Lac du Mont d'Orge is a small natural lake above Sion, reached by a short climb through the vineyards on the western flank of the valley. It sits within a nature reserve protecting one of the most botanically diverse areas in Switzerland — the combination of the driest microclimate in the Alps and the south-facing slope creates conditions for plant communities found almost nowhere else north of the Mediterranean.
The walk from Sion takes about 45 minutes, passing through the terraced vineyards that produce Fendant and other Valaisian whites. The lake itself is quiet and pleasant; the botanical interest — if you know what to look for — is considerable. The reserve has some of the rarest orchid species in Switzerland.
story: "The hills above Sion receive less rainfall than parts of the Sahara in some years — around 550mm annually — making the Rhône valley here one of the driest places in Switzerland. This extreme dryness, combined with intense sun, means the slopes support plants typically found only in southern Spain or North Africa."