There aren’t many places that tick all the boxes for a day out with the family, but the Parc Pré Vert at Signal de Bougy appears to do just that.
Located on the hillside half way between Geneva and Lausanne, several hundred meters above Lake Geneva, the park covers an area of about 110 acres, of which 40 are dedicated to welcoming children and their families. Among the park’s visitors you can also count on diners looking for fine food with a view, as well as business people who recognize the excellent value of the “forfait seminaire” when booking a meeting place for their work colleagues.
Once of the first things you notice when you drive up to Signal de Bougy is the outstanding vista! There can be few places in Vaud where you get such a great vantage point looking down the lake in one direction towards the fountain at Geneva, back again in the other direction towards Montreux and Le Bouveret, and of course straight ahead towards the Alps and Mont Blanc.
The golf course and dedicated club house are located on the Geneva side of the park, so you will probably notice them first if you arrive from this direction. There are 2 main car parks, (click here for prices), one located near the golf course, and the other at the far end of the park, slightly nearer to the main restaurant and viewing terraces. If you park at this end, take a moment to enjoy a relaxing stroll through the wooded paths (great for hide and seek with the kids) before arriving at the main restaurant area. It is a good idea to make this your meeting point for all subsequent roll calls, especially if you have children and want to keep a regular check on them. Click here to download a plan of the park.
It is worth noting that hot meals are served in the restaurant from 11h until 14h30, whilst a cold buffet with pizzas, grilled meats and sandwiches are served non-stop from 11am until 17h30. From 1 May until 30 September the opening hours are extended from 9h to 9h every day. Recently renovated, the restaurant provides a welcome respite from all the activities available at the park – there are also numerous tables outside if you prefer to enjoy the view, and an indoor play area for younger kids.
Beyond the restaurant, you will find the main activities offered by the park. These include a large free playground for the younger kids, as well as Minigolf and Miniland with its automated cars, motorbikes and buoy boats. For the older kids there is a sports area with pitches for football and beach volley, table tennis (paying), and a free parcours sportif. There is also a Salto Trampoline, usually open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, dependent on weather and numbers of visitors. At the Lausanne end of the park, there is an adventure area with tree climbing in the woods. Popular with all ages, the farm and lake include goats, rabbits, turkeys, donkeys, ducks and geese and, best of all, the pigs, especially the little piglets when they arrive! There is also a deer park for those who don’t mind wandering further afield. Please note that dogs are allowed in the park on a lead, except in the minigolf and self-service restaurant.
The open air amphitheatre is one of the focal points of the park, with its series of free shows that take place daily from Wednesday to Saturday at 15h during high season. There is no need to reserve but take note that the shows only take place in good weather. Magicians and clowns are popular features of these shows, with lots of active engagement with the kids – so watch out all those on the front row!
The park also runs a series of workshops for kids who want to try their hand at cooking either bread or pizzas. During high season from Wednesdays to Fridays, children can turn up at the bakery between 11h and 2h and join a 30-minute workshop where they will learn to make their own bread roll which they can take home with them . The opening hours depend on weather and occupancy so it is best to check that the bakery is open before you promise the activity to your children. The cost is just Fr. 4.- per child, for a maximum of 15 children at a time.
The pizza workshop takes place on Saturday mornings at 10h30 only, and lasts about 45 minutes. During this time, children will learn to make their own pizza, which they can take home afterwards with a drink. The cost for this workshop is Fr.20.- and reservation is essential. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or all +41 58 568 31 50 to book your place.
For the older generation, afternoon tea dances are becoming a popular activity. 9 days have been set aside this year for these special occasions, which take place between 14h30 and 18h at the restaurant. Tickets are priced at just Fr. 7.- per person.
In addition to its regular activities, the park also holds a number of one-off events throughout the year. In 2015 these include a festival for children called Lillibigs on 18 and 19 July, and another for star gazers on 22 August called Féérie d’une nuit. Of course, there is the annual fireworks display on 1 August to celebrate the Swiss National Day, which is not to be missed!
Whilst Signal de Bougy has earned itself a reputation as being one of the best places to go in this region for a day out with family and friends, the park is also becoming a popular place to visit by local groups and businesses. A new “forfait seminaire” (download flyer), costing just Fr. 79.- per person represents great value for money when you consider what it includes: rental of a fully-equipped meeting room for the entire day, three-course waiter-serviced meal, and two additional breaks for snacks and drinks. The cost can be reduced further if the meal is taken in the self-service restaurant and the room hired for a shorter period of time. For those who wish to combine their course with a team-building activity then, of course, there are numerous activities to choose from including tree climbing, minigolf, and beach volley, to name but a few!
Fondation Pré Vert du Signal de Bougy
1172 Bougy-Villars
Tél. 058 / 568 31 50
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