A hidden Swiss gem: Lac Champex  sparkles in Summer

The village of Champex offers numerous summer sports and leisure activities for families, friends and couples such as boating, lakeside walks, swimming (subject to local opening hours), tennis and mountain biking. For the outdoor enthusiast, Champex and the surrounding Valais region is a true hiker's paradise, and it is one of the starting points for the challenging North Face Ultra Trail mountain race. See:http://www.ultratrailmb.com/

The chairlift ride to the top of La Breya is a breathtaking experience and the panoramic Alpine views from the top are spectacular.

If it's culture and heritage you're after, Champex-Lac offers two gems. The Alpine botanical garden where colours, perfumes and varieties of exquisite native Alpine plants abound, leaves a lasting, fragrant imprint on your memory of Champex in the summer.

You will also find here tranquil pools, waterfalls and streams as well as an intriguing underground artillery fort - a historic Swiss monument that was once part of the country's military defense strategy. Built entirely underground, this structure comprises not just defense posts, but also a hospital, rest areas, a kitchen and many other surprises.

In the sunshine-filled summer months, there is nothing better than taking pleasure in the local surroundings, enjoying the family-friendly village of Champex or perhaps picking up some local Swiss cheese,bread and wine and creating a summer picnic on the apartment's balcony - or even lakeside.