Saint-George: Trails, winter sports and cultural heritage

Saint-George combines hiking trails, winter sports and historic sites. When planning your stay, you can choose from short circular trails, longer experiences, winter activities and landmarks in the village’s history. The wider Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois also offers trails and landscapes that take you beyond Saint-George.

Hiking trails and views

A marked hiking trail connects Col du Marchairuz with Saint-George. Along the way, the trail passes the Rocher de l’Eau Pendante rock and its spring, which flows year-round. The walking trail continues to the village centre, where the offices of the Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois are located at Route du Marchairuz 2. If you are looking for a specific route, the La Roche du Ciel hiking trail is 3.5 kilometres long and takes about one hour and 15 minutes to walk. It follows forest paths to the Refuge de la Roche du Ciel and offers views of the basin, the Alps and Saint-George.

The Mont-Chaubert loop is rated easy and takes about one hour and 17 minutes. It follows forest paths, has picnic spots and offers a panorama stretching from the Fribourg Pre-Alps to the Lake Geneva basin. With a little luck, you may spot birds, roe deer, red deer and other forest wildlife along the way. The estimated times for Mont-Chaubert and La Roche du Ciel are similar; the Mont-Chaubert loop is specifically rated easy.

Savurando takes more time: this history and food trail is a 7.5-kilometre circular route with about two hours of walking time. The total time given is approximately three and a half to five hours. Tastings of agricultural products are part of the experience, which showcases a range of traditional crafts. For planning your time, the total duration is therefore more useful than the walking time alone.

Outdoor activities

Parc Aventure de St-George is a high ropes course in a forest setting at an altitude of 1,000 metres in the Jura vaudois. It offers views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Among its facilities is a 15-metre-high climbing pole with a self-belay system. The climbing area at Rocher de La Baume is another option for climbers: it has 54 equipped routes graded from 4a to 8b+. The area lies 500 metres below Saint-George on the cantonal road between Gimel and Saint-George.

In winter, Saint-George offers two alpine ski runs and a snow park. There are also 22 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, which are groomed several times a week. One illuminated route is 1.8 kilometres long and consists of two loops. The trail information can therefore be distinguished by route length and layout. In the wider Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois area, winter activities also include cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and snowshoeing.

History and regional discoveries

The Moulin de St-George was first mentioned in historical records in 1548 and has a hydraulic saw installed in 1816. The Fondation pour la sauvegarde du Patrimoine offers guided tours of the Moulin-Scierie. The Four à chaux de St-George dates from 1857 and was restored in 1991 to mark the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. Guided explanations of how rock is turned into lime are available on request.

The Fromagerie – Epicerie Mignot is another recommended stop for regional products, including Gruyère, Vacherin Mont-d’Or and homemade charcuterie. In the wider Parc naturel régional Jura vaudois area, 18 alpine chalets traditionally produce various types of cheese, including Gruyère d’alpage AOP. The park is recognised as a Swiss nature park of national importance, stretches from La Dôle to Romainmôtier and includes protected Jura landscapes. Its hiking network is 523 kilometres long; trails in the surrounding area offer views of the Lake Geneva basin and the Alps. One section of the Grand Tour of Switzerland is titled Geneva–Nyon–Saint-George–Col du Marchairuz.

Discover more destinations: Crassier, Le Vaud, Luins, Saint-Cergue, Mont-Sur-Rolle, Essertines-Sur-Rolle, Grens, Bursinel

Go to the main travel overview: Nyon.