Perroy Vd combines wine country with a village center whose history can be read in its church, priory and Grand-Rue. Vineyards cover 45 percent of the municipal area; gentle slopes, centuries-old houses and panoramic views of Lake Geneva shape the landscape. Perroy is a municipality in the Nyon district of the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.
Wine and Food in Perroy
Winegrowing in Perroy is more than just part of the view: Château de Perroy is an agricultural and winegrowing estate in the village center, on the slopes of La Côte. Three imposing square towers and deliberately asymmetrical architecture characterize the château. Wine appellations and estates associated with Perroy include Abbaye de Mont and the Malessert and Château de Perroy estates.
The wine-related experiences also take different forms. The Cave Clair Obscur cellar is in the old village center; visitors are welcomed there for wine tastings by appointment. Domaine du Feuillerage offers a picnic in an authentic Capite de vigne, set up for the purpose in the vineyard. Thus, wine tasting is the focus at Cave Clair Obscur, while Domaine du Feuillerage offers a picnic in a vineyard hut.
Village Center and Architectural History
The historic village center is laid out as a street village along Grand-Rue and clustered around the church and priory. Perroy is listed in the Swiss Federal Inventory of Sites of National Importance Worthy of Protection as a site worthy of protection. Perroy’s church is first mentioned in writing in the confirmation of the priory’s property by Pope Innocent II on March 16, 1132. The Benedictine priory of Perroy is documented from 1172; its chapel became the parish church.
The Reformed church, formerly Notre-Dame, features stained-glass windows. Its choir and bell tower, as well as the entire building, are protected as historic monuments. The priory, including its sundial, is also a protected historic building. Other protected historic architectural features in Perroy include the Loge de la Gordanne and its gate. These landmarks represent different aspects of the area’s architectural history: the religious development around the church and priory, and the village’s protected historic buildings.
At Château de Malessert, the main building and two wings are arranged around a courtyard. The complex faces a French-style garden on the other side of Route de l'Etraz. The terrain terrace east of the Château de Perroy estate offers a different view of the landscape: a grassy area with orchards stretches to the wooded edge along the Eau Noire stream.
Routes Through Vineyards and Villages
The “Autour de Perroy” circular route goes from Perroy via La Pêcherie, Allaman, La Chivra, Féchy, Bougy and Le Chêne, then back to Perroy. The Saint-Prex–Gland stage of the Via Jacobi, as described in 2021, climbs through the vineyards to Perroy.
For cycling, the Route du vignoble de La CĂ´te has a specified distance: it is 35 kilometers long, with 747 meters of ascent. The route passes through vineyards with views of Lake Geneva, the Alps and Mont Blanc. From Nyon, it follows local route signs no. 1 to Perroy and then continues toward Lavigny. It is rated easy; seasonal road conditions are not covered by this rating. Check the route signs and road conditions before setting out.
There is also the “Balade familiale à vélo du côté de Rolle,” an easy family circular route through the winegrowing villages of Perroy and Allaman. The family cycling route continues via Féchy/Perroy to the Perroy plage section. The descriptions distinguish between the routes: the “Autour de Perroy” circular route focuses on the sequence of places and the return to Perroy, while the Route du vignoble gives its distance and ascent, and the family cycling route is described as a circular route through two winegrowing villages.
Discover More Destinations
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