La Berra par la Valsainte
Overview
-
-
Distance 14 km
-
Duration 4 h 35 min
-
Ascent 820 m
Intro
A peaceful hike through the fields and forests of the Javro Valley, away from the throngs of tourists. While the walk to the peak of La Berra presents no technical challenges, it is rather steep. The charterhouse La Valsainte right after the start is an impressive sight.
Description
The walk begins at La Valsainte Monastery in the Gruyère region of Fribourg, which is easy to reach by postbus. The Charterhouse, established in 1295, is the last active Carthusian monastery in Switzerland. The lives of the monks living here in seclusion are dedicated entirely to prayer. The monks are known for their silence and self-imposed solitude, one of the reasons why visits to the inside of the monastery are not permitted, except for a small chapel. But even from the outside, the architecture of the charterhouse with its rows of small buildings is striking.
At first, the tour through the pristine Javro Valley heads westward, up to Gite d'Allières. On the way up, the landscape alternates between Alpine meadows and forests. The views of Mt. Moléson and the Alpine foothills of Fribourg from the terrace of the mountain hut are amazing. The peak of La Berra at 1,719 meters is the highest point of the route. The treeless, grassy summit resembles a flat pyramid and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Lake Gruyère, across the Bernese Seeland and all the way to the Jura ridge. Signs are provided with the names of the mountains and the surrounding towns. The path continues mostly downhill with short uphill sections and across the ridge in the direction of Auta Chia d’Amont with the sharp pinnacles of Les Recardets looming ahead. Kaiseregg Mountain is visible in the background with the Dents Vertes to the right.
On the way back to La Valsainte the hikers may catch sight of the typical chalets covered by wooden shingles. These are part of the cultural heritage of Fribourg: La Guisolanda, for example, or the pasture Les Féguelenets after a forested section of the trail. The large chalet that belongs to it is located in a peaceful, almost magical setting. Shortly thereafter we get to the road near Les Mossettes. La Valsainte is not far from here. Note: hikers coming from La Roche who want to start there can take the bus to the gondola in Le Brand. La Berra can be reached on foot via Gîte d'Allières. The gondola to the peak of La Berra operates from July on.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Charmey, La Valsainte
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Charmey, La Valsainte
|
| Direction |
Round trip
|
| Ascent |
820 m
|
| Descent |
820 m
|
| Distance |
14 km
|
| Duration |
4 h 35 min
|
| Duration back |
4 h 35 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Medium
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view
|
| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
Quick Facts
Route number
