The Creux du Van is a natural rocky cirque approximately 1,400 metres wide and 150 metres deep, on the north side of Le Soliat, in the Val de Travers district in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. A very well known, amphitheatre-shaped natural attraction, it is at the heart of a nature reservation area of 15.5 km².

Geology

The rocky arc of Creux du Van was created in three phases: Phase 1: A

glacier A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as ...

covered the area of today's Val de Travers around 140,000 years ago ( Würm Ice Age). The stream of meltwater eroded material, making a V-shaped valley. Phase 2: During subsequent ice ages, other glaciers were created and hollowed out the valley. In warmer periods, the material was eroded by meltwater. Phase 3: After the removal of rocks from the fault, erosion of a stronger layer from a different age was much slower. See cirque for a description of the process forming features like this. The ground beneath the Creux du Van remains permanently frozen to this day ( permafrost).

Attraction

Ibex An ibex (plural ibex, ibexes or ibices) is any of several species of wild goat (genus ''Capra''), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa and East Africa ...

were introduced in the area in 1965. , there are 17.

Access

The summit area can be reached on foot or by car. A paved road from

Saint-Aubin-Sauges Saint-Aubin-Sauges is a former municipality in the district of Boudry in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On 1 January 2018 the former municipalities of Bevaix, Saint-Aubin-Sauges, Gorgier, Vaumarcus, Montalchez and Fresens merged ...

(on

Lake Neuchâtel Lake Neuchâtel (french: Lac de Neuchâtel ; frp, Lèc de Nôchâtél; german: Neuenburgersee) is a lake primarily in Romandy, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The lake lies mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel, but is also shared by t ...

) or

Couvet Couvet was a municipality in the district of Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On 1 January 2009, the former municipalities of Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayards, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint-Sulpice ...

(

Val-de-Travers Val-de-Travers is a municipality in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. It was created on 1 January 2009, when the former municipalities of Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayards, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint-Sulpice and Travers ...

) climbs to (1,382 m), a few minutes walk away from the summit of the rocky cirque. Some hiking paths are signposted, via . Notable trails in the areas include: * (the path of the 14 bends) starts in

Noiraigue Noiraigue was a municipality in the district of Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On 1 January 2009, the former municipalities of Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayards, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint-Sulpic ...

(Val-de-Travers). * leads to the summit directly from the area called . * Other unmarked paths allow access to the summit via or also from via (a breach into the wall of rocks).

Panorama

1467 Montagne de Bounty

References

Creux du Van
(Canton of Neuchâtel Tourist Office)

Notes

{{Authority control Tourist attractions in Switzerland Mountains of the canton of Neuchâtel Cirques of Europe Mountains of Switzerland