enzian

I just noticed a reference to swimming in Lac Leman on another thread, and particularly Hopscotch's statement that Lac Leman was "the sweetest water I've ever swum in." That was in reference to a swimming spot near Geneva. Are there also good places to swim (for the public) at the other (i.e., east) end of the lake, perhaps near Villeneuve, or between there and Montreux? It would need to be someplace accessible by train, coming from either Brig or Chateaux d'Oex. I'd love to include this on our trip next year.

swandav2000

Hi enzian,

You can swim anywhere along the lake. In some places there are little docks, and in most places there are rocks that are easy to step on to get to the water. Many times in the morning, you'll see folks walking, wet, from the lake to their hotels across the promenade. Once I was walking on the promenade and saw a bench on the promenade with two sets of clothes draped over it -- that's all -- guess the folks were in the lake.

Just take the train to Montreux, go down to the lake, and find a nice spot.

Yes, there is an actual beach (plage) near Villeneuve.

There is also a small cove-like area just next to Chillon; I've seen folks gathering there to scuba dive.

Good luck!

s

suze

People swim in the lake at Montreux. There's a couple docks and places to jump in (no beach).

enzian

Thanks, swandav and suze---

So it's all public? No areas reserved for hotels or private owners? Or are the public beaches and docks clearly identifiable? And can I assume that French rules (i.e., men must wear Speedos, not trunks) do NOT apply here?

My husband so cheerfully indulges my passion for hiking in Switzerland; I'd like to indulge his for open-water swimming. I'd never thought of Lac Leman before.

suze

Hmmm... as far as I could tell is was all public. The hotels are on the other side of the quai (promonade). The lakeshore at Montreux is large rocks, now and then with ladder, steps or a dock. Seemed pretty casual.

Another thought might be renting a boat?

I was lucky enough to be offered a ride on the speed boat of a friend of a friend. We went out into the middle of the lake for swimming, drank champagne, drove around thru an amazing marshy preserve area, then hopped over to France for a glass of wine at a lakeside cafe!

swandav2000

Hi again,

Right, all public. I've never seen any lakeside area roped off for hotel guests only --

There are some villas in Vevey that block the promenade -- it's private there!

Don't know about the whole promenade in Lausanne or Geneva. But everywhere I've seen from Clarens to Villeneuve (Montreux) is open to the public.

suze, that sounds like a great day!

s

enzian

That sounds wonderful, suze. Was it your birthday, or are your friends always that nice?

We walked the promenade from Chateau du Chillon to Montreux last summer, and saw no one swimming---it was a crummy day (the only one in history, I'm sure!) But we'll pick a nice day and go back---maybe more toward Villeneuve, as Swandav said there's a plage there.

suze

Actually it was the result of a night of drinking at the local bar (Il Baretto) where a guy says "hey you girls want to go for a ride in my boat tomorrow?"

... so of course we said YES

beaupeep

Pully and Lutry have public beaches with bathhouses, showers, restaurants. At the Bellerive Plage here in Lausanne it costs maybe 7 francs to get in and there you will find numerous pools, a rooftop restaurant, bathhouse, showers, chair rentals. My husband and I always go swim over in Thonon, it's not as crowded.

suze

Thank you for the tip about the plage in Lausanne! That will come in handy for me next visit.

I also enjoy the pool where you can get a day pass at the Casino in Montreux, but am guessing since Enzian is talking lake swimming, that doesn't fit the bill.

swandav2000

Hi all,

Just for the fun of it, I found some definitive information on beaches & swimming pools --

in Villeneuve: http://tinyurl.com/qthw5

in Montreux:
http://tinyurl.com/m4ngc

The links are from the www.montreux-vevey.com site.

Have fun!

s

suze

As always, thanks to Swandav for some real information. The public pool at Clarens is a lot of fun, with loads of local kids and moms mostly. As is the pool at the Casino, but there you'll find more visiting europeans. Both have snack bars, the pool(s), a lawn area.

enzian

This is great information---thank you all!

Suze--pools are fine too; I make a point of seeking out large (25m or 50m) public pools on our travels so he can lap-swim. We found a beautiful pool in Venice, with a wall of windows facing out to the lagoon.

But it will be a real treat to swim in "les eaux claire du Leman". I may alter our itinerary a bit to include some extra time at the end of the trip for this.

hopscotch

marking

enzian

Hi Hopscotch---it was your post on another thread (cycling around Lac Leman) that gave me this idea---thanks!

enzian

Thanks to all who responded previously. I have a new twist. I've booked our return flight out of Geneva, so we'll be spending our last night in a lakeside village a short train ride away from the airport, probably Morges. This will be during the Jazz Festival, so I'd like to stay a bit farther from the Montreux crowds, and closer to the airport.

So any tips on good swimming beaches in this area of the lake? Or do we just go down to the harbor at Morges and jump in?

swandav2000

Hi again,

Here ya go:

http://www.morges.ch/view.asp?DomId=355

Also, here is my impression of Morges, which I fell in love with:

Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html

You'll have a great time!

s

enzian

Perfect! Thank you again, Swandav2000. It was due to your Tripadvisor review (which I've read many times now) that I chose Morges for our pre-departure night. Before that, I think, Chateau d'Oex for the Swiss Open.
Now I just have to wait for ten months.