The Galerie Défago is a historic trail carved into the cliff above Champéry, in the Val d’Illiez. You walk along the rock face for 600 m, protected by railings, with sweeping views down over the village and the valley.
Viewpoints & lookouts
Galerie Défago
Main highlights
- 600 m cliffside trail, carved in places into the Rives rock face
- History dating back to 1864 : a project launched by Emmanuel Défago in the early days of tourism
- Secured walk with railings, starting from Champéry station, in 2 hours
Overview
The Galerie Défago is a trail built into the Rives cliff face above Champéry. From 1862, entrepreneur Emmanuel Défago fitted out this cliff, crossed almost along its entire length by a natural ledge, to give the municipality an attraction in the early days of its tourism development.
The gallery was inaugurated on 10 July 1864. In Valais, the word “galerie” means “balcony”. In 1967, Gabriel Gay, who ran the Rives canteen, had it extended with a new 400 m ledge as far as Les Rives. The route is 600 m long.
"*" indicates required fields
What to see and do
The trail largely follows a natural ledge along the cliff face. In places, the rock had to be dug out to keep the path continuous. You walk right through the heart of the rock face, above the drop, with the valley below.
Along the way, the word GALERIE is painted in large red letters on a white background on the cliff. The inscription may suggest a partly open tunnel, but it actually refers to a rocky balcony.
At the end of the route, the view opens onto the village of Champéry and the surrounding area. After the cliff section, the path continues almost flat, then descends towards the village of Val-d’Illiez.
Practical information
Access : start at Champéry station. A large car park is located near the cable car.
Visit duration : about 2 hours for the 5.7 km loop back to the starting point.
Difficulty : easy, but not recommended for people who suffer from vertigo.
Suitable for : route secured with railings, suitable for families with children.
Visitor tips
Wear hiking shoes with good grip and clothing suited to mountain weather. The trail is open from May to October. Choose a clear day to make the most of the views.
This place is part of the selection What to do in the Chablais ?
Nearby attractions
- The Troistorrents Footbridge is a 185 m suspension bridge above the Vièze.
- The Vièze Gorges, starting from Monthey, can be explored along a hiking trail.
- The Vieux Moulins de la Tine in Troistorrents showcase industrial heritage and traditional trades of the past.
Report an error or complete the informations
Reviews about this place