Villars, Switzerland in the summer.
Villars is a charming village in Switzerland which basks on a naturally sunny plateau in the Alpes Vaudoises at the Eastern end of Lake Geneva and overlooking the Rhone valley. Villars is perfectly placed for both mountain and valley-based activities and there are myriad sporting, cultural, historical and gastronomic events that take place around this pretty mountain resort in the summer.
Mountain based activities to enjoy in Villars in the summer months.
Villars is renowned for its 300 kilometres of walking and hiking trails with enviable scenery over mountain ranges, clear blue lakes, magnificent waterfalls and beautiful flora and fauna. Lunch stops can be planned around the many mountain restaurants which provide traditional local dishes.
With views of Mont Blanc on a clear day as well as some of the most arresting peaks in the Alps such as the Dents du Midi and the Grand Muveran, many of these walks and hikes are an unforgettable delight. Particularly popular walks take in Bretaye, Solalex, Les Diablerets and Glacier 3000 and vary in ability depending on your route.
The Villars Golf Club provides a challenging 18-hole golf course with a south-facing aspect and stunning views of Mont Blanc. What better way to enjoy a round of golf?
With 130 kilometres of biking trails Villars/Gryon has invested heavily to offer variety for all abilities. With off-road cycling for adrenaline junkies, road biking through mountain passes and kids’ trails to enjoy there is something for everyone. It’s easy to find gastronomic delights too on many of these routes that take you through mountain farms in Col de la Croix, Bovonne and Les Chaux where you can often buy the local cheese specialities such as L’Etivaz and Tomme.
Glacier 3000 at nearby Les Diablerets offers summer (and winter) sports combined with stupendous 360-degree views over famous mountain peaks such as the Matterhorn, Jungfrau, Eiger and Monch to name a few. Here you will find The Peak Walk suspension bridge which opened in 2014 and has a partially glass floor and links Glacier 3000 to Scex Rouge, providing access to even more mountain fun. Another triumph of Swiss engineering is Europe’s highest toboggan slope, the Alpine Coaster, achieving speeds of up to 40 km/hour. For those who cannot wait for the coming winter to strap on their skis, the glacier provides the opportunity to ski in the sunshine with unbeatable views.
Villars has an unrivalled sports offering in this part of Switzerland. The Centre des Sports is open year-round with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, badminton and squash courts and a multi-sports hall. The local ice hockey club play summer fixtures in the high season and the ice rink is open to the public every day.
After a long hiatus without an outdoor swimming pool, the newly built Bains de Villars in the town centre entices you to enjoy both inside swimming in the 25m pool or outside swimming with a waterslide.
Al-fresco swimmers can take advantage of lake swimming above Villars. Why not take a picnic to the shores of Lac des Chavonnes, a half hour stroll from Bretaye, and take a dip? The lake enjoys summer temperatures between 21-24 degrees and has a lakeside restaurant too. And afterwards, a trip to a patisserie for afternoon tea perhaps?
A must-see for wine lovers are the wine terraces in Lavaux, high above Lake Geneva, with over 800 hectares of vines and outstanding views over the lake and mountain ranges beyond. Travel here on the Trains des Vignes from Vevey up to Puidoux-Chexbres in just 12 minutes and sample the delights on offer from the best grapes that the Vaud region has to offer.
Villars enjoys close proximity to Lake Geneva and the Rhone valley so is ideal for valley and lake based activities too.
On Lake Geneva one can stroll along the Swiss Riviera on the north side of the lake, a 10 mile stretch from Lausanne to Montreux, lined with palm trees, statues, art galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants. On the southern side of the lake and a 1-hour drive from Villars is the spa resort of Evian les Bains. Famous for its mineral water, the resort’s well-preserved 19th and 20th century buildings house many luxury hotels as well as a water sport centre, beach and harbour.
The Chateaux de Chillon is one of the most visited buildings in Switzerland. It sits on a rock on the eastern side of Lake Geneva gazing up at the mountains and is only a 30 minute drive from Villars. From here you can take a ferry to other cultural and historical attractions around the lake with a regular timetable.
Water sports enthusiasts are spoiled for choice on Lake Geneva with sailing boats, motor boats, ferry cruises. windsurfing and pedalos. An easy way to visit one of the 4 beaches on the shores of Lake Geneva and to travel between the variety of towns along the lake.
Visit the Aqua Park Le Bouveret which is just over half an hour by car from Villars. With saunas, a Turkish bath and both inside and outside slides the Aqua park is ideal on both a sunny or a dull day with an outside beach and boats to hire. For the more adventurous there is the Aerial Adventures Outdoor Adventure Park with 3 zip wires to choose from.
In Summary
Villars truly is one of the original dual-season resorts with a 152-year history of tourism in the mountains. The town has invested heavily in infrastructure and offers its residents and visitors an enviable array of facilities and activities, set high on a sunny plateau overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery in the Alps.
One Comment
I love Villars 🙂