Lake Geneva, Lavaux and Gruyères

Route description

Start in Geneva, with the Jet d’Eau and the old town above the lake, and take the A1 motorway along the north shore of Lake Geneva to Lausanne. Swiss motorways require a vignette, which you should buy before joining them.

In Lausanne the Gothic cathedral stands above a steep town that runs down to the lakeside at Ouchy. East of the city, the Lavaux vineyard terraces climb from the shore, and the wine villages such as Cully are linked by footpaths and cellars offering tastings. The upper corniche road is narrow, so larger motorhomes are better on the lakeside road.

Montreux has a flower-lined lakeside promenade with views across to the French Alps, and just beyond it Chillon Castle sits on a rock in the water at Veytaux. Visit early in the day, as the castle is one of the busiest sights in Switzerland.

Leave the lake and head north on the A12 to Bulle and the hill village of Gruyères, whose car-free main street leads up to a castle; park in the car parks below. A show dairy at the foot of the hill explains how the cheese is made. Continue on the A12 to Bern, where the arcaded streets, the Zytglogge clock tower and the bear park by the Aare end the route.