Yvonand on Lake Neuchâtel can be explored in different ways: beaches define the lakeshore, while marked trails lead through the village and surrounding area. Special historical sites include the prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements at Le Marais and the Roman villa of Mordagne. You can tailor your stay to the beach, outdoor activities or culture.

Beaches and water sports on Lake Neuchâtel

Yvonand’s beaches are known for their fine sand, gently sloping shores and pine forest. The shallow water and gentle current make them particularly suitable for children. Goncerut Beach also has fine sand and a gently sloping shore, in a natural setting surrounded by trees.

At the beaches, you can enjoy various activities on Lake Neuchâtel, including pedal boating, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, sailing, motorboating and kitesurfing. At Yvonand harbour, the Les Vikings water sports centre rents out a range of watercraft. Its instructors offer introductory sessions as well as theoretical and practical preparation for the sailing or motorboat licence.

Trails between the village, lakeshore and surrounding area

The Sentier du Tri is a 14-kilometre marked trail with 17 stops, which you can follow on foot or by bicycle. It consists of two loops: one runs through the surrounding area, the other through the village and along the lakeshore. Along the way, the trail explains how everyday waste can be given a second use.

The Chemin des Grèves du lac runs along the shores of Lake Neuchâtel and through the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve. Grande Cariçaie lies on the lake’s southern shore and is considered a habitat for nearly a quarter of Switzerland’s animal and plant life. This route lets you combine the landscape with a walk through the protected area.

Another trail option is a hike through the Menthue Valley: it is 7.1 kilometres long, takes about two hours and is rated as fairly easy. The route passes through a protected forest reserve and a largely untouched area where deer, salamanders and dragonflies can be found. There are picnic spots and a covered area for hikers along the trail.

The marked hike through the Vallon des Vaux begins at Yvonand railway station; the Tour Saint-Martin is its highlight. The 22-metre-high tower was built around 1240 and overlooks the valley. Together with a few remnants of the fortifications, it is the only surviving part of an important medieval town.

Pile-dwelling settlements and Roman history

Yvonand Bay is home to an archaeological site with five prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements on dry land. The three most important sites partially overlap at Le Marais: Yvonand II, IV and V. Le Marais is important for understanding Neolithic settlement in western Switzerland and is Switzerland’s westernmost Horgen site. At the same time, the site bears witness to the transition between the Horgen and Lüscherz cultures.

The finds also offer insight into this history: ceramic objects from the Horgen and Lüscherz cultures are particularly well represented at Le Marais. Two copper pins with rolled heads attest to the earliest copper metallurgy in western Switzerland.

The Roman villa of Mordagne lies beneath the present-day hamlet of Mordagne and covers almost ten hectares in the Mentue alluvial plain. At its greatest extent in the 3rd century, it comprised a prestigious pars urbana, the owner’s residence on the lakeshore, and an agricultural pars rustica. The latter extended for almost 500 metres along the meanders of the Mentue. Information panels at the site trace the excavations and explain the layout of the villa. Its history is also present in today’s Yvonand temple: stones from the ruins were used to build it in 1748.

Visits and practical information

At the Espace Gutenberg, traditional book-printing and lithography techniques are practised, as is paper-making in a vat. Visitors can watch demonstrations and operate some of the presses themselves. The collection includes printing presses and materials from the 18th to the 20th century; authentic 19th-century machines are still in working order. The Espace Gutenberg is open by appointment. Check the arrangements for visits in advance.

For getting around locally: Yvonand railway station has a P+Rail car park with 55 spaces, including one accessible space. Port d’Yvonand is two kilometres from the town centre and offers 500 berths, including five visitor berths, as well as a large car park nearby.

Discover more destinations: Onnens, Romainmôtier-Envy, Montagny-Près-Yverdon, Les Rasses, Le Chenit, Le Sentier, Grandevent, Giez Vd.

Back to the main travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.