BEST DAYS OUT FROM GENEVA – JUNE 2019
Now that the sun is out and the mood all round is improving, you may feel like heading out of Geneva to explore the countryside and see something new. Here is our selection of best days out in June 2019. Don’t forget to look at our Music Festival post as June and July also mark the start of the summer’s festivals.
CAVES OUVERTES VAUD
If you missed Geneva’s open cellars day or you had such a good time you’d like to repeat it, why not head out to Caves Ouvertes in Vaud? More than 300 producers open their cellars on both days for you to taste their wines and buy a bottle or a case to take home. Until 7th of June you will be able to buy a pass online with a 20% discount at CHF24.00 (original price is CHF30.00), which will allow you to visit every producer on both days, using shuttle buses to the different regions.
For more information visit www.region-du-leman.ch/caves-ouvertes
TRAIN DES VIGNES – a train ride through the vineyards
With the weather improving, a day out in the UNESCO-listed vineyards of Les Lavaux is an excellent option to discover the area around lake Geneva.
Get on the local train in Vevey for a stunning ride through vineyards up to Puidoux-Chexbres station, where you will find a variety of different marked walks across the Lavaux terraces with the beautiful back drops of lake Geneva and the Alps.
Another small train ‘Lavaux Panoramic’ carries you from Chexbres village in to the vineyards through the narrow roads. Similar trains known as the ‘Lavaux Express’ also run through the vineyards from Lutry and Cully.
You can get off at the different cellars to enjoy a bit of wine tasting.
For the whole tour, calculate about 2-4 hours starting from Vevey and from Geneva to Vevey takes you about an hour by car.
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The local train from Vevey to Chexbres leaves hourly
You can drive in your car to Vevey Gare ( main train station), park your car and take the train or take the train all the way from Geneva
COST
The train from Vevey to Chexbres costs CHF2,40 per person for a single trip.
VIDEO FROM LOISIRS.CH
YVOIRE IN FRANCE
Yvoire is a beautiful 14th century town in Haute-Savoie, about 1 hour by car away from Geneva, and situated on the French shores of Lake Geneva.
After strolling through this unique medieval village with well-preserved cobblestone streets and town walls and gates, you must make time to see The Garden of the five senses, which is a remarkable middle-age inspired maze garden. Directly on the shores of lake Geneva you find the Chateau d` Yvoire which is a typical Savoy castle. The castle is in private hands and therefore not open to visitors. The small church of St. Pancras dates partly back to the eleventh century and is a mixture of different architectural styles. Its most distinct feature is an onion-shaped stainless steel clock tower that gleams in the sun and can be seen from far. The local history museum ( La Maison d´histoire) is open in May, June and September on weekends from 14:00- 17:30 and in July and August it is open daily from 14:00-17:30. Admission is free.
The town offers a lot of restaurants and boutiques. Over weekends, it is advisable to book your table in one of the restaurants in advance.
WHERE
Rue du Lac
F-74140 Yvoire
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IRIS GARDENS OF THE CHATEAU DE VULLIERENS
The gardens around this beautiful castle include Europe’s biggest collection of Irises – as well as beautiful displays of roses, tulips, rhododendrons and more. There is a nice restaurant to enjoy a meal or snack.
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IMAGE: Chateau Vuilliernes
CHATEAU DE PRANGINS
Another gorgeous eighteenth century castle and the largest one open to public in Switzerland, is the one in Prangins, which is home to one part of the Swiss National Museum and a Swiss heritage site. Discover the fascinating, permanent and temporary exhibitions that combine culture with nature and transport you back to the 18th century. The garden of the castle is as impressive as the castle itself and you walk through smelling the variety of flowers and ingredients used in the kitchen.
Currently you can visit an exhibition ‘À table- what does Switzerland eat?’ which should be interesting also for children.
The restaurant on the side of the chateau LE CAFÉ DU CHATEAU offers a lovely shady terrace and you can have brunch, a buffet for lunch and afternoon tea.
You can pre-book a private guided tour for a bigger group or take one of the audio guides (languages: french/english/german) free of charge at the reception desk.
WHERE
Swiss National Museum
Château de Prangins
Avenue Général Guiguer 3
1197 Prangins
MORE INFO
Tel.: 0041- (0)22 994 88 90
info.prangins@museenational.ch
MORE INFORMATION
Opening hours
Tuesdays to Sundays 10.00- 17:00
Entrance fees for adults at chf 10.00 and for children up to the age of 16 it is free
ALSO read our article about the best fairy tale castles in and around Geneva here.
