This is our last day in Switzerland with our two cousins Linda and Frances. Today will be a long day but well worth the effort to get to see the Emosson Barrage, a large dam built high in the mountains and with views of Mont Blanc. We first take a train to Lausanne and transfer to another for Montigny. At Montigny there is a narrow gauge train that climbs into the mountains.
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| Climbing out of the valley of the River Rhone |
The train is quite crowded with a couple of school parties but they soon leave and we have a chance to find a seat. We need a request stop just before the train gets to the frontier with France. A quick word to the conductor and the train stops for us outside a huge building which appears to be a generating station.
We next have to find the funicular railway which takes us on the first part of the climb. It is tucked away behind the generating station.
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| The first funicular |
The whole system of funiculars and a small railway was installed to build the barrage. It was only in the last few years that it has been adapted for visitors.
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| At the top of the first funicular there is a restaurant area and shops for the narrow gauge railway which takes us around the side of the mountain to the second funicular |
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| The train looks tiny against the mountainside |
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| The view of this glacier is spectacular |
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| The second funicular is a much smaller affair. |
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| The barrage with Mont Blanc in the distance |
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| We walk down to admire the calm waters of the barrage. The dam is at 1933 meters above sea level. |
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| There is a restaurant at the top by the funicular. There is even road access and it is possible to walk down into the valley |
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| We take the funicular down on the first part of our return. |
It has been a long day but well worth the effort to see a special part of Switzerland.
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