A day trip to Lake Geneva

robin.tarr — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 16:36:37 +0000

The fourth of our recommended day trips is to the magnificent Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), one of the largest freshwater lakes in Western Europe.

In addition to the cosmopolitan city of Geneva, along the shores of the lake you’ll discover medieval villages, Unesco listed vineyards, the Montreux Riviera, famous for it’s music festival held each July, and fabulous beaches.

The city of Geneva at its southern tip is renowned as a financial hub and for the headquarters that are based there including the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the second-largest branches of the United Nations and the World Bank. But it also offers luxury boutiques and jewelers, fabulous restaurants and boasts a number of famous landmarks including the emblem of the city, the Jet D’Eau, a fountain set in the lake that shoots water up to a height of 140m clearly visible for miles around. It is worth taking half a day to wander along the lake shore, visit the old town and have a stroll through the botanical gardens.

Geneva is also home to CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, a European research organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. You can visit anytime to see the permanent exhibitions but if you want a free tour of the facility you have to book online 15 days in advance.

A drive around the southern shores of the lake will take you to the beautiful medieval villages of Nernier, Yvoire and Margencel that are a delight to explore. Park the car and have a wander around the cobbled streets, visiting the craft shops, artisanal workshops and boutiques and their tiny ports before enjoying a leisurely lunch or coffee at one of the numerous restaurants along the waters edge. You could even take a ferry ride across the lake and explore one of the many towns on the northern Swiss side of the lake including Nyon or Vevey.

If you have time visit the Jardins des Cinq Sens in Yvoire and the Domaine de Rovorée..

Les Jardins des Cinq Sens is a picturesque sensory garden featuring some 1,300 varieties of plants, all carefully chosen to appeal to the five senses.

The Domaine de Rovorée is a 24-hectare nature park on the shore of the lake to the east of Yvoire and a leisurely 20-minute walk from the village. This protected area is a haven for wildlife and boasts a centuries-old forest of chestnut trees.

A drive along the northern shores of the lake will take you through the Montreux Riviera, home to the town of Montreux and the Unesco listed Lavaux vineyard terraces. The steep vineyards arranged in terraces are crisscrossed with walking trails and bike routes with magnificent views across the vineyards and lake to the Mont Blanc range. Take a walk or cycle through the vineyards and then stop to enjoy some winetasting with one of the many winegrowers in the area. Alternatively the ‘Train des Vignes’ takes a mere 12 minutes to wind its way from Vevey through the vineyards up to Puidoux-Chexbres where you can stop to do a tasting of local produce before hopping onboard again for your descent back to Vevey.

Finally, if you happen to be staying with us in July then a visit to the Montreux Jazz Festival is a must! Its stunning setting on the shores of the lake make for a perfect evening. Free music events are staged throughout the day/evening or simply stroll amongst the artisanal craft stalls and food markets before settling by the lake with a glass of wine and enjoying the famous Montreux atmosphere. Of course there is also the option to purchase tickets for one of the many pay venues hosting a wide range of international stars. Famous artists such as David Bowie, James Brown, BB King, Prince, Elton John and Arlo Parks have all starred here.

Geneva – APASSION

A day trip to Lake Geneva