History, geology and discovering

A long time ago there were naturalists, botanists, geologists and friends of nature who walked all over this valley, particularly through the "Pas-de-Cheville" mountain path. As well as the wild beauty of the region, there were natural catastrophes, legends and popular beliefs. One is the Roman of C.F. Ramuz who in a myth has a dramatic destiny. All these events contributed to the renaming of a virgin forest with a lake at its foot.

Animal & Plant life
The valley of Derborence has two different climates: in the lower part the climate is continental, dry and hot like the Central-Valais and the upper part has a climate humid, almost Atlantic like the Lower-Valais. The humid air mass penetrates underneath the mountain chains of Diablerets, passing through the Pas de Cheville. The flowers and the forests that can be observed in the valley are the results of the two climates.

The variety of animals in Derborence is particularly interesting because since 1911 a federal and cantonal district protection was established. Hunting is forbidden over the 152 square kilometres of this reserve.

More infromation on www.derborence.ch