The alpine outing - PStarting off in Aigle or Château-d’Oex, this is a snapshot of the mountain at its most beautiful.415.2727355957Tourist Office AigleOpening hours:
(April to October)
Mo-Fr : 8h30-12h and 13h30-18h / Sa : 8h30-12h / Su and public holidays : closed386.84350585938World Cycling CentreEstablished in Aigle in 2002, the World Cycling Centre (WCC) is also the seat of the International Cyclist Union (ICU) and houses the national trampoline training centre. Year round it welcomes vast numbers of students from all over the world.
Boasting a magnificent setting at the foot of the Alps in a region with a rich vein of sporting and cultural tradition, the World Cycling Centre is also very close to major European link roads.
The World Cycling Centre is an establishment of learning and of various sports training recognised by the International Olympic Committee (ICO) and the Swiss Gymnastic Federation (SGF). The centre offers multipurpose sports halls which are also open to the public. (Consult timetable for access and hours of entry).
- Indoor Velodrome (700 places)
- Officially accredited BMX track
- Hall for artistic gymnastics
- Athletics facilities
- Multipurpose facilities for group sports
- Weights room
The World Cycling Centre in Aigle is also the venue for various events on a regional, national and even international scale. By reservation only, group visits and induction into the sport of BMX and/or the cycling racetrack can also be organised.
The complex and its numerous conference rooms also host exhibitions, congresses, seminars, incentive events and banquets etc…
"The Velodrome" Restaurant is open every day to the public offering two choices of dish of the day as well as a small à la carte menu. It also has the attraction of a big shaded terrace on the banks of the river Rhone.426.78076171875Aigle CastleBuilt around the end of the 12th century by the Saillon family on behalf of the House of Savoy, the castle protected Aigle, controlled the Rhone valley and the access to Pays-d'Enhaut.
The Bernese occupiers took it over in 1475 and gave it its current form. When the Lake Geneva Region obtained its independence in 1798, the castle was used as a hospital, prison and court. It has been carefully renovated since the Seventies.
On the initiative of Confrèrie du Guillon, Aigle Castle, which housed the Confederates' cellars, became the Museum of Vine, Wine and Labels in 1971. It preserves the winegrowing heritage of the Lake Geneva Region and describes the production of wine in the Lake Geneva Region, in Switzerland and in the neighbouring countries. There is also a collection of wine bottle labels from 52 countries from the beginning of the 19th century to 1960.436.48062133789The Vine and Wine MuseumFounded by the Guillon Brotherhood to save the endangered winemaking heritage in the Lake Geneva Region, the museum shows a collection of innumerable tools, presses, stills, pots, barrels, measuring devices, bottles, corks, corkscrews, taste-vins, glasses and decanters.
The museum is a reference for vines and winemaking. It concentrates on topics such as countryside, biodiversity, development of taste, ecology, economy, winegrowers, harvesting and art, including the art of celebrations.
Aigle Castle is situated at the heart of a large vineyard and also of a thousand-year old winegrowing tradition featuring Chasselas, a grape variety yielding a dry white wine. It is grown in the Rhone Valley and in the Lake Geneva Region, particularly in the terraced Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2007.406.48175048828The Hervé Foundation, Vintage car museumProviding a perfect example of how automobiles were built back in the 1920s up to the present day, the Hervé Foundation brings together cars that either have particular technical qualities or a bodywork of exceptional elegance. Also on display, a collection of extremely rare English, French and Italian limited edition vintage cars.
Information: Open only on request586.83862304688Salt Mines and History MuseumA shepherd discovered saline sources in the 15th century on an Alpine meadow above Bex. Salt was then extracted from the mountain through mines, an activity still undertaken today. Annual production amounts to 35 tons commercialised by a limited company.
An audiovisual presentation and an exhibition have been installed in a former reservoir dug in 1826. They describe the three centuries of salt commercialisation and the salt extraction methods used. The adventure continues down to the core of the mountain, which is accessible by a small train and on foot, to experience the depth, the oppression and the efforts spent on building a maze consisting of 50 km of galleries. On the day of Sainte Barbe, the miners' patron saint, celebrated on December 5, a trek mine invites individual visitors to explore this maze.
A beautiful journey to the land of white gold: salt has been an important source of income since ancient times.1255.2287597656Tourist Office VillarsOpening hours
Monday-Friday
8.00 am -12.00 am and 1.30 pm - 6.00 pm
Saturday
8.00 am - 12.00 am and 1.30 pm - 5.00 pm
Sunday
10.00 am - 4.00 pm423.98904418945Lavey-les-BainsA fisherman who pulled his nets ashore from the river Rhone discovered these hot springs by chance one day in 1831.
The hottest thermal water of Switzerland gushes forth at 62° at Lavey-les-Bains. A spa centre was built in a Mediterranean pine forest between the river Rhone and the Dents de Morcle rock face.
The spa centre has two pools, one indoors and one outdoors, offering a total of 1,000 square metres at temperatures of 32° to 36°. The pools are equipped with whirlpools, jets, cascades, activated current paths and bubbling waterbeds. Next to the outdoor pool, the Nordic Pavilion proposes saunas or the Snow Cave; the Serenity Pavilion offers a relaxation room with wood or chromotherapy lighting. As to oriental facilities, there are Turkish baths, a hammam and water fountains. The outdoor pool is lit at night, turning it into a fairy-tale world.
The spa proposes wellness or therapeutic stays. It has a 3-star hotel and a seminar centre.1459.7763671875Restaurant du Miroir d'ArgentineNaturally flavoured cuisine with fresh produce.1205.7578125Tourist Office GryonOpening hours
Monday-Saturday
8.15 am - 12.15 pm and 2.00 - 6 pm1776.8128662109The gypsum pyramidsImpressive geological karst formations1653.1516113281Refuge de Taveyanneclosed Monday and Tuesday. Open every day in July and August. Specialties: charbonnade, cheese dishes, large selection of wines.1613.0303955078Golf Club VillarsOpen from May till end October.1166.4384765625Diablerets TourismOpening hours:
Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 to 6:00 pm
On Sundays and Holydays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 to 5:00 pm1963.6674804688La Via Ferrata de la "Cascade"For the physically fit
Degree of difficulty: D
Length: 400 m
Difference in altitude: slight, itinerary goes along ledges
Duration: 1.30 hours1126.6405029297Ormont MuseumFounded at the initiative of an association set up in 1989 following the bequest by Mrs Suzanne Combremont, the museum’s aim is to show the multifold aspects of the history of the Ormonts Valley by means of temporary exhibitions, publications, and didactic trails.
The project took shape in 2008, when the Ormonts Museum was inaugurated in the former post office in Vers-l’Eglise. The Museum’s mission is to preserve the traditions and the heritage of Ormonts, undertake new research, and disseminate this information to the public in the form of exhibitions, publications and audiovisual recordings.
The Ormonts Museum encompasses a large field of action: built areas, geology, toponymy, natural risks, Alpine economy, and daily life. The current exhibition shows the history of winter sports in Ormonts Valley, from its beginning to the present day, presenting the sports practised in the valley, sports associations, regional competitions and regional champions.2496.6291503906La Via Ferrata du "Rocher Jaune"“Airy”
Degree of difficulty: D+
Length: 830 m
Difference in altitude: slight; itinerary goes along ledges
Duration: 2 to 3 hours2948.5310058594Peak Walk by TissotThe "Peak Walk by Tissot" connects the View Point peak with the main peak Scex Rouge (about 5 m higher). The 107 m long and 80 cm wide bridge offers a stunning view onto the Alps. The Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Eiger, Mönch und Jungfrau can be seen from the View Point platform.
The "Peak Walk by Tissot" is free of charge for Glacier 3000 visitors and is open year round (depending on weather conditions).1253.9653320312Hongrin DamSituated at an altitude of 1,255 metres near Col des Mosses in the Lake Geneva Alps, the Hongrin dam is not only a major water reservoir used to produce electricity, but also an impressive site for walking and fishing.
Built towards the end of the Sixties, Barrage de l’Hongrin collects thaw water in 9 waterways, as well as water from Lake Geneva pumped through underground galleries of a length of some twenty kilometres.
This vault dam consists of two curvatures with a height of 95 m and 123 m respectively, on which visitors can walk along in all safety. The reservoir can hold a maximum of 52 million cubic metres of water distributed over a depth of 105 m and 160 hectares, ideal for fishermen and swimmers.
The Hongrin artifical lake is surrounded by pastures and herds of grazing cattle. Their bells resound for miles around conferring a peaceful atmosphere to the site, as well as adding a touch of Alpine life and folklore when you hike or bike in the region.1547.1719970703Glacier 3000This region for skiing in winter and for hiking in summer is connected via cable car from Col du Pillon/Les Diablerets.
The arrival at Glacier 3000 via cable car is spectacular. Before our stunned eyes unfolds a panorama of twenty-four snow-capped peaks of over 4,000 m: Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and Matterhorn. An experience to be prolonged in the warmth of one of the sunny terraces or in the Botta 3000 Restaurant designed by architect Mario Botta.
From October to May, the ski region counts 25 km of slopes at an altitude of 1,350 to 3,000 m, as well as an attractive snowpark. The latter is part of Gstaad Mountain Rides (250 km of slopes) and the Alps of the Lake Geneva Region (225 km of slopes).
In summer, Glacier 3000 serves as a departure point for hikes towards the Oldenhorn summit (3,123 m), towards Scex Rouge up to the Sanetsch pass in stony and moonlike surroundings.
Thanks to the vast catchment area of the Tsanfleuron glacier (almost at 3,000 m), a cross-country skiing loop (classical and skating style) is open all summer. Not to be missed on Glacier 3000: the Alpine coaster, the highest sleds on rails in the world. For an unforgettable experience, try this crazy descent guaranteed to boost adrenalin levels.1319.2971191406Tourist Office LeysinOpening hours
Mo-Su : 8 am-9 pm*
*8 pm week-end : middle of April to end of June / middle of August to middle of Dezember1327.0144042969Via Ferrata de Plan PrazNot very airy
Degree of difficulty: TD (very difficult)
Length: 320 m
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Altitude at departure level: 1,500 m2016.9880371094Via Ferrata Tour d’AïNot very airy
Degree of difficulty: D
Length: 320 m
Difference in altitude: 150 m Altitude: 2,011 m – 2,331 m
Duration: 1 to 2 hours2047.24609375Kuklos, a revolving panoramic restaurantWhat exists only four times around the world on a mountain and is unique in French-speaking Switzerland? The revolving panoramic restaurant Le Kuklos.
Located next to Tours d’Ai, Mayen and Famelon, this famous revolving restaurant made entirely out of glass is a feast for your eyes. From its altitude of 2,048 m, you can see Lake Geneva, the Swiss Riviera, the Jura mountain chain and Rhone valley.
The restaurant revolves 360° within one hour and a half. During this time, Matterhorn, Mont-Blanc, Dents du Midi, Grand Colombin, Eiger and countless other peaks appear before your eyes.
Kuklos is open every day from December to April and from June to October. It can easily be reached with the Berneuse cable car linking the centre of Leysin village with the restaurant within ten minutes.
The Kuklos team welcomes you with care and attention proposing dishes of the day at the self-service restaurant or regional and seasonal discovery menus in the revolving restaurant.415.76971435547Chablais AOCThe soil is mainly rocky – a gigantic rocky landslide covered Yvorne in 1584 – and limestone, which gives these wines their remarkable mineral nature, typically with notes of flint. The foehn, a wind from the south than can be wild, is a major player here. It heats and dries the grapes in the autumn, which makes it possible to create wines that are warmly powerful, often soft and full.
The vineyard trails of Chablais lead to the start of canton Valais, which it hints at with its increasingly Alpine face – and by the boulders that lie here and there, sprinkled around the vine parcels. Despite being at the edge of the canton, for many people in Vaud the Chateau d’Aigle sits in some ways at the centre of the world. The castle is home to an exceptional wine museum known far and wide. More recently, it has become home to the Mondial du Chasselas international wine competition, held annually and dedicated to this grape variety.
It’s the star grape variety for two of the finest appellations, Yvorne and Aigle, the first of which gives more masculine wines and the second fruitier and more floral ones. The other terroirs here, Villeneuve, Ollon and Bex, also produce Chasselas, but they set aside a large share of their vineyards for other white specialties and reds with real character – perfumed, often opulent, mainly from Pinot Noir, Gamay, Gamaret and Garanoir.480.19134521484Aigle Adventure ParkThe Aigle Adventure Park welcomes children and adults for a 3-hour adventure in the Fahy forest above the Rhone plain.
Equipped with a harness and karabiners to make the activity safe, adventurers cross the forest 15 metres above ground. They pass from tree to tree on mobile rope bridges, over shaky passages, on narrow platforms or hurling themselves into empty space on vertiginous Tyrolean traverses.
There are five itineraries for adults and five itineraries for children. They incite budding adventurers to conquer 2 hectares of forest. Countless activities, full of surprises and thrills, punctuate the itineraries.
The Aigle Adventure Park can be reached by the Aigle-Sepey-Les Diablerets train. Open from Easter to end October.44645045345245545845946046146246546946546245745545245145145245245245345545745946046146146346746947247648048648347847647347247147147047147147147147247447647647747847847948048048048248348448448548648648648748848949150049950250450751051451952352253153253253653553754455155556356355756256356956857157456856456256456656857157357958358759460059659860260861160960961261662363062862863264265165265766667669269269870372272673173373573574374975375576075976075976376176276777377578078679279580179980181381281681982883483783984884985685986386686887387587888288488989389590290490691391291592493093193494294795296396898098899310001001100210021000100010031010101110161019102810321035103310391049105610611064106910751072107610831084109110981101110411041112112111341134114111531162116311631161116811751174117711781183118711931196119611971202120412151211121412181224122712291234123812401244124712471249125412581262126312581253125112491246125812601250125012601254124912531253124112271234125512611262126012611264126612671271127212731272127012711277128312821281128612901291129112901288129212961301130212961297129913031306130913051303130412971296130013051309131313181323133013391346135113531352135413571358136213711379138113831390139113921395139914031406141114161421142414281435143714451448144814471444144614451448145014501453145314571458145814561459146114641467146514671464146614681467146614661467146814671473147514791479147514771483148614931500150515101510150615161524152615331532153815431546155615651570157415771582158315881597159816021606160616091614161616261631163616401645164516551655166116631667167016781684169116941715172417211728172817331739175117541760175517641765177117791781177617831788179717961799180418031808180918151827183018301827182518261813181218021792178717801773177317721765175817521746174317351729172317161713171317131709170317021699169516891685168416781675167216711667166216611657165616481643163716251619161616091605159415901591159015821577156915681560156315571552154115421545154515451536152515211524152015191506150414951502148914931489148014731474146414631455145514551454144714391432143114271421141814101409140513931393139313891384138113731371136913641353134113371332132713271318130913071298129212871283128312811277127612761273127112681264126012491246124112311228121912161214121412131212121212131213121212121216122512261228122912351229122012181211120912091207120612061202120111991200120512051204120212051203120412001207120812041201119311911188118911821178117611791178117211701166116311621161115911561159115611571158116211581156115411531151115011511149115111491151115411491148114511461142114311451146115211531152115411611160115711461155114511581148115011491139113911351136113211301134112211201117112111301120111811271124112411211117111411151111110711161109105910591112111611201115112511241122111111161095108810891088107310741076106510581052105310451038101410141019102410271036103910541051106610641075108210921097110111031102110511141120112411441145114611601168117311811181118211911197120812181226123612411250126312661270127312761281128512891292129913051308131113081305130613091308131413201326132813311345135613631365135913581365135913391334132613251321131213081308130513031308130613041297129012881282127712721272126412571244123612231209119111851186117411611150114111401139111911141108110411011102110210951095108910781074106310601058104510481030103610311028102810121019101310041000999997992987985986986982978968965962960952956954954937937940934928931930926928911910909904889886889883887892886888886877874867864843862866858848844834836831829834836825804811798789771777784769772765748753757742734727724732688704708701694692686675674678680675670660657668668664659650639637637626621617620616604604590588594574571567564565557550545541540531534536536535516512502500499492490488486481479478472472472470469467464462460458458459455453452450451448448448446