42 Best Sights in Vaud, Switzerland

A Burgundian Gothic architectural treasure, this cathedral is Switzerland's largest church—and probably its finest. Begun in the 12th century by Italian, Flemish, and French architects, it was completed in 1275. Pope Gregory X came expressly to perform the historic consecration ceremony—of double importance, because it also served as a coronation service for Rudolf of Habsburg as the new Holy Roman emperor. Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, a renowned restorer who worked on the cathedrals of Chartres and Notre-Dame-de-Paris, brought portions of the building to Victorian Gothic perfection in the 19th century. His repairs are visible as paler stone contrasting with the weathered local sandstone.

Streamlined to the extreme, without radiating chapels or the excesses of later Gothic trim, the cathedral wasn't always so spare; in fact, there was brilliant painting. Zealous Reformers plastered over the florid colors, but in so doing they unwittingly preserved them, and now you can see portions of these splendid shades restored in the right transept. The dark and delicate choir contains the 14th-century tomb of the crusader Otto I of Grandson and exceptionally fine 13th-century choir stalls, unusual for their age alone, not to mention their beauty. The church's masterpiece, the 13th-century painted portal, is considered one of Europe's most magnificent. A tribute to 21st-century technology, the 7,000-pipe organ fills the sanctuary with swells of sacred music.

Holding fast to tradition, the cathedral has maintained a guet, or "lookout," since 1405. The guet sleeps in the belfry and is charged with crying out every hour on the hour between 10 pm and 2 am.

Visitors are not allowed during the Protestant services (the cathedral was reformed in the 16th century) on Sunday before 11 am and after 6 pm. You may want to come instead for the evening concerts held almost weekly in spring and autumn. Guided tours are given July through September.

One of Switzerland's must-sees is the Château de Chillon, the awe-inspiringly picturesque 12th-century castle that rears out of the water at Veytaux, down the road from and within sight of Montreux. Chillon was built on Roman foundations under the direction of Duke Peter of Savoy with the help of military architects from Plantagenet England. For a long period it served as a state prison, and one of its shackled guests was François Bonivard, who supported the Reformation and enraged the Savoyards. He spent six years in this prison, chained most of the time to a pillar in the dungeon before being released by the Bernese in 1536.

While living near Montreux, Lord Byron visited Chillon and was so transported by its atmosphere and by Bonivard's grim sojourn that he was inspired to write his famous poem "The Prisoner of Chillon." Like a true tourist, Byron carved his name on a pillar in Bonivard's still-damp and chilly dungeon; his sgraffito is now protected under a plaque.

In high season, you must file placidly from restored chamber to restored turret, often waiting at doorways for entire busloads of fellow visitors to pass. Yet the 19th-century Romantic-era restoration is so evocative and so convincing, with its tapestries, carved fireplaces, period ceramics and pewter, and elaborate wooden ceilings, that even the jaded castle hound may become as carried away as Byron was. While you're waiting your turn, gaze out the narrow windows over the sparkling, lapping water and remember Mark Twain, who thought Bonivard didn't have it half bad. Proceeds from the purchase of a bottle of Clos de Chillon, the white wine from estate vineyards, goes to restoration activities.

A 15-minute bus ride from Old Town takes you to this beautifully set 19th-century country home. The estate is now an impressive art gallery with a fine permanent collection of Vaudois artists and headline-grabbing, yet seriously presented, blockbuster shows. Exhibits have included the works of Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, and the American impressionists. Details of the elegant villa have been preserved, including intricate moldings, carved fireplaces, and multipatterned parquet floors. Allow time for a walk on the grounds and coffee at L'esquisse, the café surrounded by the outlying orangery. To get here, take Bus No. 16 from Place St-François to Hermitage.

Securing its reputation as the region's cultural capital, Lausanne now has its own arts district on the Plateforme 10 site next to the train station. The Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), Photo d'Elysée (Photography Museum), and mudac (Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts) have fused here to bridge the divide between the city's excellent collections of fine art, photography, design, and textiles. More than just a gathering of museums, the site is fast becoming a destination in itself, with concerts, shows, exhibitions, and other cultural events setting Lausanne's strong arts community abuzz.

The Nestlé Foundation, a dynamic force in the region, sponsors this unconventional museum devoted to the celebration and study of food. In a stainless-steel kitchen, chefs demonstrate their skills, and displays on food preparation cover everything from the campfire to futuristic equipment. Other sections focus on merchants, supermarkets, food presentation, and marketing. You can also stroll through herb and vegetable gardens. The exhibits have material in English, and some are interactive.

Featuring a range of different Lavaux and Chablais wines, this winery also makes blends combining less prevalent varieties. Try an unusual white, Charmont de Lavaux, which is a Chasselas-Chardonnay cross.

Although this group of winemakers presents fewer than 20 selections, there are pleasant surprises. Try the Pinot Noir Le Corsalin, which is powerfully structured yet silky. Note, too, that it's worth stopping here just for the lake-and-mountain views.

This 13th-generation winemaker has stunning cellars that hold wines from across Lavaux and bear witness to its different soil types. The Passerillé de Lavaux, a Chasselas dessert wine, is part of a trend to develop Chasselas's potential, also as a wine to age.

Many Vaudois say the terrace here boasts the best view in all Lavaux. Stop here, in the dining room or bistro, for Lavaux wines paired with light French cuisine or traditional Swiss dishes, or just come by for a drink between mealtimes.

From Vevey and Montreux, a number of railways climb into the heights, which in late spring are carpeted with an extravagance of wild narcissus blooms. If you like model railroads, you will especially enjoy a trip on the Blonay–Chamby Railroad, whose real steam-driven trains alternate with electric trains. You can depart from either end (parking is more plentiful in Blonay); trains make a stop at a small museum of railroad history in between. The trip takes about 20 minutes each way, not including a browse in the museum.

Dominating Nyon's hilltop over the waterfront is the Château de Nyon, a magnificent, 12th-century, multispire fortress with a terrace that takes in sweeping views of the lake and Mont Blanc. Its spacious rooms hold the collection of the Musée Historique, which traces the history of the castle inhabitants from the dukes of Savoy (1293–1536) through occupation by the Bernese (1536–1798) to reclamation by the canton after the Vaud revolution. The upper floors held prisoners until 1979, and the city council and courts met in chambers here until 1999. Exhibits throughout highlight the city's position as a renowned porcelain center. Modern-day conversions include a marriage salon and a caveau des vignerons (wine cellar) featuring wines of local growers.

The fortresslike elements of this 15th-century stone cylinder certainly came into play. The castle was built for the bishops of Lausanne; during the 16th century the citizens wearied of ecclesiastical power and allied themselves with Bern and Fribourg against the bishops protected within. Before long, however, Bern itself marched on Lausanne, put a bailiff in this bishops' castle, and stripped the city fathers of their power. Today the Château St-Maire is the seat of the cantonal government.

Always adorned with white flowers, as was her signature style, the grave of Coco Chanel lies within a large wooded cemetery park on the western edge of the city. Urban legend has it that Mademoiselle Chanel's beloved companion, her dog, is buried not far away in the pet cemetery on the grounds of the stately Beau-Rivage Palace. The cemetery is accessible by the No. 25 bus toward Bourdonnette or the Nos. 1 and 6 toward Maladière.

This singular museum focuses on the genre of fringe or "psychopathological" art, dubbed l'art brut (raw art) in the 1940s by French artist Jean Dubuffet. His own collection forms the base of this ensemble of raw material from untrained minds—prisoners, schizophrenics, or the merely obsessed. Strangely enough, the collection is housed in the Château de Beaulieu, a former mansion of Madame de Staël, she of the sophisticated salons. The exhibits range from intricate yarn and textile pieces to a wall full of whimsical seashell masks. One of the most affecting works is a panel of rough carvings made by an asylum patient in solitary confinement; it was shaped with a broken spoon and a chamber-pot handle. You can get here by walking up Avenue Vinet or by taking Bus No. 2 from Place St-François in the direction of Désert.

In fine weather the waterfront buzzes day and night—strollers, diners, concertgoers, in-line skaters, artisans selling their wares—while the white steamers that land here add to the traffic.

Part of the luxurious spa hotel Le Mirador, these four former ski gondolas from Gstaad are set on a terrace and offer breathtaking views, excellent fondue, and a long list of local wines.

Constructed between the 15th and 17th century, this is the seat of municipal and communal councils. A painted, medieval Fontaine de la Justice (Justice Fountain) draws strollers to lounge on its heavy rim. Across the street you can watch the modern animated clock, donated to the city by local merchants; moving figures appear every hour on the hour. A street market is held in and around the square every Wednesday and Saturday morning.

Aigle, in the Chablais region, is home to wine museums and label museums, and the Badoux winery, which is renowned for Chasselas. You can taste more than 100 wines at La  Badouxtheque, their lounge bar in Yvorne. Try the Aigle Les Murailles Chasselas, whose lizard label is a Swiss icon. It has intriguing mineral and cream notes. 

This is the tasting venue of a winegrowers' association producing Vevey-Montreux and Chardonne bottlings. Try the Montreux Entre-Bourgs Chasselas, which has a floral bouquet and a rich mouthfeel.

Most Lavaux wineries have meager opening hours or are open by appointment, so this center featuring a savvy selection of some 200 Lavaux wines is a boon. Try the black-cherry-and-spice red made from an ancient local variety, Plant Robert.

The Testuz winery's wine bar has options from all of Vaud's wine regions. Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Chasselas predominate. Try a full-bodied Pinot Noir and Gamay St-Saphorin AOC blend.

The Montreux–Oberland–Bernois railroad leads to the resort village of Les Avants and then on to Château-d'Oex, Gstaad, and the Simmental. Noël Coward bought his dream home in Les Avants, and Ernest Hemingway wrote to his family and friends of the village's fields of daffodils—and, more in character, of its bobsled track.

Montreux's cultural center, the Maison Visinand is housed in a restored mansion in the Old Town. Its calendar of events mixes exhibitions and performances with classes and studios for painting, photography, and dance.

In the heart of town, a 16th-century courtyard-centered mansion, once home to renowned engraver Alexis Forel, displays the holdings of the Musée Alexis Forel. Although most of Forel's exceptional works are in the Musée Jenisch, in Vevey, here you can experience his home surroundings. Thick-beamed salons filled with high-back chairs, stern portraits, and delicate china remain as they were in the 1920s, when musicians and writers such as Igor Stravinsky, Ignacy Paderewski, and Romain Rolland gathered for lively discussions and private concerts. An attic room has a selection of 18th-century puppets and porcelain dolls.

Above the train station, a cluster of 17th-century homes once belonging to the town's successful winemakers is now the Musée de Montreux. This historical museum traces regional development from the time when Roman coins were used as tender, focusing on agricultural life and the shift to tourism. Profiles of famous residents and visitors who lived and worked in the area are highlighted. The museum's cellar restaurant, open from 6 pm, is a good place to sample typical local cuisine.

The town's castle, built by the Duke of Savoy around 1286 as a defense against the bishop-princes of Lausanne, now houses the Musée du Château. The eclectic collection includes weapons, military uniforms, and 10,000 miniature lead soldiers. In the Salle Général Henri Guisan, you'll find memorabilia of this World War II general, much honored for keeping both sides happy enough to leave Switzerland safely alone.

Nestled in a charming floral park that parallels the water, the Musée du Léman has interactive exhibits about the fragile ecosystems of the lake, recreational boating activities, and coast-guard rescue techniques. There's a sizable aquarium, housed in a shuttered 18th-century hospital.

The Ancien-Évêché (Old Bishopric) holds a wealth of both temporary and permanent historical exhibits about the city. Don't miss the 250-square-foot scale model of 17th-century Lausanne, with its commentary illuminating the neighborhoods' histories. Also look for the re-created 19th-century shop windows.

This grand 16th-century manor house, briefly home to Charlotte de Lengefeld, wife of Friedrich von Schiller, retains some original furnishings, as well as collections of arms, art, keys, and winemaking paraphernalia.

The 18th-century Château de Prangins is home to the Suisse Romande branch of the Musée National Suisse. The castle once had land holdings that stretched all the way to Rolle. Its four floors detail (in four languages, including English) Swiss life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Surrounded by parks and gardens (take note of the extensive culinary plantings set according to ancient documents), the museum is also a major venue for cultural events and regional celebrations. A café with terrace is open for lunch and refreshments.