The Émosson arch dam towers at 1,930 m above a turquoise reservoir in Finhaut, in the Trient Valley, on the French-Swiss border. You ride up by funicular and panoramic train, then walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs.
Dams
Émosson Dam
Main highlights
- A 180 m arch dam, 554 m long, one of the tallest in Switzerland
- Views of the Mont Blanc massif and the Aiguilles Rouges from the lakeshore
- A geological trail leading to 240-million-year-old dinosaur tracks
Overview
The Émosson arch dam lies in the municipality of Finhaut, on the left bank of the Rhône, above Martigny, at an altitude of 1,930 m. It stands 180 m high, with a crest length of 554 m, and holds back 225 million m3 of water.
It ranks among Switzerland’s largest hydroelectric projects. The site also includes a second structure, the Vieux-Émosson dam, built in 1955 and located at over 2,200 m, about an hour’s walk away.
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Things to see and do
The ascent uses the VerticAlp facilities : a funicular, a small panoramic train winding between rocks and forest facing the Mont Blanc massif, then the Minifunic, a hybrid of funicular and lift that rises 30 m above the highest point of the dam.
A zip line suspended 200 m above the ground offers a plunging view of the dam and its lake. The educational dinosaur tracks trail first follows the lakeshore, then reaches the Vieux-Émosson hut (2,187 m), near the second dam.
A guided tour takes you inside the dam wall, from the left bank to the right bank. You’ll discover the monitoring instruments, a scale model of the Émosson scheme and a historical film.
Practical information
Getting there : by train on the Mont-Blanc Express from Martigny or Chamonix to Le Châtelard, then VerticAlp Emosson. By car via the Col de la Forclaz or the Col des Montets.
On site : large free car park a 5-minute walk from the dam.
Season : the road is closed in winter and access to the dam is prohibited.
Visitors : guided tours organised for groups.
Visiting tips
Bring warm clothing, as the altitude and the lake cool the air even in summer. Wear hiking boots to reach Vieux-Émosson. VerticAlp transport may be suspended in bad weather, and the tour inside the dam must be booked in advance.
This place is part of the selection What to do in the Trient Valley ?
Nearby
- VerticAlp Emosson links Le Châtelard to the dam via rail-based installations in the heart of the Espace Mont Blanc.
- The Gorges Mystérieuses are explored via stairs, ladders and a 120 m footbridge above the river.
- The Zoo des Marécottes showcases nearly 130 animals of Alpine fauna in a larch forest at 1,100 m.
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