"Attraction park at the Emosson Dam (Switzerland)" Top 5 Page for this destination Outside Chamonix Valley Tip by Martinewezel

The Emosson Dam is located up in the mountains, at only 19 km from Chamonix, over the border, In Switzerland.
To get there, there are 2 possibilities: either, you take the road, or you cross the mountains in 2 funiculars, and over narrow gauge railroad. We chose the second option.

The steepest historic funicular in the world, (1920) who was initially built to bring the workers to the dam location, is now integrated in the Parc du Châtelard. Next ride is a 15 minutes railway ride in a splendid scenery, followed by another, smaller funicular to the dam and the lake.

On the top is a restaurant and a visitors center where you can buy tickets to visit the dam. The dam can be crossed on foot too. This is free of charge, of course.
Lots of people hike around the lake. There is a spot where once can see footprints of dinosaurs.

The site has a good website, with lots of things to do in the area.

1st photo: le barrage d'Emosson
2nd photo: the historic funicular
3rd photo: the narrow gauge railroad station

Website: http://www.chatelard.net/english/pages/descr_e.html