Regional nature park Gruyère Pays d’Enhaut

A vast area to preserve and explore

But what is a regional nature park?

Unlike a wildlife park or a fenced-in reserve, a regional nature park is a vast, inhabited area that is open to everyone and freely accessible.

Renowned for the richness of its natural and cultural heritage, the Gruyère Pays-d’Enhaut Regional Nature Park works to preserve its landscapes and biodiversity, while supporting local activities, Alpine traditions, and environmentally friendly tourism.

Located between the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, and Bern, it covers 630 km² and encompasses 17 municipalities.

One park, four regions

From the Lake Geneva slope to the Alpine valleys, the Park brings together landscapes and villages with very distinct identities.

The Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park is divided into four regions: the Jogne Valley, Gruyères and the Intyamon Valley, the Pays-d'Enhaut-Les Mosses, and the Lake Geneva slope.

Montreux Riviera is an integral part of the park’s Lake Geneva region.

How can you explore the park from Montreux?

The Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park can be explored year-round, and the train is both one of the most scenic and most efficient ways to reach and explore it.

From Montreux, two rail lines invite you to discover its landscapes: the MOB (Montreux Bernese Oberland), whose GoldenPass line winds through the valleys and villages of the Pre-Alps toward the Pays-d’Enhaut, and the Rochers-de-Naye rack-and-pinion train, which climbs to an altitude of 2,042 meters via Glion and Caux.

Whether aboard the GoldenPass Express, the GoldenPass Panoramic, or the Belle Époque cars, the journey becomes an experience in its own right. The Rochers-de-Naye train, meanwhile, offers a spectacular ascent between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alpine peaks.

These two lines provide easy access to numerous hiking trailheads.

Activities

Nature and discoveries

Hiking

From lush gorges to high-altitude trails, the Park’s landscapes are best explored on foot. In the hills above Montreux Riviera, the trails wind through forests, pastures, and alpine meadows, offering stunning panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Pre-Alps.

Nature and biodiversity

In the heart of a preserved area

Forests, alpine meadows, pastures, and wetlands form a mosaic of landscapes that are home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. As the seasons change, the area reveals its natural treasures and invites you to experience the mountains in a new light.

Alpine traditions and heritage

Landscapes shaped by humans

The Park’s landscapes also tell a human story. For generations, mountain farming, livestock raising, and artisanal skills have shaped the region. Alpine chalets, pastures, and cattle trails bear witness to this close bond between the inhabitants and their environment.

High above Montreux Riviera, the alpine pastures of Sonchaux and Les Rochers-de-Naye exemplify these traditions, which are still very much alive today.

Villages and mountains

Discover another side of Montreux Riviera

As you climb higher, Montreux Riviera reveals a different side. Les Avants, Caux, and the mountain hamlets offer a unique atmosphere, blending alpine landscapes, architectural heritage, and natural areas. There are so many places to discover on a stroll or a mountain getaway.