Lined with flowers, the lakeside promenades are perfect for a stroll. The sparrows at La-Tour-de-Peilz are quite fearless and can be fed straight from the hand. Standing on the promenade in Vevey, the life-size statue of Charlie Chaplin is even more serene than these lively little birds and one of the most photographed sights on Lake Geneva. After Vevey, the cycle route constantly undulates on its way to the steep vineyards of Lavaux, whose bright and colourful foliage looks wonderful in autumn. With just under 4,000 hectares of vineyards, Vaud is Switzerland’s second largest wine-growing region after Valais. The undisputed king of Vaud grape varieties is the Chasselas, whose subtle aroma perhaps best reflects the characteristics of its origin. Pretty wine villages like St-Saphorin, Epesses («coeur du vignoble en terrasses») and Lutry delight wine devotees and others alike with their historic village centres.

Lutry marks the end of the wine road, about five kilometres short of Lausanne-Ouchy. The district’s Olympic Museum was opened in 1993 at the initiative of then-IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch. It was renovated in 2013 and equipped with state-of-the-art computer technology and audiovisual media. As the cantonal capital of Vaud, Lausanne also has numerous training centres and scientific institutes. The city occupies a delightful hillside location and boasts a towering Gothic cathedral in its enchanting old town.

A beautiful section of the route follows between St-Sulpice and Préverenges, where the Venoge – a 38 km-long northern tributary of Lake Geneva – reaches its destination. Sandy beaches and sunbathing lawns tempt you to rest for a while before taking on the final section to Morges. This small town with beautiful burgher houses from the 16-18th century is particularly appealing to flower lovers. The sight of more than 100,000 tulips blooming in every colour in Morges is a sure sign that spring is here!