Lake Geneva

What is this place

Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is Western Europe’s largest Alpine lake, straddling Switzerland and France at 372 m a.s.l. A crescent ~72 km long and ~580 km² in area, it links Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux, with CGN’s historic paddle steamers criss-crossing the waters.

Key features

• Length ~72 km, max width ~13.5 km, area ~580 km², max depth ~310 m – a water body that shapes the region’s climate and scenery.
• The Rhône enters near Villeneuve – Le Bouveret and exits at Geneva; the Seujet Dam (1995) stabilises lake levels and outflow.
• Three natural sections – Haut Lac, Grand Lac and Petit Lac – from the Alpine east to Geneva’s narrow harbour.
• CGN fleet since 1873, including Belle Époque paddle steamers – both an icon and practical cross-lake transport.
• Lavaux vineyard terraces (Lausanne–Montreux) – a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape dating to the 11th century.

What to see

• Geneva’s “Rade”: promenades, the Jet d’Eau and the Bains des Pâquis bathing complex.
• The Lavaux terraces between Lausanne, Cully and Vevey – clifftop walks and tastings.
• Montreux and Chillon Castle on the east shore – the Riviera with scenic piers.

History

Shaped by Alpine glaciers and the Rhône valley, the lake underpinned routes between the Jura and the Alps. From antiquity through the Middle Ages, settlements and castles lined the banks, while from the 11th century monasteries carved the Lavaux terraces.

In the later 19th century it became a resort axis: railways and CGN (est. 1873) bound towns and spas together. Geneva’s Seujet Dam came in 1995 to regulate levels and river flow; in 2007 Lavaux gained UNESCO World Heritage status.

Practical information

Location: Switzerland (Vaud, Geneva, Valais) and France (Haute-Savoie); from Geneva to Montreux and Saint-Gingolph.

Getting there: SBB/CFF mainline along the north shore (Geneva – Nyon – Lausanne – Vevey – Montreux – Villeneuve). CGN runs scheduled lines and loop cruises; Geneva’s Mouettes shuttle the harbour.

Access: Most lakeside promenades and piers are step-free; urban beaches and lidos in Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux.

Visiting hours: Year-round; CGN timetables are seasonal, peaking spring–autumn.

Visit duration: 1–2 h for a city waterfront stroll; 1–2 h for a harbour cruise; Lausanne–Évian/Thonon crossings ~35–60 min; half-day for a longer multi-stop route.

Best time: May–October for boating and walks; Sept–Oct for Lavaux’s golden vines; early July for Montreux’s festival mood.

Notes: Weather and wind affect sailings and bathing; check CGN on the day and follow local advisories.