A luxury tour of the Swiss Riveria and a taste of the Belle Epoque era with Watch and Cow.
With breathtaking lake views and towns crammed with culture and rich history, the Swiss Riveria is delightfully cosmopolitan and undeniably glamorous. Watch and Cow, Swiss DMC are experts in uncovering why this stretch of shore is so very special. From Lausanne through Vevey and on to Montreux, the Swiss Riviera and diverse landscape of Romandy is utterly breathtaking. Meander through pretty villages, stroll the lakeside promenades, sip coffee in the jazz cafes and glide across glittering lakes in a belle époque steamboat. There is a reason the Swiss Riveria has been a haven for artists, actors and the rich and famous for so long. Let Watch & Cow take your guests on a tour through unforgettable natural beauty and discover unique cultural moments with their carefully curated experiences through this French-speaking region.
A day to discover Lausanne - a town on three hills.
Today you will enjoy a day in the city of Lausanne, a city rich in history, yet hip and cosmopolitan all at the same time! The town is built on three hills, surrounded by vineyard-covered slopes, with Lake Geneva at its feet. Rising impressively from the opposing French lakeshore are the Savoy Alps. The attractive old town is largely car-free. Small alleyways with cafes and boutiques shape the streetscape in the medieval city centre.
Lausanne has many treasures to offer - a historic old town called “La Cité”, an impressive Gothic cathedral, a dynamic metropolis with modern quarters such as Le Flon, and of course a holiday destination with Mediterranean flair. It’s also home to the Olympic committee headquarters and is often known as the ‘Olympic city’. Let Watch and Cow take your guests on a tour of the city including the Olympic Museum where they can experience the Olympics in close quarters and feel the Olympic spirit the way the athletes felt it and to study the history of the Games from antiquity to today.
Where to stay:
Our favourite hotels in Lausanne for your guests are the Royal Savoy Hotel and Spa with its modern take on elegant art nouveau and the majestic Beau-Rivage Palace , famous since 1861 for its incredible service, luxury interior and Michelin star restaurant.
Belle epoque boat ride to Chillon Castle
An experience not to missed when visiting Lake Geneva is a boat ride on a beautifully restored Belle Epoque paddle steamer. Watch and Cow can arrange a boat ride for your guests from Lausanne to the iconic Chillon Castle, located on a rocky island on the banks of Lake Geneva. The water castle is the most visited historic building in Switzerland for good reason - it’s a gothic castle wrapped around an oval rocky island, that has been lovingly restored and conserved. For nearly four centuries Chillon was the residence and profitable toll station of the Counts of Savoy. Take a guided tour around the castle, unearth the secrets of hidden passages, gothic vaulted underground passages and the prison of the famous Bonivard.
Now, hop on a train to Montreux! Watch and Cow love taking your guests by cogwheel train to Rochers de Naye - nothing else offers such unique panoramic views of the Swiss and French Alps. From the Eiger to Mont-Blanc and down to Lake Geneva – the cog railway takes guests up to an altitude of around 2,000m - quite the photo opportunity!
After taking in these incredible views, Watch and Cow suggests a final stop at Montreux, a charming little town on the lake that has become world famous for its jazz festival. The town's promenade is lined with flowers, sculptures, Mediterranean trees and grand Belle Époque buildings - the perfect place for a lazy stroll.
Where to stay:
The impressive Fairmont Le Montreaux is Watch and Cow’s go-to for travellers to Montreaux. Dating back to 1906, this hotel has delighted visitors for over a century with its Belle-Époque architecture boasting 236 rooms and suites and impeccable hospitality.
Nyon and Yvoire - great wines, picturesque villages and breathtaking sceneries.
Discover La Côte Région settled between Lausanne and Geneva, a diverse landscape and the largest vineyard region in the Canton de Vaud. Let Watch and Cow organise wine sampling where your guests will get to taste Swiss wines and discover how this perfect storm of lakeshore, hills, rivers and the wide variety of soils make the perfect terrain for growing many grape varieties. Taste the best of the best - white, red, delicate or more robust, but remember - as in the whole of the Lake Geneva Region, ‘Chasselas’ is king!
Guests can then move on to Nyon, a charming town, home to the Lakes best museums and galleries and renowned for its packed rosta of festivals running throughout the year. Sitting between Lake Geneva, the vineyard La Côte and the Jura mountain, Nyon has a truly picturesque outlook and a really cosy atmosphere. Watch and Cow can organise a guided tour of the city, revealing its secrets, exploring the cobbled streets, monuments, museums and the beautiful Nyon Castle.
Geneva, the French-speaking capital of Switzerland.
Cradled between the Jura mountains and the Alps and sitting directly on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the Alps, Geneva has a truly stunning position. Often only thought of as an International and diplomatic centre, we can assure you it is not short of charm and certainly worth a visit. Discover Geneva’s Old Town with Watch and Cow and uncover just how truly diverse this city really is.
In Geneva, your guests are most likely to experience a very different feel to cities and towns on say, the German-speaking region of Switzerland. The atmosphere in the streets feels palpably different here, maybe more open, and relaxed. It’s a truly cosmopolitan city - in fact, Geneva has just been elected 2nd luxury destination in Europe! There are not so many places in the world where you can meet 190 different nationalities and hear as many languages just walking in the streets or hopping on a tramway! In Geneva, you're almost surprised when you hear people speaking French!
History lovers will have so much to learn here. Geneva is culturally diverse, in fact, built by foreigners over the centuries, shaping each area of the city by their ideas and beliefs and a certain way of life. A tour of Geneva City will feel like you’ve travelled through several different countries! Several of Geneva’s neighbourhoods have a fiercely independent feel to them, so visit and explore with Watch and Cow and you won’t be disappointed.
Americans have a special connection with Geneva as the American presidents still take their oath on the Geneva Bible, translated here in 1556-1559 by John Knox and then brought to the new world on the Mayflower. Roger Williams, founder of the baptist church in the US has his statue on the Reformation Monument. Also, it's thanks to Woodrow Wilson that Geneva was chosen as the headquarters of the League of Nations in 1919.
Explore the narrow, old streets with their shaded terraces, each one home to numerous treasures from Geneva's history that the guide will reveal to you. Visit the famous chocolate makers and taste their specialities (Chocolate was born on the shores of lake Geneva: https://cailler.ch/en/discover-cailler ), then tour in the international district and discover the role that Geneva plays on the international scene.
Finish the day with a dip in the incredible lake! It is so crystal clear your guests will think they are somewhere in the Caribbean!
Where to stay:
The Fairmont Grand Hotel Geneva is a Watch and Cow favourite. It sits in the heart of the city and can cater for your guests every whim. With three exclusive gourmet restaurants, a cosy Lounge and a Bar with breathtaking views, upscale shops and boutiques, an elite spa and fitness centre, as well as a private indoor heated swimming pool, this is quite the hotel!