8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Grande Dixence Dam
At 285 m the world's tallest gravity dam seals the Val d'Hérémence with more concrete than the Great Pyramid; a cable car rides to the crest, with guided gallery tours and a zip line across the wall.
14 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
Sanetsch Pass
A spectacular dead-end climb from the Rhône vineyards above Sion past the Tsanfleuron glacier to 2,242 m; because no through road exists it stays near-empty, and only a cable car continues to Gsteig.
16 km · about 30 min drive
mountain pass
Col du Pillon
A 1,546 m pass in the Vaud Alps between Les Diablerets and Gstaad, the gateway to the Glacier 3000 cable car and a smooth, scenic link on any western Swiss Alps road trip.
20 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Grimentz
Val d'Anniviers village at 1,620 m where sun-blackened larch chalets, some from the 15th century, sag under prize-winning geranium displays; the road continues up to the glacier lake of Moiry.
20 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
Col de la Forclaz (Valais)
The pass above Martigny on the road to Chamonix, kept open all year and a natural gateway to the Mont Blanc valleys.
28 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Lac d'Emosson
A high dam lake reached by a steep dead-end road, facing directly across to the Mont Blanc massif. Dinosaur trackways lie on the slabs above it.
33 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Matterhorn
Iconic pyramid-shaped peak rising to 4,478 metres on the Swiss-Italian border, one of the most recognizable mountains in the world.
36 km · about 40 min drive
mountain pass
Great St Bernard Pass
At 2,469 m, this ancient pass between Switzerland and Italy shelters the hospice that bred St Bernard rescue dogs; travellers have crossed here since Roman times, Napoleon among them.
37 km · about 45 min drive