In the 11th century, Benedictine and Cistercian monks began planting vines and building retaining walls on the steep sun-drenched hillsides of the Lavaux region on the north shore of Lake Geneva. 

Today’s nearly 2000 acres of terraces in this French-speaking southwest is Switzerland’s major wine-producing region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some of today’s winegrowers are 17th generation descendants of the lay people to whom the work was delegated. 

This breathtaking landscape between Lausanne and Montreux is a gourmet's delight--a perennial magnet for poets, painters, and those who simply wish to enjoy the charming villages, the wine, and the spectacular view.

“The land of three suns” is sun-drenched from the sky, the reflecting lake, and the stone walls that release stored heat when temperatures drop. The steep slopes need a deep rooted grape like the Chassalas that comprises 90% of its foremost vintage, Dézaley.

Hiking and cycling trails with scenic picnic areas run right through the lush, green vineyards. The Lavaux-Express or yellow Train des Vignes let you sit back and enjoy the scenic ride. 

We drank in the scenery as we sampled regional wines with local specialties like lake perch and char, papet vaudois,  (leek and cabbage sausage), gateau á la raisinée (fruity cake), cheeses and chocolate.

We stopped in villages like Onnens, where a lunch of hot cabbage, sausage and rosti at Au Bon Vin included the proprietor and waiter, Herr Kunst’s rendition of Ain’t She Sweet as he played his vintage recording. 

We sampled wines like Cuvée Blanche, shown here, and Cuvée Amandine, delicious with chocolate, in the cellar of Vignoble Cousin in Concise.

For the widest selection of area wines—over 300-- we stopped at Lavaux Vinorama, a contemporary cave-like structure where local winemakers rent cubicles. The proprietor selects eight wines for tastings, or you can try the Enomatic machine that dispenses samples.

That night was spent at the Hotel Prealpina in picturesque Chexbres. We overlooked the vineyards, villages, and lake from high atop the hill.

At sunset, as we prepared for dinner at the hotel, the sky was ablaze with color and the lake reflected the warm glow.

The  13th century Chateau d’Yverdon, a medieval castle built by the Peter II of
Savoy dominates the Old Town. Inside is the History Museum and Swiss Fashion Museum. A research center is dedicated to Heinrich Pestalozzi , who established a school here for poor and underprivileged children (1805-1825) using an innovative individualized curriculum.

Also of interest in the area are Maison d’Ailleurs (House from Elsewhere), the first
science fiction museum in Europe, and the Jules Verne Museum, connected by a bridge.

Our accommodations choice is The Grand Hotel des Bains, a magnificent blend of state-of-the-art architecture and  history.  

Free transportation cards are issued to hotel guests in this hilly city. Lausanne has Switzerland’s only metro, and stops are designated by sounds, such as bells for the Cathedral area.

Its shops are showcases of quality Swiss made products—watches and clocks, knives, carved wooden products, and music boxes, to name a few.

Switzerland’s largest cathedral, the Cathedrale Notre-Dame, is its finest example of early Gothic and the most visited monument in Lausanne. It dominates the medieval Vielle Ville( Old Town )shopping and restaurant district. Since 1405, a night watchman calls out the hours between 10pm and 3 am.

Adjacent to the museum, set fashionably in ten acres of gardens, and with a spectacular lake view, is the sophisticated, elegant, and world-renowned 5 star Beau Rivage. Built in 1857, it is known for its impeccable service and exceptional cuisine and is one of the Leading Hotels of the World.  

The breakfast room is encircled in glass, and lunch is in the Rotunda Room. The Sandoz Ballroom, shown here, was the site of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. It was also chosen for the wedding receptions of both of Diana Ross and Phil Collins. Neither marriage survived, but the hotel continues, as always, to serve the rich, influential, and famous.

For a sweet ending to your visit to Lausanne, stop by at least one of its three fine and dedicated chocolate shops.  Chocolatier Durig learned his craft from his father. His specialty products range from squares of fine chocolate with wildflower petals (at left) to chocolate vinegar, used with olive oil as salad vinaigrette. His favorite? Spice chocolates.