My sister Susanne and Andreas came to visit last week. A perfect opportunity for me to go to Montreux, halfway around the lake, with the major attraction being the Castle of Chillon. We were very lucky to have sunny weather, so we could see the site in all its picture-postcard perfection. We spent two hours in it, what with all its nooks and crannies and chambers above and below the ground. We were particularly drawn to the torture chamber, but the view from the towers was spectacular as well.
After lunch at the lake we drove through the vineyards of Lavaux, a Unesco World Heritage area known for its Chasselas, white wine. In the evening we concluded our trip visiting the Lausanne Cathedral where we were lucky enough to hear someone practicing on the huge organ, filling the whole church with glorious music. Nonetheless, the custodian apparently did not appreciate the music: she exclaimed the noise was insupportable (unbearable) and asked the organist to stop, which unfortunately he did.
Lac Lemans and Chillon Castle
Another day we went along the French side of the lake. High above the lake near Col de Saxel we still walked in the snow while spring flowers bloomed in Evian les Bains, a well-known resort and casino town which had its heyday in the 1920s. Yvoire, an almost completely preserved medieval town, enchanted us with gorgeous evening sun.
Yvoire
We also enjoyed time together and the Swiss-French food—one evening with cheese fondue halfway up the Jura and cafes in Carouge and Geneva.
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