Summer in the Alps

We took advantage of the August holiday weekend to stay with friends in Rossinière, in the Pays d'Enhaut of the Canton of Vaud.

The village is diyllic, as you will see from the photos. Moreover, since it lies near the famous Röstigraben (or rösti ditch) - the river Saane (or Sarine) which marks the eastern boundary of French-speaking Switzerland - one can easily hop across to the German-speaking part of the country, and the nearby towns of Gstaad and Lauenen.

On Sunday we went for a hike from the village of Lauenen up to the lake. It was actually quite an easy hike, with only one steep part near the beginning. And the views were stunning.

It wasn't typical habitat for alpine flowers; you get those higher up on the more exposed, rocky areas. Instead, we saw lots of woodland and marsh species, including wild strawberries, butterbur, meadow sweet, angelica, spotted orchid, marsh marigold (which had gone over) and (my favourite) grass of Parnassus, which isn't a grass at all but a small, plant with a beautiful, delicately veined white flower and heart-shaped green leaves.

On Monday we took a walk around the lake of Vernex, just outside the village of Rossinière itself. Vernex lake is an artificial one - the result of a small hydro-pwer scheme - but none the less scenic for that.

So, here are some pictures!