When looking for a hotel in Chexbres, it helps to consider your plans: the Lavaux Grands Crus Route can start here, marked paths extend to the lake, and Chexbres can be reached by car or by train on the Train des Vignes. This makes it possible to include the wine landscape, hikes and regional culture as separate focuses in your travel plans.

Wine country on Lake Geneva

The present-day wine terraces of Lavaux can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. The terraces are in continuous use and are well maintained. Their scale also shapes the view of the landscape: they extend for about 30 kilometres along the south-facing northern shore of Lake Geneva.

In Chexbres, the vineyards cover 25 hectares and stretch down to the lake across an impressive landscape. The village’s winegrowers produce wines under the St-Saphorin appellation. Chasselas is considered the characteristic grape variety, producing dry white wines with pleasant minerality. These details give the wine landscape a specific local character, while the extensive terraces form the wider setting of Lavaux.

Wine and regional cuisine

Chexbres is a possible starting point for the Lavaux Grands Crus Route. At eight stops, visitors are introduced to at least 24 selected wines from Lavaux. Information panels along the route provide details about the region’s history; QR codes offer additional content and a selection of wines from the vineyard being visited. The route thus brings wine and regional history together, without implying that any one grape variety represents the entire area.

Many wine cellars elsewhere in Lavaux also offer tastings and direct sales. Lavaux Vinorama is dedicated to discovering the region’s wines and terraced vineyards. In Chexbres, hotels and restaurants serve perch fillets from the lake, other specialities and local wines on panoramic terraces. Those who would like to focus more on food can include other regional experiences alongside the wine routes when planning their days.

Paths, tours and culture

A network of marked paths extends from Chexbres down to the lake. Trails through the slopes of Lavaux offer panoramic views, and there are numerous benches and rest areas along the vineyard paths. The entire network of vineyard paths in Lavaux is closed to bicycles. Cyclists should use only official SwitzerlandMobility routes and cantonal roads.

Les Gonelles road is a piece of regional transport history: built in 1766 between Chexbres and Vevey, it was used to transport wine to Bern. The Forge run by Bertille Laguet in Chexbres offers a hands-on introduction to a local craft. The guided workshop visit lasts about an hour and includes a blacksmithing demonstration; the Forge is accessible by train. Check the latest dates before visiting.

The Rando-Patrimoine de Lavaux starts at 10 am on Saturdays at Chexbres railway station. It includes a two-hour guided hike followed by a tasting. During the walk, the certified guide explains the history of the steep vineyards, the winegrowers, and centuries-old knowledge and traditions. Check the latest schedule when planning your visit. Lavaux Panoramic is another way to explore Lavaux aboard a tourist train; the CGN fleet offers the opportunity to visit from the water.

Getting there and finding your way

Chexbres can be reached by car and by train on the Train des Vignes. Bus route 218 connects Vevey with Chexbres; stops served include Corseaux, Cerisiers and Vevey, Bergère. Check the timetable before travelling. This lets you plan your journey according to your chosen mode of transport without mistaking the bus connection for a fixed sightseeing itinerary.

The Point i tourist information point and a shop selling local products are located at Chexbres railway station. Chexbres-Village station was renovated and inaugurated in September 2023. The new facility provides reception and information services, as well as a regional wine-tourism concept for visitors to Lavaux. Together with the possibility of starting the wine route here and the marked paths down to the lake, these services make Chexbres a starting point from which you can weigh up different options for your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rivaz Vd, Cully Vd, Bussigny-sur-Oron, Pully, Lutry, Saint-Saphorin, Puidoux, Bourg-En-Lavaux.

For the main travel overview: Lavaux.