Let’s face it: I’m starting to consider it a celebration when the kids “graciously deign” to go on a hike with us. But what can I use to bribe them? Chocolate! (Don’t they take after me?) So, to entice them on a hike around Lake Montsalvens in the Charmey area, we promised them a sweet reward at the end in the form of a visit to the nearby Maison Cailler chocolate factory. And you know what? In the end, they refused because they had stuffed themselves with ice cream from the local Coop. I was also happy that we had enjoyed a pleasant walk together, away from the crowds, and discovered another interesting place in Switzerland off the tourist trail.
Getting to Charmey
By public transport: Take the train to Broc, Gare, and from there take bus line 260 to Charmey, village.
By car: Take the A12 motorway and exit at Bulle, then drive through Broc and continue towards Charmey. At the end of the village, near the lower cable car station, there is a paid parking lot called Parking Val-de-Charmey. Due to an event at the top of Vounetz, it was full early in the morning, so we were directed to the parking lot at the local spa, Bains de la Gruyère.
Start of the trail – bridge over La Jogne
From the parking lot, we headed towards the center of Charmey and then continued to the end of the village, where we turned right over the bridge where the La Jogne stream flows into the artificial lake Lac de Montsalvens. Pretty soon, we turned off the comfortable asphalt road onto a forest path, where a slow climb began. When we turned around, we had a nice view of Charmey.
La Monse Chapel
La Monse Chapel
When we emerged from the woods, a wide pasture opened up before us, at the edge of which, instead of a herd of cows, there was a pleasant alley of mountain maples, lindens, and ash trees. A little further on stands the four-century-old La Monse Chapel with a shingled roof, crooked shutters, and a picturesque tower. The chapel is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of nature and peace. The cottage next door dates back to the 16th century and is one of the oldest in the canton. A 240-meter-long dry stone wall enhances the authenticity of the place, a beautiful example of traditional craftsmanship.
Motélon Valley
The trail finally begins to descend and continues through the picturesque Motélon Valley along the stream of the same name. After several rainy days, a short section of the trail turned into a stream – water flowed from a side spring a few meters above the path, and a little further on, it merged into the Motélon. It was only a few dozen meters; in dry weather, the trail is normal, but after the rain, waterproof hiking boots came in handy.
Barrage do Montsalvens
The Barrage de Montsalvens was built between 1920 and 1921 and holds back the waters of the Jaun, Javroz, and Motélon streams. As you can read on the information boards at the dam, it is 55 meters high, 115 meters long, and only 2 meters wide. It was the first dam with a double arch (vertical and horizontal) in Europe.
The path along the lake shore
Behind the dam, the trail continues along the shore, mainly in the shade of trees, which is pleasant in summer. Almost at the end of the route – if you have been walking clockwise – you will find a 60-meter-long suspension bridge, also known as the “Gwagglibrücke,” which was built in 2009.
Summary
- The route is 9 kilometers long and is not suitable for strollers.
- As you can see on the map, we did not follow the entire official Tour du Lac de Montsalvens route (marked in red on the map).
- After returning to Charmey, treat yourself to some relaxation at the Bains de la Gruyère wellness center, which features indoor and outdoor thermal pools with mountain views. You can also combine your visit with a trip to the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in nearby Broc.
