Vanil Noir, Fribourg, Switzerland

The Vanil Noir is a mountain of Switzerland, located in the canton of Fribourg.
This swiss peak has a height of 2,389 metres and is the highest peak of the canton.
The Vanil Noir is part of the Swiss Prealps and the mountain range separating the regions of Gruyère (Fribourg), and Pays-d’Enhaut (Vaud). The mountain is listed in the inventory of natural sites and monuments of national importance in Switzerland.
In 1983, the Vanil Noir got its status of nature reserve, by the Council of State. The reserve covers an area of almost 15 square kilometres.

Vanil noir fribourg 01
F8, 1/400 sec, 10 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Vanil noir montagne 02
F13, 1/200 sec, 10 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Vanil noir peak 03
F11, 1/500 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Vanil noir peak 04
F11, 1/250 sec, 500 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir sommet 05
F5.6, 1/320 sec, 10 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir sommet 06
F13, 1/800 sec, 50 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir sommet 07
F10, 1/250 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir sommet 08
F10, 1/320 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir sommet 10
F11, 1/320 sec, 500 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir sommet 11
F6.3, 1/1250 sec, 50 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir summit 12
F11, 1/800 sec, 75 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir summit 13
F11, 1/800 sec, 50 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D

Several vertiginous trails lead the hikers to this swiss summit, crossing the mountain from north to south.
A narrow path, on extremely inclined slopes (50 to 60 degrees), brings the bravest hikers on top of the peak, where a massive cross awaits them.
From up there, you can enjoy the view above la Gruyere region, the Pays-d’Enhaut, but also till the Neuchâtel Lake, the Jura, the Léman Lake, and the Alps with the Mont Blanc.

Hiking vanil noir 01
F8, 1/500 sec, 244 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking vanil noir 02
F13, 1/640 sec, 167 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking vanil noir 03
F13, 1/640 sec, 75 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking vanil noir 04
F10, 1/320 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking vanil noir 06
F6.3, 1/1250 sec, 244 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking vanil noir 07
F6.3, 1/1000 sec, 332 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Randonnee vanil noir 09
F11, 1/200 sec, 10 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Randonnee vanil noir 12
F5.6, 1/800 sec, 203 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Randonnee vanil noir 14
F5.6, 1/400 sec, 100 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Randonnee vanil noir 15
F6.3, 1/500 sec, 500 mm, ISO250, Canon EOS 7D

With the mountain range and the peaks around, it forms a protective shelter to a great variety of flora and fauna.
Alpine ibexes, chamois and marmots are wandering among rocks, snow and flowers.
The pictures of the Vanil Noir and its reserve, were taken during different hikes, at different seasons.

Vanil noir ibex
F11, 1/400 sec, 500 mm, ISO2500, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir ibex in the swiss Alps
F5.6, 1/130 sec, 203 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir ibex
F6.3, 1/130 sec, 500 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D

Chamois running, Alps wildlife
F5.6, 1/320 sec, 138 mm, ISO3200, Canon EOS 7D

Alpine chough or yellow-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) on the ground
F10, 1/320 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Marmot chewing grass with open mouth
F6.3, 1/320 sec, 500 mm, ISO3200, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir butterfly
F13, 1/640 sec, 450 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Aspic viper
F6.3, 1/800 sec, 373 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

There is plenty of animals at the Vanil Noir, but you have to be patient and a bit lucky, to encounter them and be able to take good pictures.
Some trails can be crowded, and even if certain animals are not too shy, they don’t like to be disturbed and can be scared.
Please respect them, walk slowly, don’t be too noisy, and you will increase your chances to make better Wildlife photography.

Ibex on top of the Vanil Noir, in the canton of Fribourg
F14, 1/130 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Ibex horns on the Vanil Noir
F6.3, 1/1250 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Portrait of ibex in the Apls, swiss wildlife
F6.3, 1/1250 sec, 413 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Chamois in the snow, surrounded by ibexes, Les Marindes, Fribourg
F6.3, 1/400 sec, 500 mm, ISO1250, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir chamois 11
F6.3, 1/400 sec, 413 mm, ISO1250, Canon EOS 7D

Alpine chough or yellow-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) on a pole
F6.3, 1/500 sec, 500 mm, ISO250, Canon EOS 7D

Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) on a branch
F6.3, 1/500 sec, 500 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

A marmot is looking at me from its burrow
F6.3, 1/1250 sec, 500 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Standing marmot eating a leaf
F6.3, 1/320 sec, 500 mm, ISO3200, Canon EOS 7D

Marmot in the grass on the trail to Les Marindes
F8, 1/500 sec, 500 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D

Group of marmots in front of their burrow
F14, 1/250 sec, 500 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D

Hikers who are coming to Switzerland and the canton of Fribourg, can enjoy a hike to the Vanil Noir and the surrounding peaks: the Vanil de l’Ecri (2,375 m), the Dent de Brenleire (2,353 m), the Dent de Folliéran (2,340 m), the Dent de Savigny (2,252 m), the Dent de Ruth (2,236 m), the Vanil Carré (2,197 m) , Hochmatt (2,152 m), the Moléson (2,002 m) and some others.
During Summertime, cows are in the mountains, and will provide milk to elaborate the swiss cheese.
You will probably have the opportunity to cross the pastures where they are in.

Hiking switzerland 01
F14, 1/250 sec, 50 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking switzerland 02
F14, 1/250 sec, 50 mm, ISO640, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking switzerland 03
F11, 1/320 sec, 244 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking switzerland 04
F5, 1/500 sec, 50 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking switzerland 05
F8, 1/400 sec, 167 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D

Hiking switzerland 06
F11, 1/200 sec, 167 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D

Les marindes 07
F11, 1/250 sec, 10 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Les marindes 08
F10, 1/400 sec, 138 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D

Randonnee suisse 09
F4.5, 1/130 sec, 50 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D

Vache suisse 11
F6.3, 1/800 sec, 332 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Vache suisse 12
F6.3, 1/800 sec, 332 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir 15
F11, 1/250 sec, 113 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir 16
F13, 1/20 sec, 20 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir chapel 19
F6.3, 1/1250 sec, 203 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D

Vanil noir gruyere20
F8, 1/320 sec, 56 mm, ISO320, Canon EOS 7D

I hope you liked my photos of the Vanil Noir in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, and maybe it will motivate you to go hiking there and enjoy its nature and wildlife.
I wish all the best to my friends Courtney and Adam, respectively back in Australia and Poland, who joined me for a hike at the Vanil Noir.

Take care, and take photos!