Did you know monks planted the first vines in Lavaux in the 12th century? The area between Lausanne and Vevey is now a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning views of the Alps and Lac Leman. We think one of the nicest ways to see the area is ‘slow tourism’ - get there by train or boat, then visit the charming villages on foot or bicycle along paths and quiet vineyard roads.
1. Hike
On our hike last week, we followed the tourisme pedestre trail (marked with yellow signs) from Lutry. We started on a pretty lakeside trail to Cully, then back on the scenic vineyard terraces through Grandvaux (about 3.5 hours, 350m elevation gain). Details can be found on the site: http://www.wanderland.ch/en/routes/route-0113.html. Stop off for lunch on the terrace of the many cafes and restaurants in Grandvaux, or at the picnic tables with unbeatable views just past the village of Aran.
We visited the Domaine du Daley (www.daley.ch). Founded in 1392, the estate produces 20 Grand Crus wines, including one that is very popular in Japan to accompany sushi! We sipped three different wines on Cyril Severin’s panoramic terrace, and visited the ancient and modern cellars before a short walk back down to the Lutry train station.
2. Bike
For those interested in covering more distance, cycle 30 km (about 3 hours, 350m elevation gain) from Lausanne (Port d’Ouchy) to Montreux. Details of the route can be found on these sites:
http://veloland.myswitzerland.com/en/natur_detail.cfm?id=320048
http://www.veloland.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland.html
Enjoy the views while you have lunch on the terrace of restaurant La Cambuse (www.cambuse-cully.ch) at the port of Cully. Or grab some sandwiches at a bakery in Cully and stop off for a swim at the beautiful little beach of the Plage de Moratel.
Near Rivaz, it is worth a stop at Vinorama (www.lavaux-vinorama.ch), a shop that stocks wines from all the Lavaux estates. Catch a magical film that follows a vintner through the seasons from grapes to bottle (20 min. also in English).
Once you get to Montreux, treat yourself to a Movenpick icecream on the boulevard. Why not put your bikes on a steamboat, enjoying the views of grand castles as you head back to the starting point in Lausanne. Check the scheduled departure times on the Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) website http://www.cgn.ch/.
Getting there
Most of the Lavaux villages can be reached by train: Lutry, Villette, Cully, Epesses, Rivaz, Grandvaux and St-Saphorin. For details check the Swiss Federal Railway website (www.sbb.ch). For families with young children, or visitors who can not walk or bike, try the little train that stops at various estates called the Lavaux Express departing from Lutry or Cully (details on www.lavauxexpress.ch).
fraiche air organises outings to Lavaux to participate in the grape harvesting (vendanges) season in October, and the annual caves ouvertes wine festivities in May. Check our upcoming activities on www.fraicheair.ch/calendar, like our page on facebook.com/fraicheair and email Yvette This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to the mailing list. For a self-guided Lavaux outing, get our handy Lavaux hiking or cycling trail tip and map (5 CHF).
Bio
Yvette Evers grew up camping, hiking and skiing in the Swiss Alps. A Canadian with Dutch roots, her career in international development allowed her to explore mountain areas around the world. Since moving to the Geneva area in 2009 with her husband and two teenage daughters, she also works as a sustainability consultant specialising in tourism.
Yvette is the founder of ‘fraiche air’ - an outdoor club that fills a gap in the market for global locals who are looking for information about outdoor recreation and tourism in English. The outings in small groups provide a wonderful opportunity to discover new activities and join an active community of like-minded sporty friends – powerwalks, hiking, snowshoeing, ski-touring, and family days.
