Champex: Lake, Alps and Cultural History

Champex is in Valais, Switzerland; the resort of Champex-Lac is part of the municipality of Orsières. It comprises three villages: Champex-Lac, Champex d’en-Haut and Champex d’en-Bas. The alpine landscape includes the lake and views of Grand Combin and the Dents du Midi. When planning your trip, you can focus on different highlights: the lakeshore and marshes, botanical diversity, trails through the mountain landscape or cultural history.

Lake, Garden and Marshland

The alpine botanical garden Flore-Alpe is home to 4,000 plant species from the local flora and mountain regions around the world. Its collection is arranged among numerous trails and streams in naturalistic habitats. Rowboats and pedal boats can be rented for trips on Lac de Champex; rentals are seasonal.

The Marais de Champex-Lac lies west of the lake. The wetlands range from fens along the shore to raised bogs in more distant areas. The Champex marsh is the only marsh in Valais where Swiss stone pines grow locally. This means the lakeshore landscape and the more spread-out marsh areas offer different natural attractions in the same place.

The Bisse de Champex-Lac, also known as the Bisse du Petit Ruisseau, draws its water from the Durnand d’Arpette at an altitude of 1,650 metres and flows into Lac de Champex after about 1.5 kilometres. The Bisse de Champex-Lac is also listed as an easy circular route of 1.5 kilometres; it runs between the Champex-Lac chairlift and Relais d’Arpette. Trail conditions can vary. At Relais d’Arpette, you can try the local specialty, blueberry tart, along the trail; availability may change.

Activities in Different Seasons

Seasonal guided hikes with St. Bernard dogs are offered at Lac de Champex. When conditions are suitable, skating is possible on the lake’s flat, frozen surface. These activities depend on different requirements: the hikes are seasonal, while skating requires suitable ice conditions.

At La Breya, a six-kilometre toboggan run descends from the summit. The officially certified route passes through Vallon d’Arpette and a large forest of firs, larches, Swiss stone pines and pines. It operates seasonally and is subject to current conditions. The Champex-Lac ski area has four lifts and 15 kilometres of pistes between 1,486 and 2,267 metres in altitude; its opening is also subject to seasonal conditions.

A winter trail starts at the chairlift car park, follows the lakeshore and returns to the starting point via higher areas of the resort. Check snow and safety conditions before setting out. For cyclists, the Col de Champex cycling route reaches Champex-Lac after 7.4 kilometres of steady climbing. Mountain weather affects riding conditions.

Cultural History and Getting There

The Champex-Lac artillery fort was built from October 1941 to December 1942 and remained classified as secret until 1999. A 600-metre network of galleries extends beneath the installation. Visitors can explore the underground maze of corridors as part of the relevant guided tours. Historically, Champex was a mayen, an alpine pasture settlement for seasonal livestock farming. Access was improved gradually: the Les Valettes–Champex road was built in 1926, followed by the Orsières–Champex road in 1928.

You can reach Champex-Lac by train via Martigny to Orsières, then continue by bus. Check the current timetable before departure.

Discover more destinations: Sarreyer, Orsières, Vollèges, Le Châble, Liddes, Bagnes, Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Fionnay

For the main travel overview: Entremont.