Les Coteaux du Soleil Tourisme Route Cantonale 5 CH-1964 Conthey

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Derborence is one of the most spectacular places in the Swiss Alps. It is a hamlet located in the municipality of Conthey, in the canton of Valais. The Lizerne Valley ends upstream in the Derborence cirque, nestled between Diablerets, Haut de Cry and Mont Gond.

Two landslides occurred there in 1714 and 1749, caused by the collapse of the cliff beneath the Diablerets glacier, at a place known as "Quille du Diable" (Devil's Keel). The first was the deadliest, killing fourteen or fifteen people and numerous head of livestock.

This disaster is the subject of the novel "Derborence" by the famous Swiss writer C. F. Ramuz. The second landslide was more severe than the first, but most of the Valais shepherds were able to flee and only five Bernese who refused to leave perished. Lake Derborence was created by this landslide.

It is a protected natural site, where hunting is prohibited, comprising a 260-hectare reserve around the lake managed by Pro Natura. The site is home to a population of ibex, chamois, marmots and bearded vultures.

It is an absolute must-see, accessible by post bus from Sion or by car from May to October, via a narrow mountain road where it is recommended to honk your horn before each bend to warn other drivers.

Beware: this is a narrow and dangerous road, often winding between cliffs and precipices. Even if you are not prone to vertigo, you will break out in a cold sweat, so the easiest option is to take the post bus, whose drivers know the route and its difficulties inside out.