Grande Dixence

Name: Grande Dixence
Address: Barrage de la Grande Dixence, Heremence, 1987, Hérémence, 1987, CH
Telephone: +41 27 328 43 43

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Why go

Lac des Dix covers 4 km² and is the largest lake above 2,000 m in the Alps.
The concrete dam’s crown is 748 metres long and its base is 193 metres thick.
Four pumping stations and three power stations form the hydroelectric complex.

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 17:45Show all

Monday10:00 – 17:45

Tuesday10:00 – 17:45

Wednesday10:00 – 17:45

Thursday10:00 – 17:45

Friday10:00 – 17:45

Saturday10:00 – 17:45

Sunday10:00 – 17:45

Don't miss

The dam’s crestWalk up from the dam’s foot or take the Chargeur cable car to the crest at 2,365 metres above sea level.At the top of the dam
The earlier Dixence damIt can reappear when the reservoir is low, but visibility is not guaranteed.Beneath Lac des DixWhen the reservoir is low

Interesting facts4

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32 kilometres
The dam contains 32 kilometres of inspection galleries and shafts.
Barrage de la Grande-Dixence - Wikipedia
100 kilometres
More than 100 kilometres of tunnels, fed by dozens of intakes, bring water into the reservoir.
Barrage de la Grande-Dixence - Wikipedia
400 million
Lac des Dix stretches five kilometres and covers four square kilometres, holding about 400 million cubic metres of water.
Grande Dixence Dam - Wikipedia
2 billion
The complex produces about 2 billion kWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the needs of 500,000 households.
The Grande Dixence - The concrete giant : Grande Dixence : Valais, Switzerland

Shorts

History

Its construction also became the subject of Jean-Luc Godard’s documentary Opération Béton.

1950Construction of Grande Dixence began.
1953Jean-Luc Godard worked as a labourer at the site and made Opération Béton, a black-and-white documentary about the construction.
1957The dam began operating partly.
1961About 3,000 workers completed the dam after pouring six million cubic metres of concrete.
1965The dam entered service.

Show all

1972Grande Dixence had been the world’s tallest dam when completed; Nurek surpassed its height.
1993–1998The underground Bieudron power station was built.
2000A penstock rupture released about 27,000 cubic metres of water and caused a landslide that killed three people.

Tips for your visit Best time to visit With kids

Tips for your visit

There is a restaurant within a three-minute walk of the dam’s crest and Lac des Dix.

Best time to visit

Most reservoir water comes from summer glacier melt. The lake usually fills by late September and reaches its lowest level around April.

With kids

The site offers tailored school outings at Grande Dixence.

How to get there

ParkingTwo car parks are beside the Chargeur cable car’s departure station.

Sources: Grande Dixence Dam - Wikipedia · The Grande Dixence - The concrete giant : Grand… · La Grande Dixence - Le géant de béton : Grande … · Die Grande Dixence - Der Betonriese : Grande Di… · Barrage de la Grande-Dixence - Wikipedia · Grande Dixence - Wikipedia · Sortie d'entreprise, team building, promenades … · checked 24 Sep 2026

Where

Barrage de la Grande Dixence, Heremence, 1987

Website: visit.grande-dixence.ch/
Phone: +41 27 328 43 43

Questions and answers

Which power stations belong to the Grande Dixence scheme?

Fionnay, Nendaz and Bieudron are its three production plants; the complex also includes Chandoline, which is out of service.

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