Champéry is a linear village in Val-d’Illiez, on the French border, and a municipality in the District of Monthey in the Canton of Valais. The village was first mentioned in 1286 under the name Champery. In 1969, Champéry became one of the founding villages of the Portes du Soleil ski and holiday area. Experiences include winter sports, local history and mountain trails.

Discover local history on guided tours

The guided village tour focuses on rural traditions and knowledge passed down through generations; it also tells the story of the Hôtel des Dents du Midi. It is offered year-round by prior reservation. Book in advance and confirm availability before you travel.

The open-air museum “Champéry été 1863” looks back at village life in the 19th century in comic-strip form. The original panels are displayed along the village street. Scenes of everyday life depict haymaking, woodworking, mercenary service, emigration and tourism. The Tour des oratoires leads through Rue du Village and the forests and idyllic trails of Grand-Paradis.

Local entrepreneur Emmanuel Défago opened the Galerie Défago in 1864. Its path, more than 600 metres long, is carved into the rock and follows a natural ledge where many different plants bloom. It offers views of Champéry. This makes it possible to connect local history with a specific route without needing to take a longer circular walk.

Winter sports and Portes du Soleil

The Champéry–Croix-de-Culet cable car takes skiers to the Portes du Soleil ski area in five minutes. Check the timetable and operating conditions before your trip. The Champéry sector has a snow park for freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

One notable run is the Pas de Chavanette, also known as the “Swiss Wall”: over one kilometre, it drops almost 400 metres in elevation and has a gradient of 50 degrees.

Hiking trails, mountain lakes and birdwatching

The Plateau de Barme is a starting point for dozens of hiking and climbing trails. A themed trail there explores the history of cross-border smuggling in the past. The Col de Bretolet is home to one of the most important ornithological stations; the site is particularly well suited to birdwatching from August to October. This period provides a clear seasonal reference point when planning a trip focused on birdwatching.

The Via Ferrata de Tière is 460 metres long and crosses the waterfalls of the Tière stream twice via footbridges. Since technical information can be updated, check it before your visit. Conditions can also affect access to mountain trails.

The circular hike to the Lacs d’Anthème starts and ends at Champéry railway station. It is 16.19 kilometres long and takes six hours. Several small mountain lakes lie beneath the jagged peaks of the Dents du Midi, surrounded by flowering meadows. The “Discovering water” themed trail offers a different focus: its 16 stops raise awareness of the protection and management of the natural resource of water. The trail is 21.3 kilometres long and takes a full day. This provides a contrast between a circular hike to mountain lakes with a stated walking time and a longer themed trail with stops focused on water.

More active days

For cyclists, stage 9 of the Valais Velo Tour runs from Champéry to Le Bouveret. It crosses the Col de Champoussin at an altitude of 1,588 metres and offers panoramic views of the Dents du Midi. Another route description is provided by the Passerelle Belle-Etoile: the route passes through forests and sunny alpine meadows, as well as over the scree slopes of Roc Coupé.

The Champéry pump track in Grand-Paradis features rollers and banked turns. It is open to children and experienced mountain bikers alike, and serves as a practice area for beginners. The Palladium sports centre includes an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor pool open in summer. There is also an ice rink, a curling rink open in winter, fitness facilities, tennis courts, badminton and pickleball courts, and a climbing wall. Check the current opening hours of the facilities before your visit. The Organic Adventure Park offers six treetop courses; operating conditions may also change here.

Discover more destinations: Vouvry, Torgon, Saint-Gingolph, Vionnaz, Port-Valais, Troistorrents, Morgins, Monthey

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