Summer

One region, four worlds. They came, saw... and stayed. Courbet, Kokoschka, Charlie Chaplin and David Bowie are among those who settled at Lake Geneva, attracted, no doubt, by the Alpine panorama and almost Mediterranean vegetation.

Gently sloping vineyards border the shores of the lake, with the capital city of Lausanne across from the highest Alpine peaks. Lively towns and small wine-growing villages appear scattered at random. The region seems half dream and half reality, but the people in the farm villages who work the wheat fields on the plain above the lake, the inhabitants of the medieval towns and the original inhabitants of the castles have always had both feet planted firmly on the ground. In the quiet Vallé de Joux, nature remains unspoiled. The Jura mountains lie to the north and the Vaud Alps to the east, with lush pastures, chalet villages, mountain peaks and glaciers - as well as sunny ledges ready-made for a relaxed vacation and sporting adventures.

Winter

Downhill skiing on the Alpine glaciers of the canton of Vaud, cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing across the Jura range, city life and sophisticated dining - all three worlds come together in the Lake Geneva region to make for a perfect holiday. Extensive woods and plateaux entice you to explore the Vallée de Joux, St-Cergue or Ste-Croix/Les Rasses.

An active cultural life and outstanding shopping characterise the cities of Lausanne, Vevey-Montreux, Nyon, Rolle, Morges and Yverdon-les-Bains. Hospitable mountain villages present a wide range of winter sports: 500 km of downhill runs, more than 200 different modes of transport and special highlights such as igloo adventures and hot-air balloon rides. Few regions offer as wide a variety of holiday pursuits as does the area surrounding Lake Geneva.