Lavaux Vineyards
ABOVE: Rivaz and the Lavaux vineyards, with
Lac Léman and the Swiss Alps in the background.
by Durant Imboden
 Lavaux
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 is a candidate for
UNESCO's World Heritage List.
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.
 As
you explore the countryside, you can sample the local wines at
caveaux
run by individual winegrowers such as the
Maison de la Crausaz in Grandvaux (see
article), 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. I can personally recommend the
Relais de la Poste just outside
the pretty little village of Grandvaux, which has a spectacular view of Lac
Léman and serves traditional favorites such as lake perch (which should be
enjoyed at least once during any visit to Canton Vaud).
How to reach (and get around) the Lavaux
 Rail. 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.
 Hiking
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.
Switzerland Tourism's
Exploring the Lavaux Terraces page has more information on the 32-km or
20-mile walking path from Lausanne-Ochy to Villaneuve at the eastern end of the
lake.
Car. For 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:
Lake Geneva Tourism: The Terraces of Lavaux
Maison de la Crausaz (wine caveau)
switzerlandforvisitors.com
In French and/or German:
Swiss Riviera: Lavaux
Lavaux.ch
Office des Vins Vaudois
Also see:
Maison de la Crausaz (wine caveau)
Photos (except cat) copyright © ST/Swiss-Image.ch.
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