Conquering Derborence: a spectacular adventure in the heart of the Alps!

We board the bus to Derborence on a beautiful summer’s day. The vehicle fills up with passengers, most of whom are on their way to go hiking. At 9.05 a.m., we set off on our journey of more than an hour, and as we pass through the city of Sion, time seems to slow down. From Conthey, we leave the valley behind and begin our ascent, travelling first past the vineyards of Valais, before making a stop at the post office in the little village of Erde.

We then leave the hillsides behind and enter craggier, steeper surroundings. The valley nestles between two spectacular mountains, and the first dizzying glimpses down into nothingness leave a lasting impression on us all.

Impossible passings

On this part of the route, passing other vehicles become more complex. To enable the Postbus to continue its journey, our driver Josy stops to remotely activate the traffic lights at the start of the two tunnels that lie ahead. This prevents oncoming traffic from continuing towards us.

Josy also closes the roof windows to protect us from any falling stones and turns off the air conditioning. He explains he is minimizing any noises that could distract him. After all, we’re on a mountain road where the forces of nature are powerful. Ten minutes of intense concentration lie ahead for Josy − if you’ve ever driven on this road, you’ll know how much effort it takes!

Now imagine driving a Postbus along it, bearing in mind that the road wasn’t originally designed for today’s buses − the difficulty level is many times greater. Inside the tunnels, you sometimes have to negotiate every last centimetre. At the trickiest point, the vehicle comes within just five centimetres of the wall. The work the drivers do is extremely impressive and requires a great deal of self-control and skill at handling the vehicle.

Between the two tunnels, we travel through an area known as the “white belt”. The road overlooks a drop of 440 metres, and all the passengers become highly alert. They are pleased when Josy unexpectedly gives them some information on the route and its particular features. Once we’ve passed through the two tunnels, Josy relaxes and continues on his way to Le Godet and then to Derborence. Nature is once again ablaze with shades of green, and larches show off their stunning beauty.

Discovering the site

When we arrive, the whole bus applauds our driver, and many people even go up to congratulate him personally. We praise his remarkable composure. Josy practises karate, a sport that has certainly helped him a great deal when faced with stressful situations during his career as a driver. It’s also an opportunity for passengers to gather some first-hand information, as our host has now switched roles and become our tour guide. Let’s not forget that the site is a Pro Natura nature reserveTarget not accessible. To our surprise, the daughter of the driver who trained Josy at the start of his career is one of the passengers that day − an opportunity to share a few more memories.

We continue on to the Refuge du lac de DerborenceTarget not accessible, which, as its name suggests, overlooks the magnificent lake in this little corner of paradise. The inn still houses a room where C.F. Ramuz stayed while writing his novel “DerborenceTarget not accessible”, which tells the story of the landslide that occurred in 1714 and shaped the unique landscape.

It’s time to leave this place that has inspired so many legends. Now it’s your turn to take the Postbus (route 331/332) from Sion or Conthey, running from the first weekend in summer to the last weekend of October (see timetables). Or why not discover our other incredible destinations?

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