Dam of Montsalvens
Dam of Montsalvens, Hydroelectric dam in Broc, Switzerland.
Description
The Dam of Montsalvens is a concrete arch dam that spans across the valley and creates a large water storage reservoir behind it. The installation supplies water to the nearby Electrobroc power plant and helps manage water flows in the Rhine basin system.
History
Construction was completed in 1921 and represented an important achievement in Switzerland's development of hydroelectric power. Since then, it has continuously provided renewable electricity to the Fribourg region and beyond, shaping the valley's landscape.
Culture
The structure holds national cultural property status and shows how the region modernized its energy supply in the early 1900s. Visitors walking along the lake's shores can sense the connection between engineering achievement and the electricity that still powers nearby communities.
Practical
The area around the dam offers walking paths and viewpoints along the water's edge and can be reached on foot from the village of Broc. The best time to visit is in dry weather when the trails are easy to navigate and views are clear.
Did you know?
The structure was designed by Heinrich Eduard Gruner, a Swiss engineer who specialized in storage dam construction. The resulting Lac de Montsalvens became an important habitat for water species and attracts bird watchers from the region.
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Maison Cailler
1.9 km
Lac de Montsalvens
509 m
Dent de Broc
2.7 km
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens Castle
1.4 km
Notre-Dame-des-Marches, Broc
3.2 km
Dent du Chamois
3.1 km
Position de barrage Gruyères
3.9 km
Dent du Bourgo
4.1 km
Château d'En-Bas
3.2 km
Fabrique de chocolat Cailler
2 km
Charmey
2.6 km
Sainte-Trinité chapel
2.2 km
Saint-Laurent parish church with ossuary and oratory
2.4 km
Saint-Pierre chapel
2.2 km
Sainte-Anne chapel
3.1 km
Eglise Saints-Jean-et-Paul, Cerniat
2.9 km
Saint-Jean-Baptiste chapel
2.5 km
Sainte-Anne chapel
4.5 km
Saint-Othmar parish church
2.7 km
Chalet de la Monse
1.9 km
Groupe E Electrobroc, Centre d'information sur l'énergie
2.3 km
Farmhouse of Antoine Repond
4.1 km
Barrage de Montsalvens (cf. Châtel-sur-Montsalvens)
0 m
Former Benedictine priory
3.2 km
Château d'En-Haut
2.6 km
Home des ouvrières
2.3 km
Rectory
2.5 km
Tour-porche de l'ancienne église Saint-Othmar
3.2 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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