Rhône Glacier ice cave faces closure after Valais rejects operator’s appeal

The future of the tourist cave at the Rhône Glacier is in doubt after the Valais Council of State rejected the operator’s appeal. The decision upholds an order requiring the site to be restored and its operation to stop.

The Valais government said the gallery and tarpaulins installed on the glacier should have received prior authorization. It also concluded that such authorization could not have been granted in the area.

The operator has 30 days to appeal to the Cantonal Court. The decision to lift suspensive effect means the site cannot operate while that process is pending, although the operator may ask for suspensive effect to be restored if an appeal is filed.

The Valais authorities said the site is therefore no longer materially able to operate at this stage. However, the website for visitors to the glacier still carried no notice of a temporary closure on Saturday. The case was reported by RTS and confirmed to Keystone-ATS.