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Along Lake Geneva in a convertible car
Highlights
One fine summer morning, I got into a convertible car in Lausanne, to have a grand tour alongside Lake Geneva. My route was from Morges to Nyon, cruising on local roads through forests, fields, meadows and typical villages, all the time accompanied by a panoramic view of the lake. Need I say it was wonderful? It was much more than that! In fact, it was the ultimate in luxury, physical as well as cerebral.
Explore Lake Geneva and you will discover everything from historic lake mansions to boutique shopping and spas
One fine summer morning, I got into a convertible car in Lausanne, to have a grand tour alongside Lake Geneva. My route was from Morges to Nyon, cruising on local roads through forests, fields, meadows and typical villages, all the time accompanied by a panoramic view of the lake. Need I say it was wonderful? It was much more than that! In fact, it was the ultimate in luxury, physical as well as cerebral.
To sample the best of the region, I thought it was wise to include some wine-tasting. Picking up more courage, I also opted for an introduction to stand-up paddle-boarding on Lake Geneva in Morges. The place is such, it inspires you to explore and venture into unknown fields.
My first stop was the most exciting: stand-up paddle-boarding on Lake Geneva in Morges with the Swiss champion Steve Fleury. He was very patient and gave elaborate instructions. As I slowly climbed on to the board, first I kneeled down on the board, as I learnt to balance myself I stood up (though gingerly) and then it was all smooth sailing. Once I got the hang of it, I didn’t even want to leave the waters and come back to the shore. It was so enjoyable! The lake was placid and the morning sun was bright and the day had excellent weather. I experienced pure bliss on Lake Geneva!
With wind in my hair, I drove down to the family owned wineries on the de Luze wine estate in Chigny to visit the vineyards and taste their exotic wines. The magnificent property of Mottaz belongs to the family of Luze for many generations. The beautiful patrician house of the 18th century is surrounded by the estate's vineyards with 16 hectares under production. We visited the cellar, which is home to imposing oak barrels in which wines are raised in the field. Later we tasted different wines and nibbled on lovely cheese and crackers.
Had a picnic lunch in the meadow, in a charming village in Saint-George area, where most of the 2000 population speaks French. The food tasted homely and I picked up a bottle of honey, that had a typical local flavour.
The next stop was the most quaint and lovable village of Luins with the beautiful and unique view over the lake and the vineyards of La Côte. The church of Luins, located in a dominant position in the vineyards above the village, has a rectangular plane completed by a square bell tower. Rebuilt in the early 16th century and classified a historic monument, it combines Romanesque traditions and late Gothic.
On the road again, through beautiful forests, meadows and vineyards and along the lakeshore, I reached Nyon, stopping along the road to discover unique spots with breathtaking views. Ideally located between Lausanne and Geneva, the Nyon region offers many different attractions and a rich cultural heritage from the Jura Mountains to the sunny shores of Lake Geneva; the summit of La Dôle is a must stop to enjoy the stunning view on the whole lake.
Nyon has managed to remain a small town; the friendly and almost village-like atmosphere comes to life during animated conversations on Saturday morning market days. Behind the appearance of a tranquil small town, modern Nyon hides a prestigious past. In the peaceful old town’s alleyways, curious visitors are confronted with a cultural heritage more than 2000 years old.
Numerous vestiges of the civilisations that have settled in the area one after the other are still visible today: the Roman columns, the amphitheatre and the 16th century castle, etc. The town’s porcelain heritage can be seen in the Museum of History and Porcelain, located within the premises of the castle of Nyon.
My tour ended at Château de Prangins, which is a Swiss National Museum that showcases Swiss history from its beginnings to the present, and gives an insight into Swiss identities and the rich tapestry of the country’s history and culture.
By:Vijaya Pratap
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