Montreux looks east to the Alps for its drama, but the curtain raiser in the west is almost as spectacular and far less busy. Creux du Van — a giant natural rock amphitheatre carved by glaciers and erosion into the Jura cliffs above Neuchâtel — is close enough to the Riviera for a relaxed day trip, and empty enough that you often share the rim with nothing but ibex.
Short answer: Creux du Van is a natural rock amphitheatre ringed by 200-metre-high rock faces, reachable on foot from half a dozen train stations in the Val de Travers.[1][4] It sits in a protected nature reserve home to ibex, chamois, lynxes and alpine plant species,[1] and the classic horseshoe-shaped rim hike takes most of a day.[3] The ethical and easiest route from Montreux is by train: about 1 hour 56 minutes to Noiraigue, then a marked path up.[5]
Photo : Keepforgettingmypassworld, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A 200-metre amphitheatre carved into the Jura
The Creux du Van rock amphitheatre "inspires you with 200-metre-high rock faces"[1] — a soaring cliff in the shape of a horseshoe that is recognisable from far across the lake.[3] The scale is best appreciated from the rim, on the Soliat plateau: on one side the sheer rock wall drops away into the bowl, on the other the flatlands of the Val de Travers and the Neuchâtel hills open out. Because the whole area is a protected nature reserve, you will often spot the reserve’s ibex, chamois and lynxes along the way — the ibex especially like to watch hikers from the safety of the high rock steps.[1]
The headline view
A natural rock amphitheatre whose walls rise 200 metres from the bowl, in a protected reserve that is home to ibex, chamois, lynxes and alpine plants — Switzerland Tourism calls view from the rim one of the country’s great natural spectacles.[1]
How to get there from Montreux
By train, the quietest and most carbon-friendly route, the journey takes about 1 hour 56 minutes to Noiraigue with one or two changes.[5] The good news is you are not tied to one access point: Noiraigue, Travers, Champ-du-Moulin, Bevaix and St-Aubin all have marked pedestrian paths up to the Creux du Van,[4] so how long you walk depends on how much of a walk you want. If you prefer to drive, you can reach the Restaurant du Soliat by car or bus and be at the rocky rim in a few minutes — but parking at the top is limited, and arriving by train or bus is the responsible choice.[1]
A few practical notes for the car route: parking outside the official car parks, for example in the meadows, is strictly prohibited,[4] and on the road between Provence and Couvet winter tyres or snow chains are obligatory in the cold months (the road is unsalted).[4]
| Creux du Van — at a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Natural rock amphitheatre with 200-metre-high rock faces[1] |
| By train from Montreux | ≈ 1h56 to Noiraigue, plus a marked path up[5][4] |
| By car / bus | Restaurant du Soliat viewpoint, then a short walk to the rim[1] |
| Access points | Noiraigue, Travers, Champ-du-Moulin, Bevaix, St-Aubin[4] |
| Best season | Spring to autumn; many paths not accessible in winter[1] |
Hiking the rim: the Sentier des 14 Contours
The classic ascent starts in the village of Noiraigue and climbs via the "Sentier des 14 Contours" — a 14-kilometre route with 14 bends that takes you about 600 metres uphill to the top.[1] On the steeper direct route you climb around 725 metres to stand in the middle of what one guide book calls "an arena of superlatives".[2] Once on the crest, a breathtaking vista rewards the effort before you follow the rim back around to your start point.[3]
Photo : Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One note if you hike with a dog: it is strongly advised not to bring one, because of the suckler cows that graze the pastures on the edge of the Creux du Van and Le Soliat.[3] And whichever way you climb, keep to the marked paths and the official lookouts — the wall’s edge is not fenced in every section.
Beyond the rim: the Val de Travers and absinthe
Lower down, the valley that carries you to the Creux is worth a day in its own right. The Val de Travers is the birthplace of absinthe,[2] and its villages keep the tradition alive with working distilleries and tasting rooms. Dig a little into the history and it gets stranger again: between 1711 and 1986 a tunnel system of roughly 100 kilometres was established here, and asphalt from the valley was used to pave streets in Paris, London and New York.[2] Combine the hike with a distillery visit or an afternoon in Môtiers and you have one of the richest day trips within two hours of a Montreux apartment.
Staying nearby?
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Frequently asked questions
Is Creux du Van easy to reach from Montreux by public transport?
Yes, by train. A Montreux to Noiraigue connection takes about 1 hour 56 minutes, and Noiraigue, Travers, Champ-du-Moulin, Bevaix and St-Aubin all have marked pedestrian paths up to the Creux. Parking at the top is limited, so the train is the easiest option.
How long is the hike to the rim of Creux du Van?
The classic round trip is about 14 kilometres with a climb of roughly 600 metres via the Sentier des 14 Contours, and the direct ascent to the rim is around 725 metres. Plan for the best part of a day.
What is the best season to visit Creux du Van?
Spring to autumn. In winter many of the paths are not accessible, particularly in icy or snowy conditions.
Can I bring a dog on the hike?
It is strongly advised not to, because of suckler cows grazing on the pastures at the edge of the Creux du Van and Le Soliat.
Sources
Rock faces, wildlife, route and access details are from Switzerland Tourism and Jura & Three-Lakes, retrieved October 2026; the journey time is from the SBB public timetable.
- Switzerland Tourism — Creux du Van, a natural spectacle (myswitzerland.com)
- Switzerland Tourism — Creux du Van: round trip in the Val de Travers
- Jura & Three-Lakes — Creux du Van, the 14 Contours trail (j3l.ch)
- Jura & Three-Lakes — Creux du Van: access and car parks
- Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) — public timetable, Montreux → Noiraigue
Base yourself in Montreux
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