Lac de Vallon, which was formed in 1943 as a result of a landslide, and its flooded hamlet are among the outstanding sites of the Géopark du Chablais.
Culture and History
At the Musée de la Faune, visitors can discover the wildlife of the Bellevaux mountains. The Maison de la Belle Vallée presents the way of life in the past, tools, and the history of Bellevaux and Lac de Vallon.
Notre-Dame de l’Assomption in Bellevaux was consecrated in 1830. The paintings in the church were created in the 19th century by the Piedmontese artists Etienne Gilardi, Francesco Giletto and Paolo Sasonini from Val di Sesia in the Sardinian Neoclassical style.
The present-day Chapelle Saint-Bruno was built in 1651 by the Carthusians on the ruins of the former church of the charterhouse. It is the only restored remnant of the Chartreuse Vallon-Bellevaux and is located in the immediate vicinity of Lac de Vallon.
The covered bridge known as “Pont Couvert” takes its name from its roof, which protects the wooden structure, and is considered an unusual construction for the region.
Nature and Landscape
The Jardin Alpin is an alpine botanical garden behind the church in the Chef-lieu district of Bellevaux. Next to the church, it invites visitors to take a stroll with views of the mountains.
The ZNIEFF “Pointe des Brasses et Montagne d’Hirmentaz” is of great biological importance, including remarkable wetlands and the presence of species in peripheral locations, particularly so-called “abyssal stations”. Bellevaux is listed as a municipality within the continental ZNIEFF Type II “Pointe des Brasses et Montagne d’Hirmentaz”.
Pointe d’Hirmentaz lies at an altitude of 1,610 metres and offers panoramic views between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. At the summit, an orientation table helps visitors identify the surrounding mountains.
The “La Source du Brevon” hike leads through the Pététoz forest to the point where the Brevon re-emerges, emerging directly from the Massif du Roc d’Enfer after a long underground course.
Activities
A fishing permit is required for fishing in Lac de Vallon; the APPMA regulations apply. During an introductory Via Ferrata session in Bellevaux accompanied by a professional provider, the scenic, airy route runs along a waterfall; suitable equipment is provided.
The Bellevaux-Hirmentaz ski area has 25 slopes, 15 ski lifts and a total of 25 kilometres of pistes. The Plateau des Mouilles offers 20 kilometres of skating and classic cross-country ski trails; access is subject to a fee. There are also snowshoe and walking trails, as well as a toboggan run.
Getting Around
The Brev’bus connects Bellevaux with Lullin, Vailly and Reyvroz and serves the municipality’s ski areas.
Renting a holiday apartment in Bellevaux can be part of your personal travel planning.
