Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
Lavaux
Thousand-year-old vineyard terraces stretching along the lake between Lausanne and Montreux. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, ideal for hiking, wine tasting and riding a vineyard train.
The Lavaux vineyards extend about 30 km along the northern shore of Lake Geneva, from the eastern outskirts of Lausanne to near Vevey. Steep terraces climb from the water up the hillsides. Monks first cultivated them in the 11th and 12th centuries, and they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Locals speak of “three suns”: the sun in the sky, the sun reflected off the lake, and the heat stored in the stone walls. This is why the Chasselas white wines are so exceptional. To explore, take a train to Cully, Rivaz or Chexbres, then hike the vineyard trails. For example, the walk from Saint-Saphorin to Chexbres takes about 2 hours and is easier going downhill. Taste wine in village wine cellars, called caveaux. You can also ride the seasonal Lavaux Express vineyard train. From Geneva, it takes about 1 hour by train to Lausanne, then 10 to 20 minutes on a regional train. Wear non-slip shoes, bring water and sun protection for hiking. The vineyards are private land, so do not pick the grapes.
Opening hours
Open all day; wine cellars and sightseeing train mostly operate seasonally
Nearby sights
- Mont Pèlerin
- Vevey Grande Place & Old Town
- Musée Jenisch
- Alimentarium
- Fork of Vevey
- Chaplin's World
- Olympic Museum
- Les Pléiades