Geneva Excursions

For a Half Day

Château de Chillon and Montreux: Situated on the north shore, at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, Montreux is the gateway to nearby ski resorts like Gstaad, Leysin and Château d'Oex, as well as the mountains of the Valais canton further afield (of which the Matterhorn is the most famous peak). Montreux is 93km (58 miles) from Geneva and can be reached by frequent trains and also ferries during the summer. The town is excellent for all kinds of sports (including mountain-biking, rafting and paragliding) and close to the most famous château in Switzerland, the Château de Chillon (tel: (021) 966 8910; website: www.chillon.ch). Built on Roman foundations in the 13th century, the château was visited by Byron, who sailed here with Shelley and consequently wrote the prose poem Prisoner of Chillon (1816). From Montreux, the château can be reached by a 45-minute walk along Lake Geneva, or directly by tram 1. Montreux Tourism Pavilion Information Centre, Place du Débarcadére (tel: 0848 868 484; website: www.montreux.ch/tourism), provides further information.

Lavaux Vineyards: Wine production in the Lavaux vineyards (website: www.lavaux.com) just east of the city, dates back to Roman times. Today, this picturesque region flanking the steep northern slopes of Lake Geneva is dotted with beautiful wine-producing villages such as Chexbres, Rivaz and St Saphorin, offering superb wine-tasting opportunities in their local cellars. Follow the 32km (20 mile) Lavaux Wine Trail from Lausanne's Olympic Museum to Villeneuve for spectacular views of the lake, or climb aboard the Lavaux Express tourist train (website: www.lavauxexpress.ch) at Lutry to explore the area.

For a Whole Day

Lausanne: This lakeside city, just 61km (38 miles) from Geneva, is easily reached by a 40-minute train journey from Cornavin station. Lausanne's pedestrianised, hilly streets are perfect for wandering. The Rue du Pont leads to the Place de la Palud, with its fountain and Renaissance Mairie (town hall). Nearby, the turreted towers of the Romanesque-gothic cathedral offer the best views of Lausanne, Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps. The Musée Historique de Lausanne, Place de la Cathédrale 4 (tel: (021) 315 4101; website: www.lausanne.ch), has a rich collection of religious art, while the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Place de la Riponne 6 (tel: (021) 316 3445; website: www.beaux-arts.vaud.ch), displays local artists. To the city's south, at Quai d'Ouchy, the Olympic Museum (tel: (021) 621 6511; website: www.museum.olympic.org) vaunts the sporting history of Lausanne, the ‘Olympic World Capital'. Lausanne Tourisme is located at Avenue de Rhodanie 2 (tel: (021) 613 7373; website: www.lausanne-tourisme.ch).