SPRING 2018 Editorial

The Canton of is starting 2018 in celebratory mood with two anniversa- ries. The Château de Prangins, Swiss National Museum, is turning twenty and the Blonay-Chamby Railway & Museum, whose steam engines are a delight for rail enthusiasts, is cele- brating its fiftieth anniversary. To mark the occasion, these two institutions 1 are organising events and exhibitions throughout the year. Continuing this theme, preparations for the Winegrow- ers Festival, to be held in 2019, are THE BLONAY-CHAMBY RAILWAY well under way. In the meantime, wine THE CANTON OF VAUD, enthusiasts will be sure not to miss the & MUSEUM IS GOING ALL OUT TO now traditional “open cellars” in May. A WHOLE WORLD OF FLAVOURS CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY From Lavaux to Côtes de l’Orbe, wine- growers will be offering tastings of One of a kind in , this museum has With its vineyards, premium restaurants and a wide variety of local their products; a chance to enjoy their a collection of around seventy trains. flavours while exploring the region. produce, this is the just the place to delight your taste buds.

with fifty or so stands in the The Blonay-Chamby Andreas Banholzer heart of Lausanne. Restau- Railway & Museum CEO, Vaud Tourism Office (Lake rateurs, caterers, food is a real trip back in Geneva Region) trucks, artisans and produc- time to the days when ers will invite visitors, big trains were pulled and small, to try their prod- by steam engines ucts during events, tastings and when they were and cookery workshops. gently powered by And that’s not forgetting the first electric rail- wines, with several fairs cars. These historical Representation offering a chance to sample trains now run along local specialities or more a 3 km track that has in the markets exotic offerings. From 11th all the features of to 16th April, Morges, about an alpine line, with Vaud Tourism Office ( fifteen minutes from Laus- a steep gradient, Region) and its partners participate anne, will host the second a viaduct, a ledge section and a tunnel. Built in several stages in dozens of promotional activities Divinum fair, showcasing between 1902 and 1911, the original line was operated until the throughout the year. Here is a list of exceptional vineyards and end of the 1960s, after which a group of enthusiasts had the idea these events : offering a whole variety of to preserve it for a tourist train to run on. To mark this half-century, wines to taste. From 25th during the Ascension and Whitsun weekends, five steam engines to 30th April, once again on from the collection will be brought out. Then, in June, an “all out 12 to 21 March 2018 | STE SEA the shores of Lake Geneva, theatre” evening will add a cultural note to these celebrations. | Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, will host the 23rd Finally, on three weekends in September, the Bernina railway, in Singapore The Canton of Vaud is a little paradise for Arvinis exhibition with 18 new exhibitors. the canton of Grisons, will play a starring role with one of its loco- Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office food-lovers. This year, 100 of the 800 restau- This will be an opportunity to discover the motives, which will come to the Riviera for the occasion after ten rants featured in the Gault&Millau guide are wide variety of wines from the region and the years of restoration. located here, fifteen of them being new. whole of Switzerland, and also a chance to blonay-chamby.ch | Best of Media The guide also nominated Franck Giovan- appreciate the flavours of wines from Molda- 4 to 13 April 2018 | Montréal, Calgary, Denver, Boulder nini, of the famed Hôtel de Ville restaurant via, the guest of honour this year. in Crissier, as 2018 “chef of the year”. He is The “open cellars” held on 19th and 20th Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office, Fondation Genève Tourisme & Congrès, the fourth chef of this well-known establish- May will be a chance to meet the produc- Valais Promotions (LGMR) ment to receive such a distinction, while “La ers and get to know more about local wines. table de Mary” in Yverdon-les-Bains has been Buy a passport for 20 CHF and this will give awarded its first Michelin star. you access to some 300 cellars in the six 11 April 2018 | Promo Event The people of the region are also keen to wine-making regions of the canton, from VULLIERENS CASTLE, TO/Media | Moscow showcase this taste heritage through popular Bonvillars to Chablais, from La Côte to Vully GARDENS AND ART Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office, events. Between April and December, the via Lavaux and Côtes de l’Orbe. Transport Lausanne Tourism, Montreux- Tourism, seventh season of “Lausanne à Table” offers will be provided by free shuttles. Titivate Overlooking the town of Morges, known for its tulip Villars-Les Diablerets Tourism a programme of original events featuring your taste buds and get your legs working at festival, this 18th century castle delights visitors with local produce and the latest culinary trends, the same with special wine tourism walks with street food and haute cuisine. Including walks lots of scenery and tastings to enjoy. Use the its three hectares of flower-filled gardens. 22 to 25 April 2018 | ATM Arabian and workshops, surprising menus or unusual Vaud:Guide app (free on the app store and Travel Market | Dubai venues and flavours from all over, there’ll be Google Play store) to follow the easy routes Every year, from May Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office, something for all palates and ages. As part with questions along the way and the best to July, some 50,000 Montreux-Vevey Tourism, Lausanne Tourism, of this, from 19th to 21st May, during Whitsun places to take photos ! flowers create a colourful Royal Plaza, Royal Savoy weekend, the second Miam Festival will bring artofliving.lake-geneva-region.ch mosaic in the flowerbeds together the cream of purveyors of taste, which are divided into six themed areas. There’s 23 to 27 April 2018 | STE Brésil | also one of the most Sao Paulo up-to-date collections of Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office irises in Europe, includ- ing nearly 400 differ- ent varieties, mingling News in brief with tulips, peonies and rhododendrons as well as works of art in the The Canton of Vaud, 2017 Re-opening of Bex Salt 20th anniversary of beautiful gardens. This best destination for auto Mines Château de Prangins year, the artist and designer Pol Quadens will install 16 stainless touring in the Middle East The Bex Salt Mines, a vast The Swiss National Museum steel “stones” on the site, while the giant cats created by the British Nominated by the Condé network of tunnels, shafts, of Château de Prangins is artist Laura Ford will take over the south terrace. Visitors can enjoy Nast Traveller magazine stairs and rooms extending celebrating its 20th year with these displays and a spectacular view of the lake via a space that last December, the region over more than 50 km, is an exhibition on the printed is now open to the public. Two flower shows will take place during stands out for its diverse re-opening on 24 March with cotton fabrics that were so the year: from 28th April to 17th June 2018, every day from 10 a.m. scenery and rich tourist a new-look tour following popular in the 17th and 18th to 6 p.m., then from 19th June to 28th July 2018, Monday to Satur- offering, perfect for extensive works. centuries, culminating in a day from 2 to 5 p.m. There’s also a café offering refreshments and a discovering by car. → seldesalpes.ch spectacular light show on 29th chance to take in the gardens. Its brunches on Sundays and public → media.lake-geneva-region.ch and 30th September 2018. holidays are known far and wide. → nationalmuseum.ch jardindesiris.ch THREE NEW WAYS TO STAY IN THE EXPLORE THE CANTON OF VAUD BY BIKE MONTREUX-RIVIERA REGION Its location between lakes and mountains makes it the ideal Vaud Tourism Office With a guest house in Montreux and two apartment hotels place to explore on two wheels. opening their doors in Vevey this spring, travellers have a Avenue d’Ouchy 60 Case postale 1125 choice of settings to suit all budgets. 1001 Lausanne - Suisse Opened in October 2017, the 1820 transport. With no car park but free Guest House Montreux – 300 metres bicycles for its guests to use, the 35 Tel. +41(0)21 613 26 26 from the lake and 4 minutes by bus luxury suites will all have a kitchen from Chillon Castle – is ideally situ- and high speed Wi-Fi. [email protected] ated. All the rooms, single and montreuxriviera.com www.lake-geneva-region.ch double, have an ensuite bathroom, as do the studios. Its twitter.com/Lakegenevaswiss cosy atmosphere and attractive prices make it facebook.com/lakegenevaregion the perfect place to stay instagram.com/myvaud for families or groups of friends. Close by, in This document was printed on Vevey, the apartment 100% recycled and FSC certified hotel Visionapartments Headquarters of the International can also visit Pays d’Enhaut, where paper by an Imprim’Vert will be offering 35 luxury Cycling Union (UCI), the region also the SwitzerlandMobility mountain printshop. suites from this spring. regularly hosts the Tour de Roman- biking route “Pays-d’Enhaut Bike” Aimed at a business die and the Tour de Suisse. So it’s will take them on a discovery of and tourist clientele, not a cyclists’ paradise by accident. the Jardin des Monts. The 30-kilo- guests can stay from one Anyone fancying a challenge is spoilt metre route links the three pictur- night to a year. Finally, for choice with the three famous esque villages of this region: Rossin- www.lausanne2020.com in Vevey, the eco apart- mountain passes - Les Mosses, Le ière, Château-d’Œx and Rougemont. ment hotel Base Vevey Pillon and La Croix – the latter linking Cyclists who prefer to save their will open to the public Les Diablerets, Château d’Œx, Villars energy so they can concentrate on in March, banking on its and Gryon. Mountain biking fans the scenery will opt for one of the Events proximity to the railway will head to the Vallée de Joux for e-bike trails where they can explore calendar station (200 metres the Grand Risoud route, a 32 km the different aspects of Leysin, Les away) to encourage visi- loop including a section through the Mosses or La Lécherette. 19 to 25 March 2018 Worldwide Festival tors to favour public biggest spruce forest in Europe. They bike.lake-geneva-region.ch Leysin worldwidefestival-leysin.com

24 to 25 March 2018 Freeride Days Event Special “Winegrowers’ Festival” Les Diablerets (Glacier3000) freeridedays.ch JAZZ, POP AND WORLD MUSIC COME THE WINEGROWERS FESTIVAL 30 March to 2 April 2018 TOGETHER AT CULLY JAZZ UNVEILS ITS VENUE Polymanga Montreux The 36th Cully Jazz Festival will take place from 13th to 21st The heart of this event honouring the people who work on polymanga.com April 2018, in the heart of the Lavaux vineyard terraces. the vine and its products, it promises to be an impressive 31 March to 6 May 2018 Tulip Festival An eclectic programme awaits and magical space. Morges music fans in the village of Cully, th In addition to the central stage, which Festival will be held between 18 July fetedelatulipe.ch featuring the trio of the pianist is the size of an Olympic pool (about and 11th August 2019 in Vevey. Marie Krüttli, the Blind Boys of 1,400 m2), there will be four raised fetedesvignerons.ch 13 to 21 April 2018 Alabama as well as Lisa Simone, stages of about 300 m2 Vision du réel – International daughter of the great Nina each, with the stairs linking Documentary Film Festival Nyon Simone. World music acts will them doubling their surface visionsdureel.ch include Amadou & Mariam, the area. This arena takes inspi- musical duo from Mali, and Fatou- ration from both its ancient 28 to 29 April 2018 mata Diawara, with special guest cousins and the vineyard 20 kilomètres de Lausanne M, or Božo Vrećo, revisiting tradi- terraces and will have the 20km.ch tional folk music from Bosnia. elegance of a theatre. The Alongside ticketed concerts, brains behind the Festival 29 April 2018 young talents and local musicians wanted it to be “friendly Slowup Lake Morat Avenches will be performing for free on and welcoming, capable avenches.ch side stages often situated in wine of catching the sun during cellars. The Lavaux winegrowers the day and touching the and their wines are obviously an 6 to 9 June 2018 stars at night”. A space Caribana Festival integral part of this fun event. where magic will rub shoul- Nyon cullyjazz.ch ders with stage machinery, caribana-festival.ch honouring the land and the winegrowers who work on 14 to 24 June 2018 Lavaux Classic it. The next Winegrowers Cully – Vevey – Lavaux lavauxclassic.ch

22 to 24 June 2018 Picture credits: LT Sébastien Staub • Urs Achermann • Regis Colombo • MontreuxRiviera.com • Ala • Guillaume Mégevand • Maison d’Ailleurs Béjart Ballet Lausanne • OTV V. Dubach • Fête des Vignerons 2019 • 2018 Cully Jazz Festival bejart.ch

Package deals Top tip EVENTS AND TUNES TO CLOSE THE THE MAISON D’AILLEURS, UNPICKING SEASON IN VILLARS-GRYON CONTEMPORARY MYTHS

From 30th March to 15th April, the Ski & Snow Fiesta will be This science-fiction museum in Yverdon-les-Bains will be exploring setting the tone in the two resorts of the Vaud Alps. the most famous myths of all until 14th October 2018: “Star Wars”.

This event marking the end of the skiing season includes activities for Both exhibition space and documentation centre, the Maison everyone, with a series of skiing competitions (30th & 31st March, 2nd, d’Ailleurs takes an interest in subjects at the crossover of popular 6th, 7th and 15th April) as well as a Freestyle Contest (31 March), when culture, contemporary art and science. Twice a year, it organises a enthusiasts of this style will complete the final backflips and tricks of unique exhibition featuring contemporary artists. Until 14 October the season. And all this set against a series of concerts held at the 2018, “I am your father” unpicks the most famous of modern Place du Marché in Villars. Even electronic enthusiasts haven’t been epics : George Lucas’s “Star Wars” saga. Thirteen international left out, with the After Season Festival unleashing its tunes on the artists are re-engaging with this subject, providing different Villars-sur-Ollon slopes from 30th March to 1st April. views of the way fiction has replaced the myths and religions of villars-diablerets.ch yesteryear in our western societies. ailleurs.ch/expositions