Swiss Wine Trail Leads From Geneva to Montreux
After a visit to Geneva, one's next stop should be Lausanne, a center of learning and the Olympic capital. A pleasant place to spend the night is Ouchy, a one-time fishing village. Less than a mile from the city center, Ouchy is a seaside resort with a genteel hotel-lined promenade that includes Chateau d'Ouchy, dating from the 19th century.
Lausanne Attractions Include Olympic Museum
Visitors here can also travel by lake cruiser to other nearby villages like Lutry or Cully, or stay put and take in some of the lovely attractions of Lausanne, such as the Foundation de l'Hermitage, a villa museum with collection of French paintings; the Escaliers du Marché, covered wooden stairs that lead to the 13th century Cathedral of Notre Dame; or the Old Town and the historic Place de la Palud (market square). The Olympic Museum is the city's main attraction, though, and it chronicles the history of both the ancient and modern games (items range from an Etruscan torch to Carl Lewis' golden shoe) with previews of the next cities to host the Olympics, Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012.
Vineyard Trail Covers the Hillsides of Lavaux
Wine lovers will next want to visit the "wine trail," an enchanting area that invites exploration of the terraced vineyards along the hillsides of Lavaux. From Ouchy to Montreux, there are hiking and walking paths overlooking Lake Geneva that also lead through preserved villages. Some of the wine caves here offer tastings of the celebrated Chasselas (the specialty of the Vaud region), and there are charming cafés and restaurants where regional French-inspired meals are served. A wine train also runs through the vineyards from Vevey to the picturesque village of Puidoux-Chexbres.
Montreux-Vevey are Center of Swiss Riviera
Continue on around the lake to the soigné holiday resorts of Vevey and Montreux, where a temperate climate attracts visitors year round. The former was made famous by people like food giant Henri Nestlé, Charlie Chaplin, Ernest Hemingway, and Shania Twain, who came for its sophisticated ambiance and low-key lifestyle. Vevey's old town is full of narrow alleys and quaint shops, and its lakeside Place du Marché is the venue for events ranging from summer concerts to wine fairs and Christmas markets.
The biggest of all summer concerts, however, is the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 2-17, 2010), a citywide jazz, pop, R&B, and blues gig that draws upward of 225,000 musics lovers from around the world . For the rest of the year, visitors are content with a stay at any of the charming hotels that dot the palm-lined, rose-covered lakeside, a night at the Casino of Montreux, or a tour of the villas once occupied by artists, writers, and musicians who called this area home.
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Byron's Poem Immortalizes Castle of Chillon
The most spectacular of all places on Lake Geneva, architecturally and historically, is without question the Chateau of Chillon, the 12th century castle built on Roman foundations by Duke Peter of Savoy. But it wasn't the Duke or the Bernese, who later captured it, which make the castle such an attraction. Instead, it's Bonnivard's prison, a vaulted underground chamber where Francois de Bonnivard was imprisoned for political incitement and immortalized in Lord Byron's 1816 poem "The Prisoner of Chillon."
Located on the most eastern end of the lake, Chillon is exceptional because of its dual facade, a mountain-facing fortress and a lake-facing princely residence. Besides the prison, the castle has a splendidly restored grand ducal hall, a chapel filled with murals dating from the Middle Ages, and banqueting hall with an impressive collection of furniture, pewter ware, antique weaponry, and three semicircular turrets.
Tourism officials contend that the Lake Geneva region comprises four delightfully distinctive worlds in one: lakeside towns and cities, the Alps, the Jura Mountains, and a countryside filled with rural charm. A visit there will undoubtedly bring total agreement.
Boat Day Trips and Excursions on Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva (usually referred to as Lac Léman in French) is the largest lake in Western Europe. Boating is a popular activity for both locals and visitors. Options range from simple cross-lake passenger ferries in Geneva to longer sightseeing trips and dinner cruises departing from various lake-side towns including Genève, Nyon, Yvoire, Evian, Lausanne, Vevey, and Montreux. Boats can be rented for private use ranging from two-seater pedal boats to electrical speedboats and yachts with crew. The cheapest boating on the lake is offered by the small Mouette ferries in Geneva that provide cheap fun when traveling with children too.
Sightseeing Cruises on Lake Geneva, Switzerland
A wide range of sightseeing cruises are available on Lake Geneva. The largest number of departures is from Geneva on the southwestern point of the lake while cruises also operate regularly from towns on the opposite end of the lake such as Montreux, Vevey, and Lausanne.
Standard sightseeing cruises from Geneva usually last one to two hours. The most popular sights are generally the city shores of Genève, the numerous parks and palaces fronting the lake, as well as the Jet d’Eau – the water jet that is the symbol of Geneva.
The nature is even more spectacular on the opposite end of Lake Geneva. Cruises in the Lausanne-Montreux region pass by steep vineyards – the Lavaux vineyard terraces are inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list – while the mighty Alps dominate the southern shore of the lake. A round-trip cruise from Vevey via amongst others Montreux, Chillon, and St Gingolph takes around an hour. This part of the lake has the most beautiful nature and shoreline by far.
Excursion Cruises, Day Trips, and Passenger Ferries on Lac Léman
Many excursion cruises to popular day-trip sightseeing destinations on the shores of Lake Geneva operate year round. Boats come in a range of different sizes in style including historic steamers and modern solar-powered vessels.
Popular destinations served from Geneva include Nyon (1h30) and the medieval French town Yvoire (1h45). The passenger ferry from Nyon to Yvoire crosses Lac Léman many times per day and usually takes around 20 minutes. Yvoire to Morges takes just over an hour.
From Lausanne, up to twelve passenger ferries per day cross over to Evian in France in just over half an hour. A cruise from Lausanne to Vevey takes around an hour with Montreux half an hour further. Historic Chateau de Chillon is 15 minutes from Montreux by boat.
On the French southern shore of Lac Léman, cruises connect the medieval town Yvoire and the spa town Evian via Thonon les Bains.
Dinner and Lunch Cruises on Lake Geneva
Numerous lunch and dinner cruises are available on Lake Geneva with departures from many ports with Geneva once again having the most departures by far. Some cruises are dedicated gourmet cruises with meal included in the cruise price. Fondue cruises are popular on colder nights.
Regular boat cruises at meal times are often significantly slower than on regular trips. Meals are usually not included in the cruise price and taking lunch or dinner on these slower cruises is not compulsory.
The Seasons for Cruising on Lake Geneva
The high season for cruising on Lake Geneva is from mid-June to late September. The number of cruises, departures, and destinations served are by far the highest during summer. During the winter season, November to mid-April, cruises operate mostly only on weekends and vacation days.
Spring and autumn are in many ways the most beautiful time of the year in the Lake Geneva region and cruises are generally available at least daily. These may be the best seasons to cruise Lac Léman as the air is often clear, the weather usually very pleasant, and the crowds smaller.
Switzerland is relatively expensive and cruising on Lake Geneva is unfortunately no exception. Cheaper boating options on Lake Geneva include renting a paddle boat or far easier, use the Mouettes – small passenger ferries in Geneva which are part of the regular public transportation system.
Activities To Do in Geneva This Spring
Geneva, often overlooked as the starting point to get to the finely dusted slopes of the Alps, has so much more offer than ski lifts, fondue and celeb-spotting in St Moritz. Think of melted Swiss chocolate shavings wrapped in a crepe, beautiful crisp Alpine scenery mirrored unto Lac Leman, charming little shops to visit in its old town and ice-skating on a frozen lake.
Sights To See
For some truly stunning scenery, walk along the Perle du Lac Park which gives a wonderful view of the Jet d'Eau, a giant fountain in the middle of Lac Leman (or Lake Geneva) that pushes five hundred litres per second. No trip to Geneva would be without a trip out on a boat to admire the Alps from a different perspective. Bateaux de la CGN runs a decent two hour boat ride that covers most of the lake whilst gliding through Lac Leman's calm waters.
Outdoor skating at its finest happens here, albeit dependent on the weather. The Lac de Joux provides a glass-like surface for which to glide gracefully or not so gracefully in some cases, with a stunning backdrop of mountains and lush forest. Rental skates are available on the lake when conditions are suitable. Check the water temperature and suitability of the ice here. To get there, drive from Geneva to Nyon, then follow signs to St. Cergue/La Givrine, and from there drive through to Le Brassus (passport necessary, as road goes through France).
Geneva's Old Town
Geneva's old town, although surprisingly compact, is quaint and charming. Cobbled streets leading up to historic buildings, chestnut-tree lined paths and the world's longest bench are found here, alongside cute little cafés and restaurants serving up delicious treats. Nestled in the heart of Old Town, is Place du Bourg de Four, a popular meeting place with the locals as it provides the opportunity to have drinks on a terrace with an amazing view. Fringed with historic architecture, and the Palais de Justice, it's an easy location to explore Old Town from.
La Treille Park is situated very close by to Place du Bourg de Four, and it is here that one can take a seat on the world's longest bench. Nearby is the infamous flower clock. This array of flowers with moving hands is surprisingly popular with the tourists. However, one charming little secret is The Laughing Teapot, a cosy tea room that fills up quickly due to its popularity. Pop in here early to save disappointment and order the hot melted chocolate.
Parc de Bastions is a great place to have a picnic and watch the world go by and the huge life-sized chess and checker games at the main entrances mean endless hours of fun. It's a popular place with the locals, to have a drink or catch up.
Culture And Attractions
Geneva is home to an astounding variety of international organisations, from the United Nations to the World Health Organisation. Visit the Red Cross Museum, which is currently showing Modeste, an exhibition by VII photographer Alexandra Boulat. For the sporty types, visit the Olympic Museum in nearby Lausanne, which is about half an hour away by train, and explore the history behind the sporting events.
Indulge the inner geek within by visiting CERN, the birthplace of the internet, and see science in the making. Tours are free and run on Monday to Saturday, from 9-2pm. However, it is important to book in advance. Or for those seeking a more spiritual path, take a day visit or stay at Rabten Choeling Buddhist centre.
Eating Out in Geneva
Geneva has no shortage of chocolate supplies and one tasty way to indulge in a little excess is to visit upmarket department store Globus on Place du Molard. The store has a wide variety of things to eat on its ground floor, but one of the more popular dishes is freshly made crepes. Have them savoury with Gruyere cheese and ham, or sweet with fresh chocolate shavings.
No visit to Switzerland would be complete without some traditional Swiss food. Enjoy a lakeside view at Cafe-Restaurant Le Leman in nearby Nyon. Located on Rue de Rive (28), this place serves up fabulous steak and tasty fondue. If fondue isn't top of the list, try Parfum de Beyrouth (18 Rue de Berne) which serves up delicious Lebanese cuisine.
Socialising And Going Out
Go out for chilled out drinks at L'Ethno Bar on Rue Bovy-Lysberg 1, just a short stroll from Old Town or La Clémence on Place du Bourg-de-Four 20. La Clémence boasts an impressive outside terrace in a very central location in Old Town. Alternatively, try Alhambar on Rue de la Rôtisserie 10, which plays host to a more trendy and international crowd. If there's a large crowd, try Les Brasseurs on Place Cornavin 20, which is famous for it homemade beer served in huge funnels resembling a bong. For the more sophisticated types, pop into Les 5 Portes, which is also a restaurant on Rue de Zurich 8, which boasts a decent wine menu. Booking.com
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