History, hiking & heritage vineyards - discover Suisse-Romande with Watch & Cow.
Suisse Romande
Visit the vineyards of Lavaux and Switzerland's largest wine-growing regions strung along the shores of beautiful Lake Geneva, hike through wild pastures, discover the rich history of luxury watch-making, explore fine arts, music, dance, and visit world-class museums! Oh, and did we mention how incredible the food in this area is? The gastronomy in this region is definitely an area where you can certainly feel the influence of France! Foodie guests will be in heaven - Geneva has the highest density of Michelin-starred restaurants in Switzerland.
Oh, and the cheese! The most famous cheese dishes are from Romandy - Fondue from Fribourg, and Raclette from Valais.
Watchmaking
We'll start by taking your guests to the watchmaking capital of the world. Luxury watchmaking is only to be found in Suisse Romande. That's where it was developed in the 16th century, in the watch-making farms of Geneva and Vallée de Joux, Jura and Neuchâtel. Today, almost all the most famous brands still manufacture here.
The watchmaking capital of the world - Neuchatel.
Sitting on the shore of Lake Neuchatel and surrounded by vineyards, this cosmopolitan city is the capital of the French-speaking canton. With a medieval heart and the glorious Château de Neuchâtel sitting proudly on the hillside, there is much to see and do in this vibrant city. The picturesque old town is filled with yellow sandstone buildings and cafe-filled squares and the climb up to the Gothic church rewards travellers with incredible views out across the town and lake. Watch and Cow can organise a private walking tour around the city, guided by a local expert, taking your clients to the hidden corners.
Time to spare? Hop on a lake cruise and get a completely different view of the lake, city and the Alps, or take a stroll along the lake promenade at Place Pury and take in the beautiful park and sculptures before visiting the lakefront Musée d’Art et d’Histoire with its wonderful collection of Monet and Renoir.
Where to stay:
Our choice is Hotel Palafitte , a hotel built on stilts! A one-of-a-kind, this architectural feat consists of a collection of stunning, modern ‘pavilions’ all sat on stilts on the shores of Lake Neuchatel. Each pavilion is furnished to the highest standard, each suite with a private terrace facing out across the stunning lake, with ladders down into the clear water beneath.
Vallée de Joux - Discover watchmaking traditions, hike through pine forests and lunch up in the wild mountain pastures.
Let Watch and Cow take your guests to the birthplace of technical watchmaking. The Vallée de Joux is a rugged and unspoilt stretch of countryside nestling between the Jura Mountain Ranges. It is also rich in history and recognised as the worldwide hub of Haute Horlogerie (High Watchmaking) - which dates back to the early 17th century when extreme cold in winter months drove farmers to find alternative ways of making money to survive. The local iron mines taught the farming community metal-working skills, then confined to their workshops during the long winter months, they also learned the watchmaking trade, giving rise to the greatest high watchmaking creations.
A trip to the Espace Horloger museum in Le Sentier organised by Watch and Cow will allow your guests, whatever their age, the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of fine timekeepers and learn about the history of the mastery of time in this interactive guided tour.
Once finished at the museum, your guests can sample the incredible menu at the La Gogant brasserie, in the dazzling setting of the Hotel des Horlogers opened by Audemars Piguet in 2022. Enjoying incredible views across the Risoud Forest, the eco-friendly Hotel des Horlogers is our top recommendation for an overnight stay in Valle de Joux. It is a stunning example of innovative, modern architecture that respects and nestles comfortably into its natural surroundings. Clients who are looking for a spot to rest, relax and connect with nature will love the tranquility of this hotel.
Explore the terraced vineyards of Lavaux
Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2007, the wine-growing region of Lavaux stretches from the gentle slopes of the Jura right to the Alps. It’s a place of breathtaking beauty, not just for its crystal clear lakes for Summertime dips, but also for its vineyards and miles of walls and terraces built by Cistercian monks back in the 12th century, now carefully maintained by today's winegrowers. The Lavaux region produces incredible wine and is well known for its white grape variety - ‘Chasselas’.
Let Watch & Cow delight your wine-loving guests with a private tour of a winery in the La Corniche terraces overlooking Lake Léman. The pretty villages of Riex, Epesses and Chexbres are home to many Lavaux vineyards and a private visit and tasting with one of the local winegrowers is the perfect opportunity to discover more about the production of these incredible wines.
For lunch, we would love nothing more than to open up the doors of the Auberge de l'Onde to your guests. Foodies and wine connoisseurs will revel in delight over the food and wine offerings here - choose between the downstairs cafe and brasserie or the salons and Rotisseries on the upper vaults of the building, this is quite the food experience. Exquisite regional cuisine, enhanced by the best wines from the region… this is modern cuisine in the most beautiful historic setting.
Watch and Cow will then escort your guests to enjoy an afternoon learning about the extraordinary life of Charlie Chaplin at ‘Chaplin's World’, located on Vevey's heights, in the manoir where the actor spent his last 25 years.
Stay at Le Mirador Resort and Spa , an elegant hotel with panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Alps, located above Vevey, on Le Mont-Pèlerin. With its blend of 64 classic and modern rooms and suites with private balconies, the Givenchy Spa, Le Mirador Hotel Health Club, and a state-of-the-art Health Centre, this boutique resort is a hit with couples and families alike.
Creux-du-Van, absinthe and chocolate!
Before Watch and Cow transports your guests down to Lausanne, a fabulous pit-stop is Val-de-Travers and the famous "Creux du Van", a natural and breathtaking rock arena of immense proportions. Hikers - get ready for a spectacular loop up to the top of the Creux du Van cliffs.
Perhaps gastronomy is more your guest’s focus? The region is the perfect place to taste raclette or fondue, the most famous Swiss cheese dishes, or perhaps something sweeter will suit their palette. If this is the case, we can arrange for guests to go behind the scenes of a famous chocolatier to learn secrets and taste the best chocolate! Perhaps sampling the Swiss speciality, Absinthe might take their fancy? Watch and Cow can organise a trip to Maison de l’Absinthe, where guests can discover the history of the green drink, how it can be used in cooking and of course, guests get to sample the extensive range of absinthe produced in the region!
We hope you found this information interesting and inspiring. If you are interested to learn more about Switzerland and the kinds of experiences and itineraries Watch and Cow can offer you and your valuable clients, please get in touch. let us know and we’d be happy to make an introduction.
You can access to Watch and Cow 's "sales Toolkit" HERE with example itineraries, images and other helpful resources. You can of course also connect with Watch and Cow on SquirrelFish as another, easy way to access to their resources.