Puidoux: Wine-Growing History, Cultural Heritage and Lac de Bret
Accommodation in Puidoux
A trip to Puidoux brings together a range of interests: protected cultural heritage, wine-growing history, activities at Lac de Bret and equestrian sports. The following places and activities can help you plan around the themes that interest you most.
Cultural Heritage Between Vineyards and History
The Tour de Marsens is classified as protected cultural heritage in the Canton of Vaud. Other protected heritage sites in Puidoux include DĂ©zaley, Clos des Abbayes, the Chapelle du DĂ©zaley, a winegrower's house and an outbuilding. The area's history can also be told with varying degrees of certainty: Roman baths are said to have existed in Puidoux. In 1832, a ten-centimetre-tall bronze statuette of a Bacchante was found in a vineyard.
The Lavaux wine-growing landscape reflects almost a millennium of development, while long-standing local wine-growing traditions continue to be practised and developed there. In the wider region, a cultural and tourist route connects visitors with the people who help preserve Lavaux's terraced vineyards for the long term, including local winegrowers. It highlights both the landscape's long history and the continuation of its winemaking traditions.
Tour de Marsens and Wine Growing
A short walk through the vineyards from Puidoux train station leads to the privately owned Tour de Marsens and takes about 20 minutes. The path is accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs under certain conditions. The private tower offers a 360-degree panorama of the DĂ©zaley vineyards, Lake Geneva and the Alps. To visit the tower or arrange a wine tasting, you can use the Domaine Tour de Marsens contact form. Access to the Domaine by motor vehicle is permitted only by prior arrangement or to collect an order.
The small Domaine Tour de Marsens is farmed without mechanisation; all work is done by hand. Clos des Moines is a historic wine estate in Lavaux, in Puidoux. It produces wines in the classic DĂ©zaley style, based mainly on Chasselas; details may vary by vintage or range. During the season, visitors can enjoy the estate's wines with light meals on the terrace overlooking Lake Geneva. Before travelling, check whether the seasonal offering is currently available.
Clos des Abbayes was founded by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. The classic Clos des Abbayes wine range is traditionally auctioned on the second Saturday in December, a tradition that has lasted for more than 200 years. If you are interested in a particular year, check the date in advance.
Lac de Bret and Leisure Activities
Lac de Bret lies within the municipality of Puidoux, covers around 50 hectares and sits at an altitude of 674 metres between Tour de Gourze and Mont-Pèlerin. Since 1983, it has been listed in the Canton of Vaud's inventory of natural monuments and protected landscapes. Fishing, boating and stand-up paddleboarding are among the leisure activities available at the lake. Check the applicable rules before your activity.
Golf de Lavaux has an 18-hole course with views of the Alps and Lac de Bret. Opening periods are seasonal, so check the current season dates before your visit. Manège des Chaux in Puidoux welcomes beginner and experienced riders and offers group and private lessons. Children aged four and over receive riding lessons suited to their age. As the age requirement may change, it is worth checking before making specific plans.
Getting Around the Region
The R7 regional train connects Puidoux to Chexbres-Village in three minutes. Chexbres-Village is also a starting point for the Lavaux Panoramic, a sightseeing train through the terraced vineyards of the Lavaux UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you plan to use this connection, check the R7 timetable for your travel date.
Discover more destinations: Bussigny-sur-Oron, Bourg-En-Lavaux, Saint-Saphorin, Rivaz Vd, Lutry, Grandvaux Vd, Chexbres, Pully
For the wider travel overview: Lavaux.
