Entremont: Trails, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Discover Entremont along its trails, in historic buildings and in high-alpine natural areas. When planning, it is worth keeping the estimated hiking times and the seasonal conditions for individual activities in mind.

Hikes with different time requirements

The Mur (dit) d’Hannibal lies above the municipality of Liddes in Valais, at an altitude of about 2,650 metres. The fortified position dates from the second half of the 1st century BC and can be reached via an educational trail from Liddes, Bourg-Saint-Pierre or the Cabane de Mille. Allow a full day for the return hike; check mountain conditions before setting out.

The Chemin des villages et hameaux d’Entremont offers a different time commitment: this easy hike is 13.88 kilometres long and takes approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes. The route passes through Liddes, Chandonne, Commeire, La Rosière, Chamoille d’Orsières and La Douay. To return to the starting point, you can take the St-Bernard Express to Orsières and then the postbus towards Liddes. Timetables may change, so check the connection before your hike. The two hikes therefore differ considerably in the time required: a full day is set aside for the Mur (dit) d’Hannibal, while the Chemin is described as taking just under four hours. It is also advisable to check current trail conditions, which can change with the seasons.

On the way to the Great St Bernard

The Bourg-Saint-Pierre–Grand-Saint-Bernard section is the final Swiss stage of the Via Francigena. At the hospice on the Great St Bernard, the route reaches its highest point between Canterbury and Rome. For this stage, you can travel by train to Orsières and then by bus to the Great St Bernard; check timetables before travelling.

The hospice was founded in 1050 by Saint Bernard of Aosta to accommodate and assist travellers at the Great St Bernard. The complex includes a Baroque church and a treasury containing sacred objects belonging to the religious community. Visitors can see the St Bernard dogs there in summer and take them along on mountain hikes. This offer is seasonal; check before travelling whether it is available during your travel dates. Visiting opportunities for the church and treasury may also vary.

Alpine nature and themed trails

The Réserve naturelle de la Combe de l’A nature reserve encompasses alpine biotopes at elevations of 1,400 to 3,000 metres and provides habitat for a diverse range of wildlife. A trail in the protected area allows you to observe wild animals without disturbing them. Information panels also introduce the region’s geology and botany. The Sentier LaboNature Entremont also offers interpretation along the way: ten themes are presented on several information panels, including the Dranse, vineyards, forests, geology and the history of the Trappists.

At the La Linnaea Alpine garden, you can explore alpine plants. Henry Correvon founded the garden on 20 July 1889 on the northern slope of the Great St Bernard; it is considered the oldest Alpine garden in the western Alps. Thus, along the trails, nature observation and learning sit alongside the historic significance of the landscape.

Villages, museums and fortifications

The historic villages and hamlets in the Val d’Entremont preserve traditional houses, chalets and barns as architectural heritage. Commeire is also home to an underground fortification built between 1940 and 1943, which is now open to the public. The Montagne Alternative tourism project in Commeire welcomes tourists and seminar groups and serves as a venue for various events focused on sustainable living.

The Musée paroissial de Liddes displays religious heritage such as reliquaries, Baroque statues, processional crosses and liturgical objects. The collection also includes a 1494 manuscript concerning recognitions in favour of the parish of Liddes. The Fort d’artillerie de Champex-Lac offers a different insight into the history of construction: it has more than 600 metres of underground galleries and could accommodate 300 men. On a visit, a labyrinth of passageways leads through the complex and conveys the character of a Swiss Cold War fortification. Check current visiting opportunities in advance.

Water and cycling route

At Lac de Champex, you can use pedal boats, rowing boats and stand-up paddleboards. Availability is seasonal and weather-dependent. Fishing is also possible; fish species listed there include brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, golden trout and perch. Check the applicable seasons and permits before fishing.

For a cycling tour, the route over the Col de Champex runs from Orsières via a 7.4-kilometre climb to Champex-Lac and continues to a summit at an altitude of 1,497 metres. Entremont therefore offers different ways to spend time outdoors—from hikes with clearly stated time requirements and nature trails to water activities and a route with a notable climb.

Discover more destinations: Bagnes, La Fouly, Verbier, Le Châble, Fionnay, Champex, Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Orsières, Vollèges, Sarreyer, Liddes.

For the overview of the wider region: Valais.