IM FANG

The vallon des Morteys is marked by glacial cirques and curious karstic formations, making for a 4-hour 10-minute walk with a 980-metre ascent. The Vanil Noir limestone massif, dominated by the summit of the same name, has numerous cavities and caves carved out by water. The valley is very dry, with water seeping into the ground and rising to form the Bellegarde waterfall. There is, however, a stream that runs through the valley, the Riau des Morteys, with its source at Les Morteys-Dessous. During periods of heavy rainfall, snowmelt or storms, the stream forms a temporary pond on the Sori plain at the entrance to the valley.

The "dent de Brenleire" and "dent de Foliéran" accompany the walker as far as the Marindes hut. Above, the Morteys-Dessous mountain pasture is a great place to buy cheese, including Gruyère and Serac, or to climb the Vanil Noir. Many peaks surround the valley, including the aforementioned dents des Bimis, Tour de Doréna, Tête de l'Herbette, Vanil du Croset and Vanil de l'Ardille. All these peaks are among the highest in the canton of Fribourg.

Fields of lapiés form the landscape of the valley in which many animals can be observed. Marmots, eagles, chamois and ibex have made the valley their home.

You can reach the site by public transport: get off at the Praz-Jean stop, then follow the Gros-Mont stream to the entrance to the valley.