Dent de Vaulion
Fly here
Viewpoint in the Vaud Jura overlooking the Vallée de Joux and Lake Geneva.
From the basket
Above Lake Joux, the Dent de Vaulion has two faces. From the balloon, on the south side, it is a long gentle slope covered in pastures, which you could climb at a stroll. On the north side, by contrast, it drops suddenly in a sheer wall. It peaks at 1483 metres and overlooks the northern end of the lake.
This lopsidedness tells its story. The dent is what remains of a great fold of rock, tipped over to the west, of which a whole flank has vanished, flattened when the fold slid over the neighbouring valley. Only the eastern ridge is left, like a frozen wave.
But the real surprise is the view. On a clear day, from the summit, you can count seven lakes, if not more. Close by, to the south-west, lie Lake Joux, the small Lake Brenet and, in France, Lac des Rousses; farther off, Lake Geneva to the south; and to the north-east, Lake Murten, Lake Biel and Lake Neuchâtel. Turn slowly around the peak to find them one by one.
In winter, its south slope, well exposed to the sun, hosts a small ski area. Then let the wind lead you towards the Vallée de Joux and its forests.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Dent de Vaulion”.
All around
- Mont Tendre, 1679 m, 11 km to the south
- Lake Geneva, 22 km to the south-east
- Le Chasseron, 1607 m, 23 km to the north-east
- Lake Neuchâtel, 24 km to the north-east