On a crisp early Autumn morning a group of journalists and I were happy to leave the gloomy grey skies of London for Lausanne’s sparkling blue ones, as the last of the summer sun cast its rays over the Swiss city.
Nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is a globally recognised wine capital as well as a hub for history, culture, and gastronomy. This press trip came as a collaboration between the Lausanne Tourist Board and the Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa for a rare wine lovers’ experience, as Switzerland exports just 1% of its wine annually.
Strolling through the city in the afternoon sunlight, we explored the Romanesque Cathedral, stepped inside a few of the city’s best-loved chocolate shops and soaked in the relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere. Our afternoon culminated in a delicious wine-tasting form a local vineyard owner, tasting a number of the region’s famed chasselas wines and a 1992 vintage among others! We hurried back to the Royal Savoy and headed up to the best spot in the city for catching sunset over the lake: the hotel’s Sky Lounge.
Strolling through the city in the afternoon sunlight, we explored the Romanesque Cathedral, stepped inside a few of the city’s best-loved chocolate shops and soaked in the relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere. Our afternoon culminated in a delicious wine-tasting form a local vineyard owner, tasting a number of the region’s famed chasselas wines and a 1992 vintage among others! We hurried back to the Royal Savoy and headed up to the best spot in the city for catching sunset over the lake: the hotel’s Sky Lounge.
A fascinating morning was spent at Platform 10 - Lausanne’s brand new Arts district. Home to permanent collections of classic Swiss artists as well as modern touring exhibitions, we immersed ourselves in Spanish Artist Laia Abril’s feminist take On Mass Hysteria. The following morning we visited the Lausanne’s Olympic Museum, where we raced against Usain Bolt’s world-record sprints and marvelled at opening ceremonies and speeches celebrating cultural togetherness. We all left feeling very moved and uplifted!
A scenic 15-minute train journey brought us to the breathtaking Lavaux, where we earned our glass of wine by walking through the steep hills of the vineyards and along the ancient stone terraces. A UNESCO heritage site, the Lavaux is truly unique and the sight of the lake’s waters glistening beside the grape-filled vines being harvested in the sun was unforgettable. After a traditional fondu in the heart of the vineyards, we met with fifth generation wine maker Mélanie Weber who showed us the processes behind making her delicious wines, before inviting us to a tasting in her winery. We rounded off the afternoon by gliding across the lake in a Belle Epoque boat back to Lausanne.
With morning swims in the Royal Savoy’s outdoor pool, long walks through the fresh Swiss air and 48 hours of delectable food and wine, we all returned back to London feeling restored, refreshed and inspired by Lausanne’s culture and way of life.
