Creux du Van

The Creux du Van is a natural amphitheatre carved into the Jura limestone: a horseshoe of vertical cliffs around 160 metres high enclosing a forested bowl roughly a kilometre and a half across. It was formed by glacial and water erosion, and standing on the rim, with the ground simply ending at your feet and the trees far below, is the sort of view that Switzerland does not usually offer outside the high Alps. The classic approach is from Noiraigue in the valley, climbing steeply through forest for a couple of hours to arrive suddenly at the edge. Ibex were reintroduced here and are often seen on the ledges, chamois are common, and the plateau above holds a nature reserve of pasture and stone pines. In cold weather the rim can hold ice long after the valley has thawed.

Highlights

• The rim path - the walk around the cliff edge, with the drop immediately beside you.
• Ferme Robert - the old farm at the foot of the bowl, a traditional stop for a meal.
• The Fontaine Froide - a spring on the ascent that stays close to freezing all year.
• Ibex and chamois - regularly seen on the cliff ledges and the plateau above.

When to go

Late spring through autumn. The rim is exposed and can be dangerous in ice or high wind, and mist regularly fills the bowl, which is atmospheric but removes the view entirely. Early starts avoid both the crowds and the afternoon cloud.

What to expect

There is no barrier along most of the rim and the drop is sheer, which demands genuine care with children and in wind. The climb from Noiraigue is steep and takes two hours or more, and there is no cable car alternative. It has become popular enough that summer weekends see a steady procession along the edge.

Nearby

The Val de Travers below is the home of absinthe, with distilleries open to visitors; Neuchâtel and its lake lie to the east.

Key facts