The Argentine Mirror

Around fifteen o'clock, never later, you have to follow the Solalex road, at an altitude of some 2422 meters to see the fine droplets of water that, so often in March, bead from the conifers as the sun approaches a sunset with imperial yellow rays. After several differences in altitude snowshoeing with your boots in the snow, you will see, the Argentine Mirror will make its elegant appearance. An ancient seabed dating from the Cretaceous period, straightened and curved by the intense folding of the entire limestone Alps, it has been the landmark of Swiss mountaineers for centuries and one of the most studied geological areas in the Vaud Alps.

It is here that Joëlle and Martin Deburaux-Gilliéron, the two managers and owners, who are concerned about the preservation of the site with a philosophy combining good candor, Swiss gastronomy and a destination with the lowest possible impact, have also taken root. The electricity of the Solalex plateau comes in fact from two hydroelectric turbines, one behind the Refuge and the other a little lower located in La Benjamine, as well as from twenty solar panels located on the roof of the restaurant. The excess electricity not consumed at Solalex is sent into the network through a 16,000 volt underground medium voltage line. The Argentine mirror is heated by two last-generation heat pumps, which provide domestic hot water as well as heating water. The heat is then distributed throughout the floors thanks to a low-temperature heated floor. An ingenious heat recovery system is also installed in the restaurant chimney, making it possible to use the heat pumps less. “We understand the importance of maintaining this precious ecosystem. We are committed to adopting sustainable practices at all levels of our business, whether in managing our resources, reducing our carbon footprint, or in supporting our local community.”