Natural Crafts Switzerland

The Reichenbach Falls can be visited from early May to early October. They owe part of their fame to the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his mythical character Sherlock Holmes. It was here that the famous detective staged his own death by jumping from the 120 m high waterfall. To get up there, a historic train rises to the top and leads to a platform. From this upper station, which is also accessible on foot, you have a spectacular view of the waterfall and the Hasli Valley.

This islet off the coast of Villeneuve would have emerged from the sands brought by the Rhone. Its history is perhaps romanticized: in the middle of the 19th century, two English fiancés go to swim in the lake; the stay turns into a drama because the young man drowns. At the place where his body is found, the fiancée builds the Isle of Peace. The Federal Council offers it to Queen Victoria during a stay in Montreux, but as she does not wish to pay the taxes, she returns the island to Switzerland! Today, only one of the three large plane trees planted in 1851 remains.

Plage de Crottaz, or Plage de la Grotte, is a small open-air relaxation area, a gravel beach in a picturesque location, with a 3-meter diving board as well as changing rooms, toilets and showers. Access is via a tarmac path between two properties (be sure to mark the path). It's sheltered from the wind and shaded in places, which is good to know on hot summer days. Gonelles beach is nearby.

Below the vineyards, the little beach at Les Gonelles in Corseaux is a great place to take a dip in the lake! To get there, follow the signs for the campsite, and the little beach is right next door ! There's no shade, and the sun beats down hard in summer, so always plan to go early in the morning or at the end of the day. As these beaches are often crowded during the day in summer, you'll appreciate a little peace and quiet all the more.

Nature lovers, this is your territory. This nature reserve is managed by the Pro Natura center for nature protection. The setting is magnificent. The 2-hectare estate is home to some forty species of birds, which you can try to observe from the top of the observation tower overlooking a natural lakeshore. There are many activities on offer: guided tours, birdwatching, workshops for children and adults, and night-time explorations.

The Trümmelbach Falls are a complex of ten glacier waterfalls inside the mountain, equipped with a tunnel lift and lighting. They are the only waterfalls to come out of the glacier walls of the three mountains of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The result is a unique spectacle in Europe! These huge waterfalls are absolutely impressive, with a flow rate of up to 20,000 litres per second in spring. Indeed, it is during the period of glacier melt that the picture is most extraordinary.

The mines of La Presta were exploited from 1711 to extract asphalt, initially for the medical sector. It was not until 1812 that the industrial exploitation, with more than 100 km of galleries, allowed the ore to be exported for the construction of roads all over the world. The mines closed in 1986. The deposit was the largest in Europe. The visit shows how the water was evacuated from the depths and the asphalt brought to the surface by horses, replaced in the 20th century by electric locomotives.

To make a herbarium, to recognize a plant, observe birds, discover hives and their bees and many more, green workshops explain nature to children between 11 and 8 years of age on Wednesday afternoon from the month of September until the end of the school year. Contact Ms Degrange on Tuesday and Friday from am to PM by telephone.

La Garenne's goal is to care for and present animals while making us aware of nature. Here we discover unique species of Switzerland, because it is so important to know the environment that surrounds us! Thus, we have the chance to observe mammals like the lynx, the badger, the raccoon and - new in 2022 - a male otter, impressive birds of prey like the bearded vulture. You can also enjoy the Ekocook certified restaurant.

In the past, it was a bastion that belonged to the city's fortresses. In 1585, it guarded the port of Geneva. It was then used to build and repair ships, then served as a quarantine warehouse, before taking the name of Rousseau Island in 1834 in homage to the famous Genevan man of letters. His statue stands in the center of the island, which has since become a place for walking. It is a pleasant stop on the lake, and you can, while admiring the famous ducks and swans, take a break and eat in the kiosk.

The site was originally an artillery work dug into the rock. Built in 1943, it was abandoned by the army in 1998 and the Sasso San Gottardo Museum was established there in 2012. The visit allows the visitor to see the remains of the fortification and its tunnels, including a funicular railway, and to explore issues related to climate, meteorology, water management, mobility, housing and energy.