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Lavaux Vineyards

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ABOVE: Rivaz and the Lavaux vineyards, with Lac Léman and the Swiss Alps in the background.

photoLavaux is one of Switzerland's most celebrated wine-growing regions. The vineyards, many of which have been owned by the same families for generations, are perched on terraced hillsides above Lac Léman between Lausanne and Vevey. Lavaux's geographical situation is so unique--and so beautiful--that the Vignoble de Lavaux was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2007.

Towns and sightseeing

Lavaux includes more than a dozen villages, among them the lakeside district capital of Cully and hillside villages such as Grandvaux and Epesses.

photoAs you explore the countryside, you can sample the local wines at caveaux or tasting cellars run by individual winegrowers such as the Maison de la Crausaz in Grandvaux, where I spent a pleasant couple of hours drinking wine and nibbling on flutes au beurre pastries during the 2005 harvest season. (The blurred image on the photo shows what the resident cat looked like after several glasses of Domain de la Crausaz blanc and rouge.)

Restaurants and traditional inns known as pintes vaudoises offer the same wines with good meals. You'll find them in villages throughout the region.

How to reach (and get around) the Lavaux

photoRail. Trains between Lausanne and Montreux stop at several points in the Lavaux, including Cully and Vevey (which, in addition to being the wine-trading center for the district, has vineyards of its own). For a pleasant excursion, catch the Train des Vignes or Wine Train from Vevey to Chexbres, or take the scenic funicular ride from Vevey to Mt. Pèlerin.

Boat. Lake steamers of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman call at Lutry, Cully, Rivaz, and Vevey. Check the CGN timetables for details.

photoHiking or biking. If you aren't in a hurry, you can take several days to explore the Lavaux region on foot or two wheels, using the free hiking and bicycling maps from the Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office. Paths are well-marked, and distances are relatively short. Cully, for example, is only a two-hour walk from the Ouchy lakefront in Lausanne--and you can easily combine walking or biking in one direction with public transportation in the other.

Car. For local directions, consult a good road map. (You'll need to decide which villages you want to visit, then pick the best roads for your journey.)

More information on Lavaux and its wines

In English:

Lavaux Patrimoine Mondial

Maison de la Crausaz (wine caveau) europeforvisitors.com

Les Vins Vaudois

Also see: Maison de la Crausaz (wine caveau)


Lavaux articles:
Lavaux Vineyards
Maison de la Crausaz (wine caveau)