The land of water, wine and watches
Suisse Romande
© Diccon Bewes
A boat trip out on Lake Geneva reveals the beauty of western Europe’s largest lake, with terraced hillsides and pretty villages gliding by. It’s so big that on misty days the mountains disappear and you almost feel as if you’re at sea – just without the sting of salt in the air. Although the lake is shared with France, the Swiss side has the lion’s share of delights, from Geneva itself to Montreux in the east, and it’s the focal point of the French-speaking region of Switzerland. So come with us to meet the winemakers and watchmakers, and many other locals, in this lovely part of Switzerland.
The capital of peace
Visiting Geneva is rather like meeting a film star in real life: much smaller than you expect. For a city that hosts international peace conferences and is home to the UN, the centre is actually a perfectly compact package of elegant lakeshore hotels and busy shopping streets wrapped around a hilly historic old town.
Take a tour of Geneva
Relax on the Swiss Riviera
Switzerland might not have a coastline but it does have a riviera, set along the sheltered south-facing slopes of Lake Geneva. Beyond the glitzy town of Montreux with its famous Jazz Festival, we can help you discover a great medieval castle, terraced vineyards, stunning train rides – and a star or two.
Discover the Riviera with Cosa
Lakeside life at its best
This remarkable city gives its guests a good workout of both mind and body. It makes the most of its extraordinary location above and beside Lake Geneva, rising up in three stages, each as captivating as the last. Home to a wealth of museums and markets, Lausanne is a vibrant gem to be relished one, often weary, step at a time.
The heart of Watch Valley
The town that is the spiritual home of Swiss watchmaking owes its fame to fire, a particularly devastating fire that destroyed La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1794. A new town was built and minutely planned to suit the needs of the watchmakers, with buildings on an elongated grid pattern that let in enough light for the intricate work.
Beautiful stylish Neuchâtel
Carved from butter. That’s how the writer Alexandre Dumas described Neuchâtel, and he had a point. Most of the medieval old town is built from rich golden sandstone so that even on cloudy days the buildings seem to glow. The city sits beside its own lake, the largest entirely within Switzerland, providing visitors with elegant waterfront walks.
Suisse Romande in brief
The croissant shape of Lake Geneva dominates the map of western Switzerland, but there’s more to this region than one famous lake. Four cantons make up Suisse Romande (as this area is known locally): Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura – and with over 1.5 million inhabitants, these cantons are the bulk of Switzerland’s French-speaking population. This is also the home of famous Swiss brands, such as Rolex and Nestle, plus the ancient vineyards of Lavaux and the medieval castle of Chillon.
When to go
All year
Why go there
Charming cities
Watchmakers
Lakeside life
What to see
Geneva
Montreux Riviera
Watch Valley
Explore all of Switzerland
Wherever you want to go in Switzerland, we can make it happen. Just click on the link to find out all we have to offer in every region of this beautiful country.
