La Pierreuse, the Largest Nature Reserve in Western Switzerland

La Pierreuse, which is French for "the stony one", is situated in the alpine foothills, on the left bank of the Sarine, south of Chateau-d'Oex, and is 34 square kilometres of pure mid-mountain landscape. It stretches along the Gummfluh and Pic Chaussy mountain ranges. The name is quite telling: the area is littered with rocks. In this site of national importance there are cliffs, flower-strewn alpine meadows, flat moors, evergreen trees, deciduous forests and numerous birds. Lucky visitors may even get the chance to observe golden eagles, falcons, and black grouse. Take a day's hike from the mountain station of the Videmanette cable car through La Pierreuse and over four hills to L'Etivaz.