Holiday destinations in Switzerland

The two little towns of Avenches and Payerne are set on the wide Broye Plain in the canton of Vaud, near its border with Fribourg. The gentle rolling hills between the Lakes of Murten and Neuchâtel, the vineyards and the nature reserves are ideal for walking and cycling. Avenches, formerly Aventicum, the capital of Roman Helvetia, boasts a unique heritage from Roman times. Payerne is the site of Switzerland's largest Romanesque church.

Situated half-way between the classy resort of Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland and the small town of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg, Château-d'Oex and Rougemont offer a wide range of diverse sporting activities in both summer and winter. The wonderful Vaud mountainscapes and the old, decorated chalets are typical for the villages of the Pays-d'Enhaut. Thanks to its favourable micro-climate, Château-d'Oex has developed into a metropolis of hot-air ballooning.

Lausanne, the second-largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic commercial town with the locality of a holiday resort. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and convention town. Sports and culture are given a high profile in the Olympic capital.

The Vallée de Joux with its lake is a world of its own in rugged and unspoilt countryside nestling between Jura Mountain Ranges. Families and athletes enjoy varied opportunities do be active, from water sports to hiking, mountain biking and riding on horseback in wild and unspoilt countryside. Interesting museums, such as the watch museum, round off the range of things on offer. In winter the frozen lake, extensive cross-country skiing paradise and small family ski regions attract visitors.