Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva, known in French as Lac Léman, is one of the largest lakes in western Europe. It lies on the course of the Rhone River on the frontier between France and Switzerland.
It is divided into three parts — the Upper Lake (Haut Lac), the Large Lake (Grand Lac), and the Small Lake (Petit Lac). Aside from the city and canton of Geneva most destinations in the Lake Geneva region are in the canton of Vaud. The geography is varied, with the Jura mountains in the north, a hilly plain in the center and in the southwest the Alps. The main attractions of the region are the cities and towns surrounding the lake, the opportunities for skiing and hiking in both mountain ranges, and of course the lake itself.
Lavaux is internationally famous as a terraced wine-growing region on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). It covers the territory roughly from Lausanne to Montreux, extending to an altitude of roughly 500 meters above lake level and including 6 lake shore villages and the city of Vevey. Part of the Lavaux (bas-Lavaux) has been recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Lausanne
Lausanne, the capital of the Swiss canton of Vaud, that sits at the northernmost point of Lake Geneva. The old town of Lausanne with picture-perfect cobblestone streets and colorful buildings it is the perfect place to explore without a set itinerary. The centerpiece is the Fountain of Justice, Lausanne’s oldest fountain. Behind the fountain is a mechanical clock that shows animated scenes of the local history every hour between 9 am to 7 pm. One of the best things to do in Lausanne is a visit to the Gothic cathedral, which is also referred to as the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Lausanne. This cathedral dates to 1170. The city is the host to the International Olympic Committee and two major universities. You’ll also find a number of quality restaurants and two dozen museums of note, including the Olympic Museum and the offbeat Collection de l’Art Brut. The shores of Lake Geneva are sometimes referred to as the Swiss Riviera. One of the best things to do in Lausanne is to take a day trip to the other small towns that dot the shore of the lake.
Montreux
Montreux is well known for its world-famous two-week-long Jazz Festival. But it is well worth also a visit, if only to get to the scenic Château de Chillon or to get to the hiker’s paradise of Hauts de Montreux. Chateau Chillon stands on a rocky outcrop on the shores of the Lake. It is historic castle and the country’s most visited place, on a small island in Lake Geneva only a few meters from the shore. It was built to allow the occupants to extract a toll from people and goods passing between Italy and the rest of Europe on the road north from the St. Bernard pass. The roadway here is wedged between the lake and the cliffs, so there was no way to get around Chillon. The Castle is more famous in modern times for having inspired Lord Byron’s poem, «The Prisoner of Chillon», based on the true story of François Bonivard, a political prisoner from Geneva. The mountains around Hauts-de-Montreux are threaded with forest trails, isolated villages, caves, grottos, and wildlife. Any of the train stops will lead to several hiking options.
Vevey
Vevey — one of the main centers of the Swiss Riviera. Vevey is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, between Lausanne and Montreux, in the center of the traditional Lavaux wine region. Vevey also is a breathtaking panorama of the Alpine Mountains and a very pleasant temperate climate. The old city of Vevey is dotted with historical monuments and museums bearing witness to its rich heritage. In addition, a large variety of boutiques and craftsmen can be found in the narrow-paved streets, displaying their know-how and wares. The pedestrian zone of the old city, the lakeside, and the market (in the Grande Place — the heart of the old city, are well worth a browse. The Swiss Riviera is a paradise for lovers of water and cycling, as well as hiking. There are many circular cycling routes through this region. One of the popular routes allows you to descend from the Pleiade Mountain, which rises above Vevey, down into the valley. From the top of the mountain offers a unique view of the Riviera, Lake Geneva, and the Alps. Worth to mention another local attraction — is the wild daffodils that bloom in the local meadows every spring.
Les Diablerets
Les Diablerets is a ski resort. It has high-altitude skiing on the glacier and some challenging runs. Les Diablerets Glacier opens a wonderful view of Western Switzerland from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn and the Eiger. Highlights of this ski resorts are the alpine coaster and a suspended bridge between two peaks.
Les Diablerets connected by ski-lifts to nearby Villars-sur-Ollon, which is at lower altitude and better suited to young children and beginners. Villars is a ski resort close to Montreux and Saint-Maurice, which offers a reasonable range of pistes at a moderate altitude. It is a traditional Swiss mountain village which has retained much of its old charm. Accommodation here is largely of the chalet variety, although there are also some hotels, many of which are four- and five-star. The village has hosted the Snowbombing electronic dance music and snowboarding spring festival. Villars is recognised by the Swiss tourist board under their 'Family Friendly' scheme having excellent facilities for children.
Being close to France, Italy and Germany has had a huge effect on the region’s cuisine, with incredible cheeses, artisanal charcuterie and sweet pastries making up the majority of local produce. While fondue is ever-popular, Vacherin Mont-d’Or AOC from the Joux Valley is known as one of the best cheeses in Europe and Swiss chocolate reigns supreme.
Deeply rooted in the canton of Vaud as one of its signature dishes, papet Vaudois is a delicious hotpot of leeks and potatoes which are cooked together for hours until they reach the consistency of a papette, meaning mash. This hearty vegetable side is sometimes flavored with cream, white wine, or vinegar, and it is traditionally served as a bed for the famous smoked pork sausage called saucisson Vaudois. Sausages and charcuterie are made with the utmost care and attention around Lake Geneva, with many holding EU-protected PGI status. The most well-known is saucisse aux choux — first created in 879 AD when Charles the Fat (a Carolingian Emperor) visited the municipality of Orbe with his imperial court. Local cooks were required to feed the vast entourage but soon began to run out of pork, so they began bulking out the mixture with cabbage and a delicacy was born. You’ll want to watch out for bouchons Vaudois, small cork-shaped treats made with crushed almonds and chocolate and flavoured with Bitter des Diablerets, an aperitif made from Alpine plants. Only twenty confectioners are allowed to produce them in Switzerland, all of whom are members of the Vaud Confectioners’ Society — the organisation that first invented the sweets in 1948.
