Lavaux is internationally famous as a terraced wine-growing region on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in western Switzerland. It covers the territory roughly from Lausanne to Montreux, extending to an altitude of roughly 500 meters above lake level and including 6 lake shore villages and the city of Vevey.
Part of the Lavaux (bas-Lavaux) has been recognised since 2007 as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The territories of two additional communes Savigny and Forel, also belong to the Lavaux, but lie entirely outside the UNESCO world heritage site. With only distant glimpses of the lake, at 700–900 meters altitude, along with the upper reaches of the commune of Puidoux, these outlying parts of the Lavaux lie too high above the Léman for commercial wine-growing, but nevertheless benefit from stunning views of the entire mountain range from the Moléson of the Fribourgeois Préalps to the Dent D'Oche of the Chablais Français. In winter the haut-Lavaux is often sufficiently snow-covered that it is not unusual to encounter off-piste cross-country skiers on the rolling farmland and abundant forest trails. In Autumn, Savigny and Forel may bask in sunny blue skies on the days when Lausanne and the bas-Lavaux remain shrouded in mist. Highly accurate local weather predictions for the region can be had from the web site of the local weather station, MeteoLavaux.
- Montreux Jazz Festival.
- The Cully Jazz Festival. Usually held during the last week of March or the First week of April, the Cully Jazz festival features mainstream and offbeat jazz artists from around the world. During the festival many of the village's wine-growers open their caveaux to festival goers as bars featuring their own produce and a selection of wines and beers from elsewhere.
Montreux Jazz Festival.
The Cully Jazz Festival. Usually held during the last week of March or the First week of April, the Cully Jazz festival features mainstream and offbeat jazz artists from around the world. During the festival many of the village's wine-growers open their caveaux to festival goers as bars featuring their own produce and a selection of wines and beers from elsewhere.
- Coop and Migros supermarkets, which you will find easily in the larger towns including Lausanne, Chexbres, Vevey, Montreux and Savigny. Pack a lunch from there and plenty of water before you go on a long walk. The tiny villages in the vineyards usually do not have grocery stores. Lutry and Cully have grocery stores, which are even open on Sunday morning. But your best bet is to check out the villages' glorious open-air markets, which offer local produce, meats, and dairy products, all of outstanding quality and authenticity. The days/hours when the markets operate in each village can be found by consulting the list of Swiss municipalities for Canton Vaud .
- La Tour de Gourze, Route de la Tour-de-Gourze 26, 1097 Bourg-en-Lavaux (From the Highway, exit at Chexbres towards Puidoux., +41 21 781 14 74. Probably one of the highest points overlooking the lake, the restaurant is hidden among the many small backroads and at the end of an extremely steep incline. The view, however, can hardly be beat. Local specialties include fondue, cold cuts and rösti. Because of the height (900m) evenings can be chilly, even when the rest of the region basks in Summer time heat. Fondue Fr. 20.
La Tour de Gourze, Route de la Tour-de-Gourze 26, 1097 Bourg-en-Lavaux (From the Highway, exit at Chexbres towards Puidoux., +41 21 781 14 74. Probably one of the highest points overlooking the lake, the restaurant is hidden among the many small backroads and at the end of an extremely steep incline. The view, however, can hardly be beat. Local specialties include fondue, cold cuts and rösti. Because of the height (900m) evenings can be chilly, even when the rest of the region basks in Summer time heat. Fondue Fr. 20.
- Café du Raisin, Ruelle Romaine 1, 1071 St-Saphorin (Right along the Route cantonale along the lake, across from the Saint-Saphorin train station, +41 21 921 13 27. A nice little café/restaurant with an amazing view on the lake and the Alps. Local classics include filets de perche and wine from the surrounding vineyards is also available. Filets de perches Fr. 33.
Café du Raisin, Ruelle Romaine 1, 1071 St-Saphorin (Right along the Route cantonale along the lake, across from the Saint-Saphorin train station, +41 21 921 13 27. A nice little café/restaurant with an amazing view on the lake and the Alps. Local classics include filets de perche and wine from the surrounding vineyards is also available. Filets de perches Fr. 33.
- Les Trois Couronnes, +41 21 923 32 00. Michelin-starred restaurant on the lake. Classy. $$$.
Les Trois Couronnes, +41 21 923 32 00. Michelin-starred restaurant on the lake. Classy. $$$.
- Le Deck, Route de la Corniche 4, 1070 Chexbres (Along the route de la Corniche, juste before reaching Chexbres, +41 21 926 60 00. 11:00-22:30. This extension to the Baron Tavernier hotel and restaurant really is a deck overlooking the whole Lavaux. Chill out in the classy seating with Lausanne's expats. $$.
Le Deck, Route de la Corniche 4, 1070 Chexbres (Along the route de la Corniche, juste before reaching Chexbres, +41 21 926 60 00. 11:00-22:30. This extension to the Baron Tavernier hotel and restaurant really is a deck overlooking the whole Lavaux. Chill out in the classy seating with Lausanne's expats. $$.