Cheyres brings together a lakeshore setting, winegrowing and a village shaped by history. The municipality lies on a terrace above the southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel, at the foot of the molasse hills in the northwestern Fribourg Plateau. Beaches, routes to the Grande Cariçaie and direct access to the lake offer different ways to spend your stay. When planning your trip, you can combine time by the water with an insight into winegrowing or an exploration of local history.
Lakeshore and beach
The lakeshore section on the southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel that belongs to the municipality of Cheyres is around three kilometres long. Here, a flat strip of shore is up to 500 metres wide; reed beds and swamp forest are among the zones of the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve.
Plage de Cheyres offers fine sand, lawns and shaded areas. Facilities include toilets, showers, a bar and a restaurant, as well as a picnic area, barbecue, beach volleyball court and children’s playground.
Vineyard and guided tour
The Cheyres vineyard covers 14 hectares on the southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. It is the only vineyard located entirely in the Canton of Fribourg, and also the only one on the lake’s southern shore. These two distinctions refer to different geographical areas: one to the canton, the other to the lake’s southern shore.
The Sentier viticole de Cheyres offers insights into the work involved in maintaining a vineyard throughout the year, local history and grape varieties. A guided tour includes a tasting of Cheyres wines and lasts three hours. It is available to groups of eight or more by prior arrangement.
Village character and history
The historic village character includes continuous rows of farmhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries, the former bailiff’s castle and a small patrician estate at the entrance to the village. The rows of houses draw attention to the village as an ensemble, while the castle and patrician estate add further historical points of interest.
Hiking, art and a summer event
The circular “Entre art et nature (2)” hiking route starts in Cheyres and follows the shore of Lake Neuchâtel past reed beds and observation points. A temporary diversion applies to the route; check the current route before setting off. The two routes offer different focuses: the Sentier viticole explores winegrowing and tasting, while the circular hike takes in reed beds and observation points.
The open-air photo exhibition “Il était une fois Cheyres-Châbles” traces the history of Cheyres and Châbles through photographs from the early 20th century. Subjects include streets, building views and landscapes. The exhibition complements the architectural history with images from this period and broadens the perspective on Cheyres and Châbles. Exhibition dates may vary from one edition to another; check them if the exhibition is a fixed part of your itinerary.
The artwork “Les animaux de la Grande Cariçaie” by Ipi Création is located at the Cheyres pumping station. Festi’Cheyres takes place every summer on Cheyres beach; exact dates vary by edition. If you want to include the festival in your trip, check the dates for the relevant edition.
Discover more destinations: Franex.
Return to the regional travel overview: Fribourg.
