Lavaux
Lavaux is a terraced vineyard region in the canton of Vaud in western Switzerland, stretching along the steep south-facing slopes of Lake Geneva (Léman) between Lausanne and Vevey. Shaped by the Rhône glacier and cultivated since Roman times, it is the largest contiguous vineyard in Switzerland, with over 10,000 terraces supported by some 450 kilometres of dry-stone walls. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007 as a living cultural landscape, Lavaux is a rural, wine-growing area of small historic villages and winegrowers' houses set between the lake and the hills of Mont-Pèlerin. The region is dominated by viticulture, centred on the indigenous Chasselas grape, and is framed by the urban agglomerations of Lausanne and Vevey-Montreux. Its cultural vibrancy is expressed through wine festivals, guided heritage walks and a strong sense of local identity tied to the vineyard landscape.
Summer activities
Lavaux is best explored on foot, with a network of marked paths and heritage trails crossing the terraced vineyards between the lake and the hills. The Route des Grands Crus is a 3-kilometre didactic trail between Epesses and Rivaz with eight stops and wine tastings, while guided heritage walks depart from Cully and Chexbres from May to October. The region can also be reached by boat on Lake Geneva, by the funicular up to Mont-Pèlerin, or by the Lavaux Express and Lavaux Panoramic tourist trains. Wine tasting in the many cellars, caveaux and wine bars is a central part of the summer experience, alongside events such as the Caves Ouvertes Vaudoises.
Culture and entertainment
Lavaux has a lively cultural calendar rooted in its winegrowing identity. The Cully Jazz Festival, one of Switzerland's largest jazz events, fills the village's cellars and squares each spring, while the Fête des Vendanges de Lutry and Epesses Nouveau en Fête celebrate the harvest. The quirky Championnat du monde des tracassets races decorated vineyard vehicles through Epesses. The region has long inspired artists, from painters such as Ferdinand Hodler and Félix Vallotton to writers like Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, and its built heritage of winegrowers' houses, castles and villages is explored through guided walks and heritage days.
