THE TERRACED vineyards of the Lavaux region, stretching from Lausanne to Montreux, offer breathtaking views over land and lake that can be enjoyed on foot with relative ease.
First terraced by monks in the 11th century, the region received UNESCO World Heritage-site status in 2007 and doubtless is one of the country’s most beautiful to explore.
Together with my friends in the Internation Women’s Club of Nyon (IWCN) I walked the very popular portion through the vineyards that stretch from St. Saphorin to Cully.
The journey took approximately two-and-a-half-hours at a leisurely pace and offered only a few steep but shortlived inclines. Meandering paths cut through charming medieval villages and took us through vineyards where day-workers picked grapes and wine was available to sample and purchase.
Easy to reach by public transport
The Lavaux walks are easily reached by train: we boarded in Nyon, changed trains in Lausanne and uncamped at St. Saphorin, a one-hour journey in total. We descended to lake level shortly before Cully and walked along the beach towards the village, where we headed for home after a short break at a beachside restaurant.
A great deal of information about walking in the Lavaux is available online; for starters you might want to check out hiking in Switzerland at Swiss Tourism.
Here are some snapshots to give you a little idea of what you can expect to see (click on the photos to enlarge):
If you discover a hiking trail that you’d love to share with others, please leave your suggestion and tips in the Comments section below. I’d love to hear from you! ♠
You can read more about Switzerland’s historic sites and properties in the Category: Swiss Heritage’s “Loveliest”.
Creative Living Geneva 
3 responses to “Walking Switzerland’s breathtaking Lavaux terraced vineyards.”
So breathtakingly beautiful! What beautiful scenes…. and the photos really capture how unique it is. If I were there I would be wearing out my walking shoes!
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You’d love it, Andrea! So many dreamy walks to choose from.
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The photos are exquisite, Cook – those views! That old tree! The signage! I would be goggle-eyed the whole time. I can’t believe how beautiful it is. The next time I visit, I would love to do this walk, and maybe take an easy half-day hike. We could pack some snacks and water and take a break in some lovely spot.
xo
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