LAND OF CULTURE, WORLD OF CONTRASTS Culture, heritage & traditions
www.lake-geneva-region.ch
The land of culture – past, present and future
The best of the Canton of Vaud is only a few clicks away! All the attractions and news of the region are only a few clicks away on the tourism portal: www.lake-geneva-region.ch
Set in the heart of the Lake Geneva Reg ion, the Canton of Vaud is a land of culture, heritage and traditions. This region has been inhabited, coveted and enhanced through the centuries thanks to its ideal location: in the centre of Europe — from the Roman emperors to the glorious families of the House of Savoy, all coveted this land and have left valuable testimonies behind. between France and Italy — a mandatory passage for the first tourists in the 19 th century, which prompted the development of public transport and leisure infrastructure; between Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel — for centuries, the romantic scener y of the Lake Geneva Region has inspired painters, musicians and dancers; between vineyards and mountains — the inhabitants have looked after their land for generations while perpetuating rites and traditional crafts. in western Switzerland — from watchmaking expertise to scientific innovation, large corporations and major training centres are transforming the architecture and the future of the Lake Geneva Region. Amplified by all these inspiring aspects throughout time, the Lake Geneva Region unravels its living histor y in its paved old towns, in museums, on theatre stages or through the hands of a craftsperson. The pages of this brochure act as a guide and create bridges between historic heritage and contemporar y culture. It is your tur n to break through temporal boundaries! Pass from a historical monument to an arts and crafts market and end t h e day wi t h a flou r is h a t a n op e n - a ir c on c e r t . Be c a us e t he Lake Geneva Region is the land of culture, past, present and future.
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DISCOVER THESE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND MANY MORE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES
Traditional arts and crafts Espace Horloger in Joux Valley
Contemporary arts and crafts Centre of contemporary art in Yverdon-les-Bains
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Sainte-Croix
Grandson
8 Yverdon-les-Bains Vallorbe
Traditional festivals and celebrations Désalpe in St-Cergue and l’Etivaz p. 15
Romainmôtier
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La Sarraz Echallens 5
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Le Sentier
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Morges
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Prangins
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Nyon 1
Coppet
Contemporary festivals and celebrations Paléo Festival in Nyon p. 16
Geneva
Contemporary dance and shows Béjart Ballet Lausanne p. 20
Contemporary museums Olympic Museum in Lausanne p. 25
Exceptional heritage Lavaux Unesco
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Neuchâtel
1. Castle of Coppet 2. Castle of Nyon, page 23 3. Castle of Prangins, page 22 4. Castle of Morges, page 24 5. Castle of La Sarraz 6. Abbey church of Romainmôtier, page 8 7. Castle of Grandson, page 9
Contemporary dance and shows Opera in Avenches p. 20
Traditional dance and shows Carnivals and “Brandons” p. 19
8. Castle of Yverdon-les-Bains, page 24 9. Old town of Moudon, page 8
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10. Castle of Oron 11. Abbey church of Payerne, page 6
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12. Roman site of Avenches, page 8
Payerne
13. The Grand Chalet in Rossinière, page 12 14. Restaurant Botta at Glacier 3 000 in Les Diablerets, page 13
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15. Castle of Aigle, page 23 16. Chillon Castle in Veytaux, page 9 17. Cathedral of Lausanne, page 9
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18. Rolex Learning Center (EPFL) in Lausanne, page 13
More information: All castles of the region
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17 13 Contemporary museums Espace Ballon in Château-d’Oex p. 26
Cully
Rossinière Château-d’Oex Vevey
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History museums Museum of the Old Pays-d’Enhaut p. 24
Les Diablerets
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Villars
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France Geneva
Contemporary festivals and celebrations Montreux Jazz Festival p. 16
History museums Salt Mines in Bex
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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EXCEPTIONAL HERITAGE: LAVAUX UNESCO
TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS
HERITAGE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
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TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS 14-15
CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CRAFTS
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
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CONTEMPORARY FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS 16-17
TRADITIONAL DANCE & SHOWS
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CONTEMPORARY DANCE & SHOWS
HISTORY MUSEUMS
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CONTEMPORARY AND NEW MUSEUMS
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EXCEPTIONAL HERITAGE
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Steep slopes, a maze of stone walls with the Alps as a backdrop and Lake Geneva at its feet: the landscape of Lavaux, which is situated between Lausanne and Montreux, is one of Switzerland’s most beautiful. The inhabitants of Lavaux have worked their land to accommodate vineyards for nearly one thousand years. Lavaux’s cultural heritage has led to being included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Heritage Programme.
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Lavaux: witness of the past, marvel of today and heritage of tomorrow
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Lavaux, vignoble en terrasses inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007
An epic story
A region full of discoveries
Thousands of years ago, the receding Rhone glacier sculpted the lakebed of Lake Geneva and the hilly slopes of Lavaux. The sheer slopes of this land — between 15% to 100% — make farming impossible. In the 12 th century, when Lavaux became the property of the diocese of Lausanne, the monks started to grow grapes. This was the beginning of the hard labour of flattening the hillsides and transforming them into terraces. Miles and miles of stone walls were built to maintain the land and the grapes it plays host to. These walls, almost like the vine stocks within, form an integral part of the landscape and have been cherished by generations of winegrowers.
Like all winegrowing regions of the Lake Geneva Region, i.e. Chablais, Côte, Vully, Bonvillars and Côtes de l’Orbe, Lavaux is a land of plenty for lovers of nature and gourmet discoveries. Marked paths, tastings directly on production sites, dedicated offers and events throughout the year make the Lake Geneva Region the capital of Swiss wine tourism. In Lavaux, fans of great wines will find just what they are looking for at the Rivaz tasting centre. At “Lavaux Vinorama”, more than 260 wines from the region are on sale and a regularly updated selection of wines can be tasted on site. Holidaymakers also appreciate the Lavaux Express and the Lavaux Panoramic. These two tourist trains are equipped with rubber re(tyres) and able to tackle the terraced vineyards and the surrounding villages without any effort. To learn everything there is to know about this exceptional vineyard, heritage guides accompany interested parties every weekend as well as occasionally during theme visits in the summer season.
Discover our brochure brochure “Art de Vivre” (art of living) on iPad. Download the app for free: ipad.lake-geneva-region.ch
10,000 terraces Walls and low walls form an ensemble of a length of 400 to 500 kilometres and provide support to 10,000 terraces.
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Video “The golden vineyards” – Aerial view of the Lavaux vineyards
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www.otvaud/cpt1
Lausanne
Video Encounter with Jerôme Aké Béda, maître d’hôtel at Auberge de l’Onde in Saint-Saphorin and Gault & Millau Swiss Sommelier of the year 2015
France
More information: 6646
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TRADITIONAL ARTS & CRAFTS
TRADITIONAL ARTS & CRAFTS
The work of lacemakers
Luthiers choose their wood, smiths work their ore, while lacemakers and cutout artists make the best of tranquil moments and take their time: the Lake Geneva Region has always provided fertile ground to craftspeople. What do they find here rather than elsewhere? Inspiration, which is stimulated by the soothing natural surroundings.
Vaudois traditional dress shows the importance of lace in our region. The women attired in such dress wear elegant gloves made from this fine material. Vaudois bobbin lace is said to have originated in Pays-d’Enhaut, from where it spread rapidly throughout the canton. Although lacemaking is more of a leisure activity than a profession today, there are still some active groups of lacemakers and classes given by a few lace-making fans.
Inspiration derived from nature
The Iron Age A river, forests and mineral-rich soil: all of this destined Vallorbe in the Vaudois Jura to become “the iron town”. For centuries, countless smithies, which are still visible today, guaranteed a livelihood to Vallorbe inhabitants. The most famous among the smithies is the “Great Smithy” which houses the Iron and Railway Museum. From “dancing” paddle wheels to smiths’ workshops: this very active museum explores the history of the iron industry. Not to be missed: the Cutlery Festival held over Easter every year.
More information: patrimoine.vd.ch/traditions-vivantes
More information:
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Singing wood It is difficult to imagine that a violin’s sweet sounds are not produced by its strings but rather by the wood it is made of! To select this “resounding wood”, violin makers call on authentic tree pickers who choose the best spruce in our upland forests. Follow them on an educational walk through the woods in Pays-d’Enhaut, which is organized in October by the classical music festival “Le Bois qui chante” or discover JMC Lutherie, when nature encounters innovation in the forest of Risoux in Joux Valley.
The delicate art of paper cutouts When watching a paper cutout artist, one almost holds one’s breath because their work seems so delicate and fragile. Yet this art has been practiced for centuries since the first paper cutouts that represented daily life in the Swiss Alps. The most beautiful works can be discovered in the Museum of the Old Pays-d’Enhaut in Château-d’Oex. To get a closer look at these techniques and even try one’s hand at them, several artists welcome visitors and interested parties in their workshop.
More information:
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Discover our brochure “Living traditions” on iPad. Download the app for free: ipad.lake-geneva-region.ch
More information:
Dream mechanics
The masters of time
We often forget the incredible mechanics inside the musical boxes on hearing their delicate sounds reminiscent of childhood. This industry, which was a sideline of Swiss watchmaking, had its moments of glory at the end of the 19 th century. Some forty companies produced automata and music boxes in Sainte-Croix, in the region of Yverdon-les-Bains. This is where Reuge SA, the world’s first manufacturer of music boxes, is still located. The CIMA and Baud Museums also feature these extraordinary marvels.
Thanks to its quality products, Switzerland is internationally reputed in the world of watchmaking. Joux Valley, which is among the producing regions of exceptional watches, has an outstanding history and an excellent watchmaking track record. This well-preserved location is not only the home of prestigious brands, such as Jaeger-le-Coultre and Audemars Piguet, but also of small family firms. This story, which began in the 17 th century, is portrayed in Espace Horloger in Le Sentier. It features original objects and an interactive exhibition on the watchmaking professions.
More information:
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Path in Risoux forest
jmc-guitares.ch bois-qui-chante.ch
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Video Risoux forest’s mysteries
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CONTEMPORARY ARTS & CRAFTS
CONTEMPORARY ARTS & CRAFTS Encounter with Charles Morgan, artist in Vevey Charles Morgan, how would you define your art? I’m a kinetic artist. My slogan could be “movement cap-
The creative spirit Whether they work their material in the secrecy of their workshop, exhibit their art in brightly-lit galleries or share their talent on stage, Vaudois artists and designers reflect the dynamics and the eclecticism of a region with a thirst for culture.
tures emotion”. In front of my
The discovery of bronze Albert György, from Romania, is a visionary and generous artist. Visionary because he brought back into fashion an ancient bronze smelting technique; generous because he has the discovery of his art and his methods at heart. In his Geya Art Foundry in Ogens near Moudon, György welcomes individual visitors and groups. The artist organizes commented visits of his workshop and his permanent exhibition on request. Each year, György organizes a symposium, during which the artist helps amateur or confirmed sculptors to improve their techniques.
More information: albert-gyorgy.ch
The artists’ station platform
gallery shop window in Vevey, passers-by of all ages remain
Décal’Quai is above all a unique place. As its name says, it is located at the end of a station platform in Montreux. However, Décal’Quai is primarily a unique concept: some dozen artists — from painters to jewellers — share this huge space, which is ideal for artistic creation. One Saturday a month, their workshops are opened to the public and transformed into concert or theatre halls or even a bazaar during the Christmas period. A must: the now famous Décal’Quai anniversary evening held in October each year.
rooted to the spot on seeing my mobile works of art. I use a great deal of marbles, which tell a story through the way they move. It is fascinating because their route is random and unpredictable! I like to take drama out of art by using movement, and to demystify
More information:
technique by showing how it
decalquai.ch
all works.
Lausanne designers
Do you get your inspiration from local arts and crafts? As a child, I was fascinated by Jean Tinguely’s gigantic creations. I work with recovered and recycled materials, just like him. I also remember the music automata that used to be displayed in train stations. The famous musical box manufacturer Reuge was one of my clients when I was a freelance jeweller. These first experiences taught me Swiss precision. Which of your own works is your favourite? One always likes one’s most recent creation best! But the work that has had the greatest impact on me is “Switzerball” which I made for Switzerland Tourism in 2005. The constraints were huge because a maximum number of typically Swiss elements were imposed. For the Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office, I designed “Patch Clock”. Animated figures and a ball travelling over a 5-metre long rail portray the tourist activities of the canton. It is so satisfying to know that my creations travel around the whole
Contemporary art accessible to all Inaugurated in June 2013, CACY (Centre of contemporary art in Yverdon-les-Bains) is the first place of this type in the Lake Geneva Region: a free exhibition centre intended to promote art and make it accessible to everybody. CACY proposes original activities, such as cultural lunch breaks or commented visits for children aged 4 and up. All this in the centre of Yverdon-les-Bains, in the elegant setting of the town hall, which dates back to the 18 th century.
world to represent Switzerland!
Downtown Lausanne, the capital of the canton and called Olympic Capital, is well known to shopping fans. But when you venture to older neighbourhoods, you discover the gems among our local designers. This realization gave rise to the Design Walk: a route in the picturesque city streets to encounter local designers and jewellers. The map and the corresponding addresses are available online or from the tourist office. Another event in the old town is the craftspeople’s market held on Place de la Palud every first Friday of the month, from March to November.
More information: lausanne-tourisme.ch 1. A lias One
Street wear design
2. L es Bijoux de Jane Textile & glass handmade jewellery
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We live in the world’s most beautiful region! I love the lake, the
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Swiss fashion design
mountains... and the wealth of bulky waste! People in Switzerland recycle everything! That’s Heaven for artists like me!
More information: centre-art-yverdon.ch
More information: morgan-art.ch
Lausanne
Hat creations
What do you like about Vevey?
Women’s prêt-à-porter
Vaud
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Women’s prêt-à-porter
Swiss fashion design
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5. P rism
Scarves and exclusive accessories
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HERITAGE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
HERITAGE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS The most beautiful testimonies of the past
Attached to their history, Vaudois people have carefully preserved the remnants of their prehistoric Roman or medieval ancestors. Interactive exhibitions, travels through time and new technologies magnify these historic sites and bring them alive.
The hill of the old town
From the beginning of the expansion of the Roman Empire, Switzerland — then called “Helvetia” — was considered a central and strategic territory. Julius Caesar founded a colony at Noviodunum — today called Nyon — and established the political and economic centre of Roman Helvetia in Aventicum. Old Avenches became Helvetia’s capital and largest town. Avenches and Nyon have preserved the vestiges of this era on their historic site and in their Roman Museum. In the spring of 2015, the majestic arenas of Avenches provided the venue for the 2000-year jubilee of the existence of our Roman capital. www.otvaud/cpt4
Video Encounter with Marie-France Meylan Krause, director of the Roman sites and museum in Avenches
Roman art and Cluny heritage
The living history of the Middle Ages
Preserved with respect, the religious buildings are privileged witnesses of various architectural periods. The abbey church of Romainmôtier, in the region of Yverdon-les-Bains, is the oldest Romanesque church of Switzerland. Throughout the year, sacred music performed by the best vocal ensembles resound in the abbey church, which was built from 990 to 1028 based on the model of the church of Cluny. A few miles from Romainmôtier, the Cluny abbey church of Payerne is one of the most beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture in Switzerland. Carefully preserved since the 11th century, the church is also kept alive with regular exhibitions, concerts and other events.
Buildings snuggling each other, arcades and cobbled streets: the medieval village of our imagination really exists some 15 miles from Lausanne. The old town of Moudon has preserved its medieval architecture over the centuries. This heritage is among the best-preserved of the Canton of Vaud and has been classified as a site of national interest. Visitors can discover it on a marked path that connects 26 historic buildings with typical architecture. A visit to the Museum of Old Moudon nicely completes this journey back in time. Thanks to the reconstitution of an interior dating back to the 19th century, visitors can immerse themselves in the daily life of yesteryear.
A castle’s life They saw decisive battles and protected lords and their wealth within their fortified walls: the castles of the Lake Geneva Region are steeped in history. Built in the 13th century by the Counts of Savoy, Chillon Castle seems to float on its rocky island near Montreux. This castle, which is especially famous thanks to Lord Byron and his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”, is Switzerland’s most visited historical monument. The Castle of Grandson is a regional museum featuring a collection of weapons and, more surprisingly, old cars. The past of the fortress of Lake Neuchâtel comes alive every summer during a huge medieval celebration.
More information:
More information:
romainmotier-tourisme.ch 20804
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Other Roman sites in the region
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Religious monuments
More information:
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abbatiale-payerne.ch 20825
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More information:
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Video “It’s the watchman! The bell has just chimed ten times!” Without a doubt, the most unusual job in Switzerland. Renato Häusler is the watchman of the cathedral of Lausanne. Every night, since the 15th century, the inhabitants of Lausanne have relied on their watchman to look out for fire and announce the time. Follow him on his rounds at night by watching our “Encounters in Vaud” video.
www.otvaud/cpt5
Aventicum and Noviodunum
Overhanging downtown Lausanne and the shores of Lake Geneva, the old town is a timeless place. Visitors can stroll along its paved streets, which are almost entirely for pedestrians, and imagine what life was like in the Middle Ages. This recommended visit zigzags between stalls, cafés and breathtaking vantage points. Sculpted by the rivers Flon and Louve — which are buried today — the hill of the old town has been inhabited since the 4 th century. Its centre, just like a crown put on the city, features the 13th century cathedral, one of Switzerland’s gothic gems. A well-kept treasure, where one of Europe’s last watchmen does his rounds each night.
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chillon.ch chateau-grandson.ch Other castles in the region
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What are the characteristic elements of
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HERITAGE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
the architecture of Pays-d’Enhaut? Wood is obviously the preferred building material in Pays-d’Enhaut. The houses have gently sloping gable roofs. This type of roof allowed for the installation of shingle roofs without using one single nail! Shingles are made from carefully selected wood and formed into thin, hand-split layers. The shingle-makers’ expertise has been perpetuated to this day: their work on countless roofs and façades is simply wonderful! Other representative elements are the finely carved and engraved decorations on the front façades. Did the beginning of tourism in the 19 th century change the architecture of the alpine villages?
Encounter with Denyse Raymond, an art historian specialized in architectural landscape
The first tourists were immediately attracted by the picturesque and beautifully decorated houses of the farmers. But they wrongly called them “chalets”. The real chalets are situated on the alpine pastures and are made of stone. This misunderstanding made its way into popular thinking and resulted in the chalet fashion
In what way is the architectural landscape of
spreading everywhere, including down in the valleys.
The pre-alpine architecture of Pays-d’Enhaut is well preserved and differs from other mountain regions in Switzerland. It tells the story of the region. In Château-d’Oex, the stone houses were built after the great fire of 1800 that had destroyed the wooden buildings. In Rossinière, the beautiful houses bear witness to the more comfortable past of this village. But the architectural landscape must be observed as a whole. Apart from the villages, the houses scattered here and there and the mountain chalets are very interesting. Pays-d’Enhaut Tourism and the Regional Nature Park Gruyère
Rossinière boasts an exceptional building called the “Grand Chalet”. What is its history? This was also a tourist interpretation because originally, this imposing building was called “Grand House”. It was built in the 17 th century for a major cheese merchant. You could say that it is a real castle made of wood! The Grand House turned into the Grand Chalet when it was transformed into a boarding house. Today it is mainly known as the property of the famous painter Balthus. His widow still lives there.
Pays-d’Enhaut organise guided tours in the region, as well as visits to the chalets where cheesemaking is demonstrated. More information:
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Le Grand Chalet
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Farmers and watchmakers: their heritage The regions where heritage and industry coexist in such a genuine way are rather rare. This is the case in Joux Valley, the cradle of the watchmaking industry for more than two centuries. In the olden days, the farmers in the valley passed the winters in their attic which had been turned into a workshop to make watchmaking parts. The “watchmaking farms”, of which there are many in the region, can be recognized by a row of windows on the top floor, which illuminated the workshops in the attic, and by large barns where hay was stored on the ground floor. Joux Valley Tourism has set up a route linking these historical buildings, which can be discovered during a pleasant stroll. More information:
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Steam ahead on Lake Geneva
The Belle Epoque of palaces
A cruise on Lake Geneva is synonymous with leisurely and comfortable travel. Contemplation and comfort have been the characteristics of the services of the CGN (General Navigation Company on Lake Geneva) for more than a century. Thanks to these advantages, lake transportation has withstood the competition by rail and later by road, which are certainly much faster but noisier and less pleasant. This gave rise to recreational travel. Today, the CGN combines modern ships with century-old ones. Its one-of-a kind Belle Epoque fleet comprises eight ships with paddle wheels and has been classified as a historical monument.
As soon as you enter, you know you are in an exceptional place: palaces combining personalized service and an atmosphere steeped in history. One imagines the first tourists in their finery discovering the Lake Geneva Region and its neoclassical and neo-baroque palaces. This was the Belle Epoque: a period of progress and wealth covering a period from the end of the 19 th century to the mid-twenties. Although the palaces of Montreux and Lausanne still welcome guests from all over the world, the palace in Caux above Montreux has become an internationally reputed hotel school. Its history and that of the Belle Epoque can be discovered in Caux Expo, in a former annexe to the palace.
www.otvaud/cpt6
Pays-d’Enhaut interesting?
More information:
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Video Sailing aboard the La Suisse Renovated and refloated in 2009, La Suisse is described as the world’s most beautiful steam boat. Watch our “Encounters in Vaud” video to learn about all the secrets of this historical ship and to discover the passion of those operating it on the lake.
The pirates’ last boat Its elegant shape makes the idyllic landscape of Lake Geneva simply perfect. La Vaudoise is the last boat with lateen sails that was built in the region. It could have disappeared at the same time as the transport of materials by waterway in 1948. However, it did not, thanks to the enthusiasm of the Brotherhood of Ouchy Pirates. No need to be scared: these pirates are not looters but lake fans who organise, in the warm season, public or private cruises on board La Vaudoise. More dreams in and around water are made possible each summer by an event called Léman Tradition in Vevey, which brings together the six boats with lateen sails that are still seaworthy.
More information:
cgn.ch
musee-cauxexpo.ch
The Florentine palace of Lausanne Contemplate the witnesses of the past From prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, the most prominent periods of humanity have left countless vestiges in the Lake Geneva Region. Menhirs in Clendy, the Castle of Sarraz and mosaics in Orbe: these historical sites await you and reveal their secrets on our website: 14318
More information: musees.vd.ch/palais-de-rumine
Due to its central location on Place de la Riponne in Lausanne, this building is such a frequent sight that people forget how exceptional it is. Yet there is nothing like the Palace de Rumine. Bearing the name of a wealthy son of Russian princes who, at his death, bequeathed 1.5 million Swiss francs to the city of Lausanne to build it, the construction of this imposing building necessitated ten years. This palace of a Neo-Renaissance Florentine style was inaugurated in 1902, four years before its actual completion. In addition to the library and the cantonal parliament, Palais de Rumine houses the Fine Arts Museum, the Currency Museum, as well as natural history and archaeology collections.
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MODERN ARCHITECTURE
MODERN ARCHITECTURE Building the wealth of tomorrow
Since the beginning of the 20 th century, tourism, science and industries have influenced the development of modern architecture in the region. Designed by the greatest architects of our time, these innovative buildings are intended to inspire visitors of today and the future.
The tour of the Alps in 90 minutes It makes our heads spin without us realizing it. It leads us from one mountain to another, without us having to get up from our chair. What is it? The revolving restaurant called “Le Kuklos”, on the summit of the Berneuse in Leysin. This unique restaurant in western Switzerland consists entirely of glass and performs a 360° rotation within 1.5 hours. Over lunch or dinner, the scenery of the region passes by before our eyes: the plain, Lake Geneva, the Jura mountain chain and, of course, the peaks of the Alps. This is the only panorama bringing together the north face of the Eiger, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Powered by solar energy, “Kuklos” is the starting point of the renewable energies trail: an environmentally responsible summer walk in a stunning setting. More information:
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tele-leysin-lesmosses.ch
Architecture in higher places Imagine a restaurant at an altitude of 3,000 m. What does it look like? Is it made of wood? With a fireplace? A bit outdated perhaps? Forget these clichés! On the glacier of Les Diablerets, the highest peak of the Lake Geneva Region, “Glacier 3000” has been designed as a very contemporary building to receive visitors. Bearing the name of its famous Swiss architect, “Botta 3000” accommodates the arriving cable cars and a restaurant with several floors offering breathtaking views. With his distinctly modern style, the architect Mario Botta incorporated a special feature: the shape of a fork, alluding to the legends of little goblins inhabiting the mountain.
The countless faces of the Flon quarter Restaurants, boutiques, cinemas, discos: Flon is a leisure area right in the middle of Lausanne. To accommodate all these attractions, the architecture of the quarter has adopted a very contemporary style featuring large glass fronts, interplay of light and shadow, and modern art. Here and there, you can still find the industrial character of this area that used to be full of warehouses. In the 19 th century, the Flon valley — crossed by the river of the same name that runs underground today — underwent huge industrial development.
The little house of the great architect A modest, sober and angular house. Only connoisseurs immediately realize how exceptional Villa Le Lac in Corseaux is. The others realize on hearing that it is the work of one of the best-known architects of his time: Le Corbusier. The Swiss artist created his “little house” in 1923 for his parents. In building it, he experimented with his avant-garde ideas, so that Villa Le Lac is regarded as a true architectural test. Today the building is the property of a foundation with his name. It regularly opens its doors to exhibitions or visits on request.
More information:
flon.ch
The originality of the site is equalled only by the uniqueness of the project: the Jan Michalski Foundation for writing is a unique place in Montricher at the foot of the Jura and opposite Lake Geneva. Its designers describe it as a small city entirely dedicated to literature. This avant-garde and airy building houses a library, an exhibition room and, coming soon, residences for writers. These residences will be installed in small shacks that seem to be hanging from the trees. Open to all, the library and the exhibition room invite the public to a journey to the land of books.
More information: fondation-janmichalski.com
More information:
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glacier3000.ch
Architecture at the service of knowledge With the inauguration of the Rolex Learning Center in 2010 and that of the Swiss Tech Convention Center in 2014, EPFL (Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) has equipped itself with innovative infrastructure for students and international guests. Designed by the Japanese agency SANAA, the curved and transparent Rolex Learning Center resembles a wave. Its library and workspaces are available to students and the public. As Europe’s most modern conference centre, the SwissTech Convention Center can adapt its equipment to any type of event. Its design, which was created by the architect office Richter Dahl Rocha in Lausanne, was inspired by the multiple surfaces of a diamond.
Discover our brochure “Panoramas” on iPad. Download the app for free: ipad.lake-geneva-region.ch
Fribourg France
20934
villalelac.ch
18466 53591
rolexlearningcenter.epfl.ch tstcc.ch
Vaud Lausanne
France
More information:
More information: 21367
A place of modern inspiration
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TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS
TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS Celebration of nature and sharing Vaudois people are fond of all the good things in life! Many events that have been celebrated for generations still take place in the region throughout the year. They are often dedicated to nature and especially honour the act of sharing and popular culture.
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Flower-bedecked lakeside promenades and May snow
Mid-summer mountain pasture celebration
What a pleasure to celebrate the arrival of spring with its blooming flowers! Morges celebrates the tulip from mid-April to mid-May. Parc de l’Independance, which is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, bursts into colour with more than 100,000 tulips. When they fade towards mid-May, they give way to majestic irises and delicate narcissi. The former bloom in the impressive garden of Château de Vuillerens during “Iris Floralies”, and the latter are so abundant above Montreux that they have been nicknamed “May Snow”.
Like its name indicates, mid-summer is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. In the Alps of the Lake Geneva Region, it is held in Taveyanne near the resorts of Villars and Gryon. The origin of this celebration is more pragmatic than festive: in the olden days, young shepherds that had been left alone with the cattle on the mountain pastures were subjected to a monitoring visit in the middle of the season. The milk production inventory presented the opportunity for a good meal and quickly turned into a major festival still perpetuated by the young inhabitants of Taveyanne today.
More information:
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morges-tourisme.ch
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Popular and universal music
Cattle’s paradise
Traditional music is experienced in the four corners of Switzerland. Whether they play in orchestras, brass bands or choirs, local musicians and singers like sharing their performance almost as much as their sheet music. This event takes place at the Popular Music Festival in the village of Moudon, 20 km from Lausanne. Each summer, some hundred free concerts are given to an ever-growing audience. Even more fans will be able to enjoy popular music at the next federal music festival. The 2016 edition of this large-scale event will be held in June in Montreux.
At the end of summer, the herds of cattle leave their mountain pastures to go back down to the valley. This is called “désalpe”. Habitants and tourists in the villages of St-Cergue above Nyon and L’Etivaz, near Château-d’Oex, gather to see this famous transhumance. In the Alps of the Lake Geneva Region, “désalpe” signifies the end of the production of a tasty Alpine cheese: Etivaz AOP. The loaves of this hard cheese are then stored for months in the cellars of “Maison de l’Etivaz”, a recommended visit for all gourmets and terroir fans!
More information: 21429
Mid-summer celebrations in the Alps of the region: - Taveyanne, Villars-Gryon villars.ch - L ac Lioson, Les Mosses lesmosses.ch - S aint-Cergue st-cergue-tourisme.ch - I senau, Les Diablerets diablerets.ch
Fribourg France
Lausanne
France
More information: More information: festival-moudon.ch ffm2016.ch
21427 21010
La désalpe etivaz-aoc.ch
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CONTEMPORARY FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS
CONTEMPORARY FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS A plethora of events
A region full of celebrations There are many festivals in the Lake Geneva Region, and music is not the only art to be discovered. Cinema, photography, gastronomy, nature: all these topics are celebrated in our region! Documentary films are screened in Nyon during the Visions du Réel Film festival in April; cartoons can be discovered in September in Lausanne at BD-FIL and photography is exhibited in unique sites in the town of Vevey during the biannual “Images” festival.
More information: rockozarenes.com
Encounter with Charlotte Carrel, director of the Rock Oz’Arènes Festival
More information:
Charlotte Carrel, whose crazy idea was it to create a rock festival in the Roman arenas? A group of young people, and I among them, founded the festival in 1992. Initially, the event had a humanitarian aim: we transferred all proceeds to Terre des hommes. The aim was also to bring the splendid site of the Roman arenas of Avenches back to life. Although this historical site welcomes an increasing number of events, we were the pioneers. What other music styles are performed at the festival?
Music is in the field Jazz, from the lakeside to the cellars Each summer, Montreux transforms into a music city for two weeks. Legendary bands, great discoveries and free concerts have been on the programme of the Montreux Jazz Festival since 1967. The festival founders have neatly recorded and preserved thousands of hours of music. Digitalized by EPFL (Federal Insitute of Technology in Lausanne), these precious archives form part of the documents protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Programme. Although the “MJF” has turned to other types of music as well, the Cully Jazz Festival remains strictly jazzy. This opening event of the music festival season is held throughout the winegrowing village, even in its wine cellars! This is the ideal opportunity to enjoy a combination of treats in the heart of the vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Pop, rock, folk… for six days running, Paléo festivalgoers get plenty to see and, above all, hear! And they always ask for more! Switzerland’s largest open-air festival draws ever-increasing crowds on a huge field in Nyon, a town located between Geneva and Lausanne. Since its creation forty years ago, the Paléo Festival has become a music event that is reputed on a European level. The festival has been able to maintain its friendly atmosphere, although it is often sold out. Its little brother, the Caribana Festival, which is also held in Nyon, prefers the lakeshores to the fields, but the festival atmosphere is just as fiery! More information:
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caribana-festival.ch
More information: 19021
montreuxjazzfestival.com
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Video Cully Jazz Festival (in February 2016)
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Video Travel Diary: “Switzerland’s best festivals!”
How do you choose the artists? The selection is made in a funnel sequence: the selected artist must be available during the second week of August! Although it is a difficult market, we continue to attract artists who come to perform at Rock Oz’Arènes because of the site’s quality and the public’s energy. We experience unique moments here, such as Zucchero’s concert in 2008. There was a downpour, but many spectators stayed until the end of the concert. Zucchero went to the front of the stage in the rain, thanked them and compared Avenches to Italy, where spectators would have run for shelter !
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!
Are the Roman arenas an asset or a constraint for a music event? Despite the technical and financial difficulties linked to the protection of this historical site, the arenas are definitely an asset that makes our festival unique! The arenas are splendid, the sound is great and the
Fribourg
Vaud
France
Lausanne
steps guarantee a good view of the stage from wherever you sit! www.otvaud/cpt7
The Nineties, which is when the festival was initiated, were essentially marked by rock music. Rock Oz’Arènes later adapted to the changing trends by including rap, electro and French chanson... Some of the festival’s tops of the bill were Radiohead, Jimmy Cliff, Joe Cocker, and Michel Sardou.
www.otvaud/cpt8
They come from far away: discerning festivalgoers looking for quality events. Astute festival programming, exceptional performance sites and friendly audiences offer fans of all types of art – above all music – exactly what they are looking for.
What is the best we can wish to Rock Oz’Arènes? Long life!
France Geneva < 30 min (
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TRADITIONAL DANCE & SHOWS
TRADITIONAL DANCE & SHOWS
Market delights Taste local cheese, clink glasses with a winegrower and listen to the moving sounds of an Alphorn: you can do more things at a market than just shop! Although all markets are worth a visit for gourmets looking for authenticity, the folk markets certainly offer that little something extra. Be it on the shores of Lake Geneva in Vevey or in the heart of the countryside in Echallens, typical music and traditional dance are performed every summer next door to the stalls. To our great delight!
The Vaudois folklore experience
Dance, traditional dress and song: these three aspects of Vaudois folklore are regularly featured at celebrations and traditional markets. Although dance was prohibited in the Lake Geneva Region during the Bernese occupation in the 16 th century, it quickly became fashionable again after that, with traditional choreographies still being passed on today. 6008
Encounter with François Margot, Abbot President of the Vintners’ Festival François Margot, what makes the Vintners’ Festival so special?
More information:
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Other markets
Each of the past editions were very much rooted in their time; you realize it on visiting the Vintners’ Brotherhood Museum, which explores the festival’s history. The language used in 1999 would no longer be appropriate twenty years later. We wish to get away from the intellectual angle and reintroduce an emotional one. This goal has determined the choice of the next festival’s designer, Daniele Finzi Pasca, a creative and poetic artist.
get together on the market square of Vevey to honour winegrowers and their work. This festival, which has existed
How many people will be present at
for more than two centuries, is rooted in our heritage
the Vintners’ Festival in 2019?
because it celebrates nature, makes the population par-
The arenas of the market square can seat up to 18,000 people for each of
ticipate and is always a long time coming! It takes place
the 18 shows. Add to that number some 6,000 artists, voluntary workers
once a generation, i.e. roughly every 25 years.
and organizers. Without counting visitors who will be more than welcome in Vevey to enjoy the atmosphere!
could bear the UNESCO label? Yes, and doubly so! First, because the Lavaux vineyards have
More information:
been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Programme for a
candidate for intangible cultural heritage.
marchesfolkloriques.ch
Will you continue this trend?
celebration. For three weeks running, thousands of people
few years. But above all, because the Vintners’ Festival is a
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The last festival, in 1999, had been modernized.
It is a huge and very popular theatrical and spectacular
The next edition, to be held in 2019,
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fetedesvignerons.ch confreriedesvignerons.ch
Celebrate to make winter recede Carnival celebrations are very popular in Switzerland. There are many places in the Lake Geneva Region where the resonant processions parade in the streets. Sainte-Croix, near Yverdon-les-Bains, opens the season with three days of celebrations; Avenches, near Lake Morat, offers the last chance to take a confetti bath before spring arrives. In Moudon, Payerne and Yverdon-les-Bains, the spirit is the same, but the celebration has a different name: Les Brandons. This tradition is typical of the north of the canton and has made people dance since the Middle Ages. More information: 21428
Fribourg France
Vaud
Lausanne
France Geneva < 30 min (
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CONTEMPORARY DANSE & SHOWS
CONTEMPORARY DANCE & SHOWS Let the show begin!
Men hide their faces behind thick layers of makeup, women put on their ballet pointe shoes; men pull faces to make us laugh... whether it is at the prestigious Béjart Ballet or in the street, artists metamorphose into dancers, singers or comedy actors to take us away into their poetic land.
Art in movement In summer, art is all over the place in the Lake Geneva Region! It enhances the Festival of the Living arts (far°) in Nyon, takes a stand at the Festival de la Cité in Lausanne, parades at the Sidewalk Artists Festival in Vevey, sings at the Festyvétés in Yverdon-les-Bains, and takes to higher places, to the delight of children, at the Children’s Festival in Château-d’Oex. So many amazing opportunities to enjoy oneself and to share!
The dancers of the Lausanne Béjart Ballet Internationally renowned choreographer Maurice Béjart founded the Lausanne Béjart Ballet in 1987. The company’s international reputation enhances the image of Lausanne as a city of dance, where an international competition for young dancers, the Prix de Lausanne, is organized. The choreographer, who died in 2007, remains very much alive on international stages through the company with his name. Twice a year, usually in May and December, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne performs in its city of origin to a public won over in advance. More information:
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bejart.ch prixdelausanne.org
More information:
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avenchesopera.ch opera-lausanne.ch
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festival-far.ch festivalcite.ch artistesderue.ch yverdonlesbainsregion.ch aupaysdesenfants.ch
More information:
Opera stars In Avenches, the stars shine not only on stage but also above our heads. This open-air opera magic can be enjoyed in the exceptional setting of the Roman arenas, where a different work of the lyrical repertoire is performed on several evenings in July each year. In Lausanne, too, you leave the opera with your eyes full of stars. There is only one word to describe the music creations or the gleaming new façade renovated in 2012: brilliant!
More information:
montreuxcomedy.com morges-sous-rire.ch
Fribourg
Stage laughter Nothing is more cultural than humour. Witty words vary depending on their language and even their country of origin. And yet, in a multicultural region like the Lake Geneva Region, such barriers are transformed into bridges connecting fans of humour. This international spirit makes the success of two comic events: Morges-sous-Rire and the Montreux Comedy Festival. Although they have both existed for nearly thirty years, they are as fresh as ever thanks to new young comedy talents being invited each year.
France
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HISTORY MUSEUMS
HISTORY MUSEUMS
At the heart of white gold The history of the Bex Salt Mines started in the 15th century, when a shepherd discovered the source of salty water thanks to his goats that were very fond of it. Since then, various installations have been put in place to extract the salt, which is still used in our households. Part of the 50 km of galleries are open to the public. What an adventure! A little train takes visitors down to the mines, a surprisingly soothing place thanks to its constant temperature and intriguing silence. From there, a one-hour route explains the fascinating adventure of white gold.
A universe of discoveries To enter a museum means to enter a particular universe. They all have one thing in common: the emotion of discover y. You immerse yourself in a different era and learn about traditional work or ancestral arts. These – often exceptional – exhibition sites lend their own magic to the visit.
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A prestigious site for Switzerland’s history
Taste and discover Vacherin cheese
Good bread fresh from the oven
From the vineyard to the castle
The history of the town and the lake
Between Lausanne and Geneva, there is a timeless site. On arriving at the Castle of Prangins, you can first admire the wonderful building opposite Lake Geneva and its French garden. Dating back to the 1730s, this exceptional site accommodates one of the four national museums. In Prangins, you can discover Switzerland’s history from the 18 th to the 20 th century: objects of everyday life, historic items, and a reconstitution of castle life in that period. Not to be missed: the largest traditional vegetable garden in Western Switzerland, where you can (re)discover fruits and vegetables of yesteryear.
Vacherin Mont-d’Or AOP, a cheese that is emblematic of Joux Valley, is revealed in an out-of-the-ordinary place: the “farm and museum” of Les Charbonnières. A cheese refiner has put together a collection of objects and historical elements presented in the Cellars of the Pilgrim. After your visit, taste the soft cheese raw or baked golden brown in the oven. However, this is a seasonal product and only available in winter. The last Saturday of September, the Vacherin Mont-d’Or Festival in Les Charbonnières marks the beginning of cheese production.
A scent of fresh and crusty bread, cream cakes, and an open bakery to watch a baker at work: the Wheat and Bread Museum is primarily a place for gourmets. Yet it is also a unique crafts museum showing agriculture, milling and baking. Located in Echallens, a village 20 minutes from Lausanne, the Wheat and Bread Museum is in the heart of a region dedicated to rural tourism: pedagogic farms, ed ucational talks and accommodation in a farming environment.
There is no better place for the Museum of Vines and Wines than the Castle of Aigle. This 12 th century fortress is located on a little hill and surrounded by the vineyards of the Chablais. The 17 rooms of the castle describe the entire history of vines, the wine professions, the art of wine labels, and more. Just like great wine, the exhibition delights all the senses thanks to a wonderful video clip, olfactory experiences and interactive discoveries. The museum is intended for the whole family and has surprises in store for children with a game just for them.
Lake Geneva is the largest European lake. It has influenced the life and history of the localities on its shores, such as Nyon. Since 1954, the town located between Lausanne and Geneva has accommodated the Musée du Léman. This museum proposes a wide range of topics in the fields of culture, nature and science too — with the collection of the Piccard family, three generations of “wise venturers”. At a stone’s throw is the Castle of Nyon, where you can discover a surprising exhibition on four floors. From the collection of porcelain made more than 200 years ago by the Nyon manufacture, visitors reach the first floor featuring the castle’s old prisons kept in their original state. This unique museum presents 3,000 years of Nyon’s history.
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mines.ch
Fribourg France
France
More information: More information:
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chateaudeprangins.ch
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vacherin-le-pelerin.ch
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maison-ble-pain.com
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museeduleman.ch chateaudenyon.ch
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HISTORY MUSEUMS
CONTEMPORARY MUSEUMS
Exhibitions that are unique and fun The extensive museum offer in the Lake Geneva Region presents all types of experiences. The time of static museums is long gone! Fun, multilingual and interactive: each exhibition turns into a personal experience, while all museums remain unique.
Fashion and history under one single roof
A castle for four museums
In the Castle of Yverdon-les-Bains, three museums share the same exquisite site at the entrance to the old town. The 250 year-old Museum of Yverdon and Region is one of Switzerland’s oldest. It portrays 6,000 years of history through archaeological finds, art items and — more unusual — a collection of Egyptian antiquities. At the Swiss Fashion Museum, fashion fans can discover more than 5,000 haute couture garments, from the 18th century to our time. The Pestalozzi Centre is dedicated to the famous Swiss pedagogue, a pioneer of modern education, who opened several schools in Yverdon-les-Bains in the 19 th century.
Built in 1286 by Louis of Savoy as an act of opposition to the diocese of Lausanne, the Castle of Morges impresses people walking on the shores of Lake Geneva. Its collections reflect its history: four museums dedicated to artillery, the military history of the Lake Geneva Region, historic figurines and the police of the region are housed in the four round towers of the fortress. Yet the Castle of Morges also accommodates more artistic objects, namely during the biannual sculpture symposium.
More information:
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musee-yverdon-region.ch museemode.ch
An authentic atmosphere in the Alps We enter the Museum of the Old Pays-d’Enhaut like an authentic chalet of Château-d’Oex of yesteryear. This period building transposes us into a different period and allows us to experience the emotion of someone discovering a secret. The museum has collected objects linked to traditional mountain activities since 1922 and has become one of the main collections of Swiss popular art. Quite nearby in Vers-l’Eglise, which is near Les Diablerets, the Musée des Ormonts invites visitors to a journey in Alpine heritage. Its temporary exhibitions present this valley’s many characteristic features in a modern way. More information:
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musee-chateau-doex.ch
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More information: The Hand Museum, the Sherlock Holmes Museum or the Museum of Pyrotechnics: the most diverse and varied topics are exhibited in the Lake Geneva Region. To discover them all and to stay informed about the latest news and temporary exhibitions, visit our dedicated page. 6639
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museeormonts.ch
chateau-morges.ch
Museum on the prairie To visit one of Lausanne’s most famous museums, visitors need to leave the town and climb a hill. Before discovering the works shown in Fondation de l’Hermitage, visitors are struck by the beauty of the site: a 19th century mansion, a peaceful garden and an unrestricted view of the old town and Lake Geneva. The great names of art, mainly painters and sculptors, are featured in two to three exhibitions a year, which are often of an international scale. To combine feasts for the eyes with gourmet delights, the foundation organises guided tours followed by a brunch or theme meal in the restaurant next door to the museum. More information:
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fondation-hermitage.ch
The Olympic spirit: quite an emotion “Faster, higher, stronger”: the motto of the Olympic movement also defines its museum in Lausanne. The Olympic Museum transports us beyond the limits of sport through the history, the challenges and the culture of Olympics. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) inaugurated its unique official museum in Lausanne in 1993 and gave the town its name of Olympic Capital. In 2013, for its 20 years of existence, the IOC decided on a complete refurbishment of the museum. Thanks to optimal museographic equipment, the public can enjoy much more than just an exhibition: an authentic experience as made by an athlete. More information:
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Fribourg France
Vaud Lausanne
France Geneva < 30 min (
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A focus on drawings
The life of a star
A question of food
In a splendid building of neoclassical style in Vevey, the Jenisch Museum is dedicated to works on paper, with a collection of nearly 40,000 prints and drawings. Ferdinand Hodler, Gustave Courbet and Albrecht Dürer: the big names of painting and drawing constitute the collections of the Jenisch Museum and its Cantonal print room. After substantial renovation work performed in 2012, the museum now holds temporar y exhibitions and a regularly renewed permanent collection.
She was the star of “Roman Holiday” and “My Fair Lady”, a model for women of the 60s who envied her for her elegant beauty: Audrey Hepburn lived in Tolochenaz near Morges for thirty years. An exhibition pays tribute to her life and career at Fondation Bolle in the old town of Morges. This is the opportunity to discover, thanks to hitherto unpublished photographs, that the actress’s life was more moving and human than glamorous.
More information:
More information:
Presenting culinary workshops and countless events, the Alimentarium of Vevey is more than just a museum. Founded by Nestlé, it is a true thinktank on all aspects of food. The Alimentarium will be closed for substantial renovation work from the end of August 2015 until June 2016. A re-designed exhibition, which is enhanced by the latest digital technologies, and a complete internet portal will turn the new Alimentarium into an authentic digital and interactive experience. Designed for the 10-year anniversary of the institution, the famous fork planted in the lake a few metres from the Alimentarium will remain visible during the renovation period.
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museejenisch.ch
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More information: 21292
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artbrut.ch
Anonymous art
The story of an adventure
Open your mind and be surprised! The Collection de l’Art Brut leaves no one indifferent. In the Château de Beaulieu in Lausanne, works by selftaught painters, far removed from conventional artistic codes, tell their story and that of their author. Art brut is a concept that was initiated in the Seventies through the passion of Jean Dubuffet, a French artist for whom art was more beautiful when it remained incognito. Based on this idea, Dubuffet collected works found in asylums and prisons throughout his life. He offered his heritage, which led to the foundation of Collection de l’Art Brut, to the city of Lausanne.
Did you know that the first hot-air balloon trip around the world started in 1999 from Château-d’Oex, in the Alps of the Lake Geneva Region? The story of the crazy adventure of the pilots Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones can be discovered at Espace Ballon in Château-d’Oex. This fun museum presents the history of the hot-air balloon, from Icarus to Piccard. Château-d’Oex has particularly favourable conditions for hot-air ballooning and has become its capital, especially thanks to the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival which takes place every year at the end of January. More information:
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espace-ballon.ch
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CONTEMPORARY MUSEUMS
Encounter with Marc Atallah, director and curator at Maison d’Ailleurs, Yverdon-les-Bains Marc Atallah, how would you describe Maison d’Ailleurs? Maison d’Ailleurs is the only Swiss museum that deals essentially with popular culture. Our exhibitions, which change every six months, focus on themes related to fantasy, science and technologies. About one third of the exhibited objects are contributions by emerging artists, while the majority of objects come directly from our own collections which comprise more than 130,000 objects. You mentioned the term “popular culture”, but isn’t Maison d’Ailleurs mostly known as a museum of science fiction?
The future quarter of the arts The fine arts, contemporary art and photography all united under one roof: the unique museum pole project will soon be reality in Lausanne. With this arts quarter, Lausanne will have an appropriate platform at its disposal to accommodate its entire museum offer, as well as exhibitions of an international scale. First, the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts will move there with its 10,000 collection items. Switzerland’s second oldest arts museum well deserved a new location for its 175 years of existence. It will then be joined by the Musée de l’Elysée and mudac. The former is entirely dedicated to photography, and will move more than 100,000 photos, including Charlie Chaplin’s. The latter, the Museum of Design and Applied Contemporary Arts, will be delighted to contribute its vision to the museum pole, having always favoured an eclectic style and interactions between various artistic expressions.
I prefer the term “museum of fiction”: ultimately, our mission is to incite people to think about their own imagination. Our exhibition “Portrait-Robot”, for example, does not present the robots shown in newspapers because they are already known. We prefer to surprise our visitors and to kindle their imagination. What challenges does a museum director in the Lake Geneva Region have to deal with? The challenge of each museum is to reinvent itself according to its identity. In the case of Maison d’Ailleurs, permanent and temporary exhibitions could not possibly be separated. At each change of theme, the entire content of the three exhibition rooms changes too. Thanks to this dynamism, we were selected for the European Museum Price in 2014. Is cooperation important to Maison d’Ailleurs? Our heritage, which is unique in Europe, interests many international museums to whom we lend our exhibitions. But there are synergies everywhere! In 2014, our exhibition on super heroes inspired the museum’s hometown, Yverdon-les-Bains, which became SuperCITY. In turn, 2015 was declared “Year of the Robot”. Being established in a town of human dimensions, Fribourg Maison d’Ailleurs is able to integrate institutions into its France Vaud projects and to invite the Lausanne Lausanne inhabitants of Yverdon to “take over” the museum.
More information:
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musees.vd.ch Geneva
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elysee.ch
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More information:
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ailleurs.ch
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CULTURE IN MOVEMENT Unique emotions in brand-new museums
The new museums of the Lake Geneva Region will be educational, interactive and spectacular and have already been attracting local and international visitors. The proof that the region still has many stories to tell!
In the Tramp’s home
A freshwater town
All residences have a story to tell, but the Manoir de Ban has even more than that: a soul that is perceived upon entering. In 1952, Charlie Chaplin settled in this magnificent mansion above the town of Vevey opposite Lake Geneva. He lived there until his death in 1977, with his wife Oona and their eight children. From 2016, the mansion will contain a museum dedicated to this genius of the cinema. Called Chaplin’s World, the museum will present the personal, family, public and artistic life of the man who is commonly known as “the Tramp”.
Water is the source of life but also an extremely rich ecosystem, an inexhaustible field of scientific research and the symbol of the protection of our planet’s resources. This multidisciplinary reflection is at the core of the Aquatis project. In spring 2017, Switzerland’s first big aquarium will open above Lausanne. Contrary to its great European neighbours, Aquatis will solely present freshwater aquatic environments. It will incorporate Europe’s largest collec tion of poisonous reptiles, the Vivarium, whose 200 ectothermic animals will move from Sauvabelin to Aquatis.
More information:
More information:
aquatis.ch
21371
chaplinmuseum.com
To remain on the page: The museums in the Lake Geneva Region have no time to gather dust! New concepts, unique exhibitions, surprising cooperation... Follow the news on museums and tourist offers on our website: www.lake-geneva-region.ch
New in 2016
The history and the future of Nestlé Everything started in Vevey in 1866, when Henri Nestlé developed the first milk food. A revolution that provided the basis for the invention of milk chocolate a few years later, also in Vevey. This was a long time ago, before Nestlé became the huge foodprocessing giant it is today. In 2016, in celebration of its 150 of existence, the Vevey company will inaugurate a centre of attractions and discoveries on the historical site of its former factory. Located in a contemporary building with an industrial look, “nest” explores the history of the company, the challenges and the future of food, to the delight of visitors of all ages.
More information: the-nest.ch
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Cover: Samuel Bitton Copyrights: Utopy.ch, Ariane Honegger, La Presse Nord Vaudois Duperrex, Laurent Ryser, Atelier MAMCO, Francette Levieux, CIO Lydie Nesvadba, Samuel Bitton, Bertrand Francey, Montreux Jazz Festival, Mines de Sel de Bex, José Crespo, Musée du Vieux Pays-d’Enhaut, Fabrice Wagner, Fred Culas, Stephan Engler, Régis Colombo, Musée Confrérie des Vignerons, Nathalie Sternalski, Joanna Arbel, Swiss National Museum, Claude Jaccard – www.vaud-photos.ch, Françoise Narbel, JMC Lutherie SA, Jean-Marie-Michel, Lausanne Tourisme, Didier Jordan, Studio Patrick Jantet, www.vision-air. ch, www.diapo.ch, Vincent Jaton, Commissaire de la barque la Vaudoise, Collection CGN, Beau-Rivage Palace, Patrick Moser, Mirabella Resid, Glacier 3000, www festival-moudon ch, Céline Michel, Christoph Sonderegger, www.wavre.ch, Ballet Béjart Lausanne François Paolini, François Margot, Marc Amiguet, Musée du Léman, Yverdon-les-Bains Région, Musée Jenisch, Hugues Siegenthaler, Salvatore Gervasi, Sébastien Staub, David Gagnebin-de-Bons, Aquatis, Tinker, Chaplin’s World, Centre d’Initiation à l’Horlogerie, Vincent Jaton, Anthony Demierre, Henri-Frédéric Rochat, Château de Morges, Jean Becker Graphic-design: WGR communication.ch – Translation: Clarissa Hull – Printing: Artgraphic Cavin SA Brochure printed on 100% recycled paper. Edition 2015
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Neuchâtel
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M
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