Tour du Léman
Overview
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Distance 45 km
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Ascent 500 m
Intro
After the Olympic capital of Lausanne, the route leads uphill into the terraced vineyards of Lauvaux. A bracing section but one rewarded by the wonderful surroundings of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Then follows the descent to Vevey, Montreux and the romantic Schloss Chillon.
Description
Apart from the fact that the castle by the lake houses a military museum (Vaud Military Museum), things are peaceful in Morges. Wednesdays and Saturdays are particularly lively, when the traditional market takes place in the pedestrian zone. Local products such as vegetables, fruit, cheese and meat as well as all kinds of handicrafts are on offer. This stage soon leads through the residential areas of Préverenges, where people of all ages wait for the bus early in the morning and rub the sleep from their eyes. Large cormorants and small little gulls sit or stand by the lake, lingering on wooden posts and sandbanks. An attractive sight on an equally attractive section.
The round arch bridge over the Venoge, a 38-kilometre-long tributary of Lake Geneva, is also stunning. Federal technical universities, buildings with five coloured rings shining in the sun and an archaeological park herald the big city. Lausanne, the metropolis of Vaud, has an attractive cathedral and old town. Another portion of the Olympics awaits you at the Quai d'Ouchy Riviera: the Olympic Museum, which presents a significant part of sports history, is also a sight worth seeing. The sculptures in the park relate to various sports disciplines as well as Greek antiquity.
You can hear ahs, ohs and wows on the train as it winds its way from Palézieux through Lavaux to Lake Geneva. The view of vineyards, the lake and snowy mountains is world class without a doubt. But it is also great being on your bike. Of the six wine-growing regions in Vaud, the Lavaux area, which covers over 800 hectares, is the most spectacular. It is not for nothing that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pully, Lutry – and off to the vineyards. The “route du vignoble” is full of “vignerons du village” or small winegrowers: “Liberté et Patrie” - “Liberté et Matrie” - “Ralentissez”. The view from the village square of Grandvaux is wonderfully romantic.
In Epesses, the tourist train winds its way through the narrow streets. When the local bus is on the road too, packed with day trippers, things can get pretty tight. This is no place for claustrophobics, nor for fans of flat areas: at times, this stage takes you up and down through the slopes on a true adventure. “Chaplin’s World” in Corsier-sur-Vevey is also adventurous. The artist’s former home invites you to take a journey back in time.
The bike trip is finally completed with a visit to Vevey and Montreux. Attractive Vevey was once an important port town and was called Vibiscus. Montreux, on the other hand, shines like diamonds, thanks to the stars to be seen when the music festival takes place every summer. However, you must be prepared to part with some money for this event ...
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Montreux
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|---|---|
| Ascent |
500 m
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| Descent |
500 m
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| Distance |
45 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
45 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Theme |
Along Water, Through a vineyard
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| More information | https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/veloland/etappe46.0... |
Quick Facts
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