Lavaux

Geschichte

The Lavaux is a region in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, in the district of Lavaux-Oron. The Lavaux consist of 830 hectares of terraced vineyards that stretch for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva.Although there is some evidence that vines were grown in the area in Roman times, the actual vine terraces can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. It benefits from a temperate climate, but the southern aspect of the terraces with the reflection of the sun in the lake and the stone walls gives a mediterranean character to the region. The main wine grape variety grown here is the Chasselas.World Heritage siteUnder cantonal law, the vineyards of the Lavaux are protected from development. Since July 2007, the Lavaux is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Since 2016, the vineyards of Lavaux are not treated with synthetic pesticides any more.Hiking trailThere are many hikes possibles through the Lavaux vineyards. There is a hiking trail ("Terrasses de Lavaux"), going from Saint-Saphorin to Lutry, recommended by the Tourism Office of Switzerland.Legal protectionIn 1977, the voters of the Canton of Vaud accepted (55%) the cantonal popular initiative "Save Lavaux". Consequently, in 1979, a law was made to protect Lavaux (Loi sur le plan de protection de Lavaux).