Discover three attractions on unique railways!
VerticAlp Emosson takes you to Châtelard, a village in the Trient Valley, in the heart of Espace Mont-Blanc, to the top of Emosson Dam, the second-largest water reservoir in Switzerland.
In less than an hour, using the three rail systems forming an unparalleled tourism park, you will disembark at an altitude of 1,965 m, facing the magnificent panorama of the legendary Mont-Blanc.
Once there, use any of the many marked trails to the Vieux-Emosson Dam to spot dinosaur tracks or just enjoy the countryside and a remarkable natural site.
DETAILS
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THE CHÂTELARD FUNICULAR
The departure point of your adventure. Two new panoramic carriages take you on an amazing vertical trip, with a maximum slope of 87%, making it one of the the steepest funicular in the world! During the ascent the view opens onto an increasingly grandiose Alpine landscape, until you arrive at Montuires station, 700 m higher.
FEATURES
Departure Le Châtelard (VS) 1125m Arrival Les Montuires 1825m Journey time 10 minutes Distance 1310 m Capicity 60 persons Height difference 700 m Slope max 87 % Tunnels 2 Track gauge 1 000 mm -
THE PANORAMIC TRAIN
On a track winding up a mountainside, the train takes you through forests and tunnels to the foot of Emosson Dam. The panoramic train offers magnificent views of the entire Mont-Blanc massif while overlooking the deep Bouqui Canyon.
MERKMALE
Departure Les Montuires 1825m Arrival Foot of Emosson dam 1815m Journey time 10 minutes Distance 1650m Capacity 60 persons Height difference 10m Slope max 1,46 % Tunnels 5 Track gauge 600mm -
THE MINIFUNICULAR
The third of these amazing systems is a two-carriage monorail that takes you to the open Emosson heights overlooking the lake.
FEATURES
Departure Foot of Emosson dam 1815m Arrival Lake Emosson 1965m Journey time 2 minutes Distance 260 m Capacity 10 persons Height difference 140m Slope max 73 % Tunnels 0 Track gauge 900mm
HISTORY
1919
In 1919, Swiss Federal Railways (CFF) built the Barberine funicular to transport the materials and people needed to build the Barberine Dam. Once construction was completed in 1925, the funicular was kept for access for dam maintenance and inspection. In 1968, the start of work on the Emosson Dam sounded the death knell for the funicular and in 1973 the CFF decided to dismantle it.
1975
To preserve the system and its record-breaking incline (87%), a limited company was created by the name of SA des Transports Émosson-Barberine (Sateb). A Decauville narrow-gauge railway was built between Montuires and the foot of Emosson Dam and in 1975 Sateb opened these two attractions to the public. In 1977 a Monorail was installed to take tourists to the foot of the summit overlooking Emosson Dam.
1988 - 1991
Between 1988 and 1991, the Monorail was replaced by the Minifunicular. In 1999 the company changed its name to Trains Touristiques d'Emosson SA (TTE) and then in early 2004 to Parc d'Attractions du Châtelard VS SA (PAC).
2014
In August 2014, the commune of Finhaut became the company’s majority shareholder and invested in modernizing the funicular.
Since 2015
23 May, VerticAlp Emosson welcomes you to an "ascensational" trip!
Saturday 11 July 2020
100th anniversary of the funicular
New Gipsy concert - Show by Compagnie Neo