7 Reasons To Visit The Lake Geneva Region This Fall

1. James Bond Time – Timing is everything, especially for everyone’s favorite fictional spy, James Bond. It is fitting that an exhibition of the timepieces used in the James Bond movies will open this fall at Espace Horloger in Le Sentier in the heart of Swiss watchmaking, the Vallée de Joux.  This interactive museum is dedicated to Swiss timepieces and the James Bond Time exhibit will run from September 17 2016 to  April 23, 2017.

2. Villa le Lac -- A hidden treasure in the Lake Geneva Region, the Swiss architect Le Corbusier designed Villa le Lac, also known as Petite Maison Corseaux, in 1923-24 on the shores of Lake Geneva for his parents. Situated just outside of Vevey, this modernist masterpiece was his first work in Switzerland and was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. The house is open to visitors on weekends in July and August, or by appointment.

3. nest – The new nest discovery center by Nestlé opened in Vevey this summer to celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary. This is a 32,000 square foot interactive space, with a sculptural ramp that winds through small displays, as well as a life-size tree decorated in over a thousand "flowers" made from crumpled and folded Nestlé packaging. Think Cailler chocolates, Nescafé instant coffee and Maggi stock cubes. These products originated at Nestlé and nest is located just behind the Vevey rail station in the iconic building where Henri Nestlé devised his "Farine Lactée" milk food for infants in 1866. Visit nest for more information.

4. Alimentarium -- Founded by Nestlé, the Alimentarium was the first museum in the world entirely dedicated to food when it opened in 1985. It reopened this summer after a nine month renovation, it has a new permanent exhibition, a multilingual digital archive and a Food Academy where members of the public can take cooking classes. Situated along the waterfront in Vevey, it’s easily spotted by the giant fork sculpture in Lake Geneva. Visit the Alimentarium.

5. L’Italie -- The paddle-boat L’Italie has undergone a year-long renovation and will be relaunched on Lake Geneva in November. This 1908 vessel is one of eight Belle Époque boats of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman  (CGN) that link cities and towns on the lake.

6.New Museum Restaurants -- Some of Vaud’s recent gastronomic highlights can be found in the cafes and restaurants of the regions new and reopened museums. They include Café Henri at the nest museum, The Tramp at Chaplin’s World (above)  as well as the café and restaurant of the Alimentarium.

7. Les Trois Ours – A remarkable new B&B in the ski resort of Villars-Gryon, Les Trois Ours offers a small spa with a range of wellness massages, an alfresco hot tub and a “Sauna Cosmic” with a dramatic mountain view. There’s also a Carnotzet, a small lounge adjacent to the wine cellar. Guests can choose from three south facing guestrooms as well as two apartments, and reserve the Saturday evening fondue. Details at Les Trous Ours.

The Lake Geneva Region (Canton of Vaud) is located in the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland. Visitors come for the history and the rich culture, but also for wine tastings in the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps. They dine in celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants and local brasseries and visit lively farmers markets. Outdoor opportunities are endless, from skiing to hiking, biking and walking in the mountains and boating or swimming in Lake Geneva. Visit the Lake Geneva Region for more information.

Interlaken Switzerland: Autumn Experiences And Winter Magic

 

The golden autumn and the first winter days in Interlaken open up new perspectives for you: after a hike led by an expert guide, you’ll suddenly see the incomparable region between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz through completely different eyes: folklore societies reveal themselves from an unusual angle and give an insight into their rehearsals. The view from the new vantage platform on the Stockhorn mountain sweeps across Lake Thun and the Swiss Mittelland as far as the Jura and the glass floor lets you gaze down into the rocky depths. These and other experiences are waiting behind the scenes for you to discover them.

A backstage look at folklore

In Interlaken, yodelling choirs and national-costume groups are a natural part of any fest. Listening to the perfectly pitched voices and watching the nimble-footed dancers, it’s easy to forget that a lot of work goes on behind the folklore scenes. This work can now be seen: from September to November, singers, dancers, flag throwers and alphorn players invite you to visit their rehearsals and get a glimpse backstage.

Stockhorn – as far as the eye can see

Right next to the Panorama Restaurant, a tunnel leads to the new panorama platform in the Stockhorn north face. The spectacular new vantage platform with a glass floor provides some thrilling moments. It offers up a magnificent unimpaired view of Thun, Lake Thun, the Aare and Gürbe valley, the Swiss central plateau through to the Jura and, on clear days, right to the southern Black Forest.

Kunstnacht (Art Night) Brienz, 2 November 2013

The Brienz Rothorn Railway depot becomes a gallery, the cinema screens art films instead of blockbusters and the woodworking and carving workshops are on overtime. Cultural creativity in Brienz is in the spotlight during the Kunstnacht, enhanced by an enthralling mix of traditional and modern music.

Touch the Mountains, 1  January 2014

On the day after the traditional end-of-the-year activities Interlaken likes to put on yet another dazzling display! A spectacular firework display is lit on the Höhematte. Folklore groups, bell ringers and various other festi-vities drum up a wonderful atmosphere along Interlaken’s  promenade. There is also an open-air concert featuring first-rate performers.All in all – a great way to usher in the New Year!

For details about visiting Interlaken please visit: www.interlaken.ch.