Lake Geneva
Created | Updated May 27, 2003
A quick tourist guide:
Evian, as well as being a brand of spring water, is a town on the coast of 'Lake Geneva, or 'Lac leman', depending on which side of the channel your from. The town itself is nice enough, there are lots of good restaurants, a market once a week and a casino should you have more money than sense. It also serves as a good base for a sightseeing holiday of the area. Geneva itself is just down the coast, and is well worth the trip (even if it's just to fill up with ludicrously cheap Swiss petrol). There are loads of clock shops and museums as well as a good shopping area to mooch round. And you've got to buy a Swiss army knife, haven't you? For more info read entry A507809. Up the other end of the lake is Chillon Castle, which is reputedly the most visited castle in Europe, which is as maybe, it is a good place to go though. It's exactly how you'd expect a Swiss castle to be, lots of turrets with pointed rooves, and the view down the lake is quite incredible. There's a good 'exhibition' there with English text, and you could easily loose 3 hrs there.
Mont Blanc is also close enough to visit, there's a cable car up to somewhere near the top (which I was too chicken to take) and a trip up to the glacier that's pouring from the top of the mountain. Every year they cut a new cave into the side of it, and carve ice statues inside. If you like snow in August, this is for you.
The lake is an attraction in itself, you get some great sunsets, and of course you can go sailing etc. there are plenty of places to rent boats from. If you get the chance take a paddle steamer across the lake. I think they only run the steam boats in the high seson, but it's worth going on one. Far more character than the diesels. When you're out in the middle, you really get a feel for just how big that lake is. The mountains make a good backdrop. It's a sight you won't forget in a hurry.
Don't get suckered into a visit to the Olympic museum though, regrettably not worth the entry money.
Evian, as well as being a brand of spring water, is a town on the coast of 'Lake Geneva, or 'Lac leman', depending on which side of the channel your from. The town itself is nice enough, there are lots of good restaurants, a market once a week and a casino should you have more money than sense. It also serves as a good base for a sightseeing holiday of the area. Geneva itself is just down the coast, and is well worth the trip (even if it's just to fill up with ludicrously cheap Swiss petrol). There are loads of clock shops and museums as well as a good shopping area to mooch round. And you've got to buy a Swiss army knife, haven't you? For more info read entry A507809. Up the other end of the lake is Chillon Castle, which is reputedly the most visited castle in Europe, which is as maybe, it is a good place to go though. It's exactly how you'd expect a Swiss castle to be, lots of turrets with pointed rooves, and the view down the lake is quite incredible. There's a good 'exhibition' there with English text, and you could easily loose 3 hrs there.
Mont Blanc is also close enough to visit, there's a cable car up to somewhere near the top (which I was too chicken to take) and a trip up to the glacier that's pouring from the top of the mountain. Every year they cut a new cave into the side of it, and carve ice statues inside. If you like snow in August, this is for you.
The lake is an attraction in itself, you get some great sunsets, and of course you can go sailing etc. there are plenty of places to rent boats from. If you get the chance take a paddle steamer across the lake. I think they only run the steam boats in the high seson, but it's worth going on one. Far more character than the diesels. When you're out in the middle, you really get a feel for just how big that lake is. The mountains make a good backdrop. It's a sight you won't forget in a hurry.
Don't get suckered into a visit to the Olympic museum though, regrettably not worth the entry money.
