness and hiking poles will make the steep descent to L'Etivaz easier. The Hôtel du Chamois is the perfect spot to catch your breath. Next door is the Maison de l'Etivaz and its cheese ripening cellars where you can discover the secrets of the iconic L'Etivaz AOP. The PostBus stop is conveniently located in front of the cellars.

At a glance

Distance
10.6 km
Hike time
4:45
Elevation change
+ 1100 m
- 970 m

Itinerary

Export GPX

ROAD CONDITIONS

Road conditions may vary at any time. Please consult SwitzerlandMobility before setting off on your hike. Check the Hiking in Switzerland box to see which paths are passable and which.

7.LES-GRANGES-GERIGNOZ_L-ETIVAZ_LA-PIERREUSE
7.LES-GRANGES-GERIGNOZ_L-ETIVAZ_DESALPE

Points of interest

Alpage des Paccots
Alpage des Paccots
In summer, when cows graze the mountain pastures, the cheese-maker himself/herself can be found making cheese over a wood fire each morning. The cheese is then aged for several months in the L'Etivaz cheese cellars, under the careful watch of the L'Etivaz AOP alpine cheese producers cooperative. This farm does not allow visitors, however it is possible to visit other alpages in the region.
1660 Châteu-d'Oex
Info point - L’Etivaz visitor centre
Info point - L’Etivaz visitor centre
This information point in the L’Étivaz visitor centre is given over entirely to the alpine economy: images, texts and maps guide you through a journey into the heart of mountain farming. The accompanying brochure has details of 15 different visits to alpine chalets in the Park, including contact details, directions and an introduction to cheese-making. The information point also has details of many other excursions and tours within the Park. Located on the premises of the Park’s partners, information points are the ideal place for visitors to familiarise themselves with the Park and everything it has to offer. These points feature interpretive panels as well as wealth of brochures, guides and leaflets in French, German and English.
La Maison de L’Etivaz Route des Mosses 72
1660 L’Etivaz
maison@etivaz-aop.ch
La Pierreuse
La Pierreuse
Located in the Prealps, south of Château-d'Œx on the left bank of the Sarine river, La Pierreuse reserve encompasses 34 square kilometers of mid-mountain terrain. It extends from the Gummfluh mountain range to the Pic Chaussy range. La Pierreuse is listed in Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance. It is a crown example of typical subalpine terrain: rocky zones; alpine prairies with rich flora; marshes; fir, pine and spruce trees; and deciduous forests. La Pierreuse Reserve, created in 1945, is now managed by Pro Natura with a commission uniting concerned parties for nature conservation in the canton of Vaud.
1660 Château-d'Oex
1660 Château-d'Oex
L’Etivaz
L’Etivaz
The wood buildings of L’Etivaz, some of which date to the 16th century, bare witness to a rich architectural heritage. Spreading over 7 km in the Torneresse valley, you will find this charming hamlet of very old homes, in a pastoral setting. The houses and their nearby barns/stables punctuate the bottom of the valley, where farmers and livestock, alike, pass the winter.
1660 L'Etivaz
Also worth discovering...
Le Grand Chalet, Rossinière
La Chapelle Balthus, Rossinière
Turrian Bridge
Ramaclé waterfall
Restaurant and cheese dairy
Le Chalet, Château-d'Œx
Buvette des Serpenteys, Flendruz

Safety

Prepare your hike

Carte KF-3617x2713

Being well-prepared is the first essential step to a successful tour. Have you thought of everything? Here are a few things to help you get ready.

Tips for my hike

RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR

Allières-Les Avants randonneurs -1816x1362

This tour takes place in a pre-Alpine environment with an exceptional natural heritage, a rich landscape and a predominantly alpine economy, all of which demand exemplary behaviour.

Hikers' charter

To help you

Buy the park map

Find a moutain guide

Hiking ideas

Awaken your senses

The Cheese trails

Hikes for all ages along the old cheese transport routes

One-day excursions

Cross-country tours with TP stops at the beginning and end of the route.

Savurando

Une chasse aux trésors gourmands dans le Pays-d'Enhaut