The Lake Geneva Region

The Lake Geneve region with majestic panoramic Alpine views, a mild climate and Mediterranean vegetation is a breathtaking beauty.

The region of Lake Geneva (French Lac Léman) with majestic panoramic Alpine views, a mild climate and Mediterranean vegetation is a breathtaking beauty. The terraced vineyards above picturesque Lake Geneva are famous and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Charming wine villages invite you to wine festivals annually as well as to wine tastings in the wine cellars throughout the year. In the lowland, there are vast cornfields and lovely farming villages, in between medieval towns with mighty palaces. To the north are the Jura mountains, in the silent Vallée de Joux intact nature dominates away from the masses, and in the east rise the Alps. You will experience an authentic mountain landscape here with chalet villages, mountain peaks and glaciers. The Vaud Alps are a popular hiking and skiing area.

Lausanne

Lausanne, the second-largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic commercial town with the locality of a holiday resort. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and convention town. Sports and culture are given a high profile in the Olympic capital.

The setting of Lausanne is extremely picturesque: it is hardly surprising that the International Olympic Committee has been based here since 1914. The town is built on three hills, surrounded by vineyard-covered slopes, with Lake Geneva at its feet. Rising impressively from the opposing French lakeshore are the Savoy Alps. The attractive old town is largely car-free. Small alleyways with cafes and boutiques shape the streetscape in the medieval city centre.

The old town is dominated by the cathedral, which is regarded as Switzerland’s most impressive piece of early Gothic architecture. Lausanne was a diocesan town for over a thousand years. Shopping streets can be found surrounding the cathedral as well as in the pretty waterfront area of Ouchy. Switzerland’s only «metro» connects the various parts of the town and eases travel in this incline-based town.

Highlights

Olympic Museum, cathedral of Lausanne, AQUATIS Aquarium-Vivarium, Plateforme 10, Rolex Learning Center, Lake Geneva

Vevey

Vevey is one of the "Pearls of the Swiss Riviera". The lakeside location with magnificent views of the Alpine panorama, its extraordinarily mild climate, the vineyards, numerous excursion destinations in the region and proud paddlewheel steamers on the lake characterise the city on Lake Geneva. Vevey is also home to the international company Nestlé. The most famous inhabitant was probably the comedian Charlie Chaplin. A monument is dedicated to him on the lakefront and his home was converted into a museum, Chaplin's World.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Water sports, hiking, cycling, biking, downhill to Les Pléiades, astronomy themed trail: AstroPléiades and observatory, cog railway: Train des Etoiles, funicular railway runs to Chardonne and to Mont-Pèlerin, Heritage railway: Historic steam locomotives and early electric railcars, railway museum, Train des Vignes vine train