Chardonne between Lavaux and Mont-Pèlerin

Chardonne is a municipality in the Riviera-Pays-d’Enhaut district of the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Vineyards, trails on Mont-Pèlerin and historic cultural heritage give your trip several possible points of focus. Chardonne’s wine-growing area lies at the eastern end of the Lavaux hillside; its terraces stretch from Lake Geneva up to the village.

Lavaux and the vineyard landscape

The wine-growing area begins on the shores of Lake Geneva between Saint-Saphorin and Corseaux, then rises in terraces towards Chardonne. To the west, it extends beyond the road from Chexbres to Chardonne. The difference in elevation is about 250 metres. The area’s Charmus are supported by sturdy stone walls, anchored in the ground or leaning against rocky faces. This means that, when taking in the landscape, both the terraces and the walls can be seen as defining features.

Lavaux was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 28 June 2007. For a trip focused on wine-growing, Chardonne’s wines also provide a tangible point of interest: they are distinguished by fruity and mineral aromas, fullness and a pronounced character. At the Caveau des Vignerons in the Logis de Chardonne, tastings of all the wines of the Chardonne appellation are offered to guests and wine lovers every weekend from May to September. At the Marché des Vins de Chardonne, around ten local winegrowers invite visitors to discover and taste about 150 wines.

Cultural heritage in Chardonne

Chardonne was first mentioned in 1001 under the name Cardona. Another historical detail can be found in the church: its religious murals date from 1421. The vault paintings depict the symbols of the four Evangelists; the bull of Luke and the lion of Mark are still visible today. The church thus offers a distinct cultural and historical highlight alongside the wine-growing landscape.

Trails and views on Mont-Pèlerin

The Plein-Ciel Tower stands at the summit of Mont-Pèlerin at an altitude of 1,084 metres and is 123 metres tall. From there, panoramic views extend across Lake Geneva and the Lavaux wine-growing area. A panoramic lift takes visitors to the top of the tower, where a 360-degree view opens up over the Riviera, Lake Geneva, the Pre-Alps and the hinterland.

From the Mont-Pèlerin funicular station, a trail that runs mostly through the forest takes about an hour to reach the Plein-Ciel Tower. A shorter hiking option is the nature trail on Mont-Pèlerin: this very easy route is just under two kilometres long and can be reached by car or public transport. Its stops cover the forest’s biodiversity and tree species, as well as the uses of wood and the professions associated with it.

The Sentier des Narcisses is a different proposition. This moderately difficult hike is 8.8 kilometres long and takes about two and a half hours. It starts at the Mont-Pèlerin funicular stop, follows a route at an elevation of 811 to 1,072 metres, and passes through hills in bloom with daffodils. The details on distance, duration and difficulty make it easy to distinguish this hike from the just-under-two-kilometre, very easy nature trail.

Getting there and getting around

The Vevey–Chardonne–Mont-Pèlerin funicular runs from the shores of Lake Geneva through the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to an altitude of over 810 metres. The bus journey between Chardonne and Vevey takes less than ten minutes. If you plan to use these transport services on a particular travel date, it is worth checking the latest timetables.

Discover more destinations: La Lécherette, Chardonne VD, Corseaux, Vevey, Château-D'oex, La Tour-De-Peilz, Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Montreux.

For the broader travel overview: Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut.