Vineyard walk Luins - Begnins
Two villages steeped in history are connected by this interactive walk of about 5.5 kms. From the Caveau des Vignerons of Luins or the centre of Begnins, let your smartphone guide you through the discoveries and games offered by the free app or follow the instructions on the map above. The Lords who lived in the splendid castles of Luins and Begnins in the Middle Ages were the first to appreciate this exceptional panorama of Lake Geneva and the Alps, while tasting the delicious wines of La Côte AOC. Immerse yourself in these ancient times, but also enjoy all the comfort of modern technologies by following this walk thanks to your smartphone if you have downloaded the Vaud: Guide app. In a fun way, you and your friends or family will learn more about the wine-growing methods specific to the region, the history of the two villages and the gastronomic traditions. Each village has free parking spaces and PostBus stops.
Vignoble Vinzel Bursins (VO-Swiss)
445.82299804688
Public transport in Luins and Begnins
This vineyard walk, via the villages of Luins and Begnins, can be started from each of these villages, near the stops of the PostBus. Lines 835 and 841 stop at Luins, while lines 820 and 830 join Begnins.
Bus 835 runs between Gland and Rolle. From Monday to Friday, he comes once an hour and even twice between 7am and 8am, 4pm and 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. Be careful, there are less bus trafic on weekends.
Line 841 operates only Monday to Friday, seven times a day.
To get to Begnins by public transport, you can take the bus 820 between Nyon and St-George or the 830 between Gland and Bassins.
The 820 runs once or twice an hour from Monday to Friday and a little less frequently on weekends. Line 830 stops once an hour during the week and five times a day at weekends.
All schedules and information can be found at www.postauto.ch
Motorized walkers can leave their vehicles in any village, they both have about ten free places and without time limit.
Luins Car postal (VO-Swiss)
446.45397949219
Caveau des vignerons de Luins-Vinzel
This is a delightful place, decorated in true Vaudois style with photos of vineyards, wooden stools and small round tables. The people of the village meet here for a drink, while for visitors it is a chance to sample the wines of La Côte AOC and meet the producers. 25 winemakers joined forces to set up the Luins-Vinzel Caveau and take turns every weekend to serve their guests in a relaxed ambiance.
Here, from the end of January to mid-December, from Friday evening to Sunday, including public holidays, all the tables offer chasselas – the predominant grape of the region – and other white or red specialities. Outside opening hours, the caveau can be booked for events for groups of 15 to 70 people. For wine tourism holidays, there are marked vineyard routes between the Caveau des vignerons de Luins-Vinzel and other local wine cellars.
Caveau des vignerons de Luins-Vinzel (Caveau Luins-Vinzel)
477.57913208008
Wine press in La Côte
Central screw presses are pieces of wine-making equipment used to extract the juice from bunches of grapes. Progressively replaced by more modern machines, wooden presses have become a kind of symbol of old-fashioned harvests. In La Côte, some winegrowers still use them to carry on the tradition, while many presses are used as decoration – in the streets, or in wine cellars.
There are several types of wine press that have been improved over time. The old, traditional model found most often in La Côte is the downward central screw press. Large quantities of grapes are placed in a cylindrical wooden compartment, called a "cage". A large vertical wooden screw crushes the grapes. The grape pulp remains in the cage, while the juice – the "mout” – flows into vats, where it is vinified.
Pressoir (VO-Swiss)
473.90014648438
Tanks and amphoras
The tanks and amphoras are used for the fermentation and ageing of the wine until it is bottled.
Stainless steel, cement or steel tanks are easier to clean, they are used for short vinifications and their neutrality allows all the fruity aromas of the wine to be preserved.
Wooden tanks are called barrels, vases, tuns or casks, they are very appreciated for the maturing of the wine, they allow the wine to breathe and thus promote its maturation. The barrel has a limited capacity - about 225 litres - and can only be kept for three to four years, it is mainly used for maturing powerful red wine and some white specialities. For several months, the wine will absorb the deep and vanilla aromas of the wood, for an intense result on the palate. The barrel is made of a thicker wood assembly, extending its life span. While lightning generally has a large capacity, between 1,000 and 15,000 litres. It is still widely used and appreciated for breeding Chasselas.
Amphoras were already used by the Romans and Georgians to store and transport liquids, including wine. In Georgia, winegrowers have always maintained this practice, to which other wine-growing regions in Europe are returning. In Switzerland, the wine estates that adopt amphoras appreciate the fact that terracotta allows air to pass through, just like wood, but without transmitting taste.
Cuves La Côte (VO-Swiss)
522.22888183594
Winegrower's Hut in la Côte AOC
The Swiss word “capite” defines a little isolated house or a guard house. In the vines, the “capite” is a hut wherein the winegrowers take a break and put away their equipment The picturesque capites seduce the passers-by. Some winegrowers have understood this and warmly welcome their customers in the converted huts for the aperitif or even for the night !
The State of Vaud has recently changed one of its laws to allow the winegrowers to serve a glass of wine or sell some bottles during the tastings in the huts.
Une Capite Vignerone La Côte (VO-Swiss)
526.76531982422
The castle of Cottens
The vassals of the Lords of Prangins and Mont, the De Begnins and their allies were builders, since they successively built several castles in Begnins, including the castle of Martheray, probably the cradle of the family. In addition, there were Le Manoir, the castles of Cottens, Serraux-Dessus, Menthon and Rochefort and Moinsel. The latter was destroyed, as was the castle of Bioley, which is said to have hidden a treasure.
Where the castle of Cottens stands today, there was once a feudal castle. The name Cottens, which only appeared in Begnins around 1480, comes from the village of Cottens sur Morges, whose Mestral noblemen, owners of the castle, were also lords. The Mestral already owned this property well before 1400. The hexagonal towers correspond to the reconstruction of the castle which must date from the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century. The buildings on the left and right date from 1727, during the Bernese domination. They were made by the noble Bernese Jean Sturler, then Lord of Serraux. He was buried in his chapel at the Begnins Temple and his memorial remains can still be seen there.
Château de Cottens Begnins en avril (Vo-Swiss)
503.35607910156
Wines and Traditions of the Vinzel region
From Vinzel to Vich and even to Eysins, a traditional dish unleashes passions: Vinzel's malakoffs and fritters. These two delicious fried cheese dishes are often confused, the common point of which is that they both contain white wine (Chasselas from the region, of course!) and that they delight all gourmands.
The term "malakoff" would go back to the Crimean War. Engaged under the banner of Napoleon III, Vaudois' mercenaries discovered a recipe for slices of fried cheese that they brought home and called "malakoff" after the name of the fort that protected the city of Sevastopol. Traditionally, malakoffs are therefore fairly salty cheese sticks, marinated in white wine, coated in a paste and fried. Today, what the restaurants in the region, such as Au cœur de la Côte à Vinzel and Auberge de Luins, call "malakoffs", follow the recipe of Vinzel fritters. For this dish, the cheese is grated, mixed with other ingredients such as white wine, placed on a slice of mustard round bread and finally fried.
What is important for gourmands who come from far away to taste these dishes is not what they are called and where they come from, but rather how they delight their palates with a good bottle of local Chasselas !
Vins de traditions de la Côte (VO-Swiss)
521.57342529297
The village of Begnins
The history of this village, now populated by about 2000 inhabitants, blends in with the history of the castles of the lords of Begnins (Le Manoir, Castle of Martheray, Cottens, Menthon and Rochefort, Serraux-Dessus, but also Moinsel and Bioley, both destroyed). The oldest mention of Begnins dates back to 1145, but its hillside was inhabited long before that. The oldest evidence of the man's presence is a bracelet found in 1894, which dates back to the Gallo-Swiss era. Other remains from the Romans and Burgundians have also been discovered. The first vines of this wine-growing village certainly date back to the 10th century. From the very beginning, vine cultivation has played an important role for Begnins and its inhabitants.
Apart from the castles, the sacred monuments mark the silhouette of Begnins, which houses the Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, as well as the Catholic chapel of Saint-Michel. The famous director Jean-Luc Godard got married in Begnins in 1967.
Begnins le village (VO-Swiss)
542.85247802734
Town House, Begnins
The adjoining windows of the Town House suggest that its construction dates back to the 15th century. A patent for a hostel seems to have been granted to him in 1628 already. In 1694, the town bought the Maison de Ville from Pierre Blanc and made it its pint (a traditional Vaudois term for the village bistro). For more than a century, the Town Hall has served as a communal hostel, school, council chamber, courtroom, archives, arrest chamber and prison. It gradually lost its privileged position from 1803, when the municipality bought the larger Logis de l'Ours to transfer the municipal administration to it. At that time, a quarrel was already between the two institutions. Originally from the Canton of Bern, the owner of the Logis de l’Ours had obtained from Their Excellencies of Bern the exclusive right to rent rooms. Since then, the municipality of Begnins has constantly defended the position of its Town Hall, first with the Bernese, then with the Council in Lausanne. This quarrel for the Town House to serve and accommodate clients lasted until 1825. A few years later, in 1876, the municipality sold the building to an innkeeper. Since then, the Town House has always remained in private hands.
Begnins ancienne maison de Ville (VO-Swiss)
535.30590820312
The castle of Martheray
More than six centuries after its construction, the castle of Martheray still magnificently marks the entrance to the village of Begnins. Documents attest that the castle already existed in 1400, on the site of a Burgundy cemetery. At the time, the building must have been much larger than it is today and belonged to four noble families: the De Begnins and their allies, the De Lucinge, the Du Martheray and the Favre. This co-ownership lasted until 1544, when André De Begnins rebuilt the castle as we know it today. The owners who have since followed one another and have in turn made more or less profound changes.
The imposing south facade of the castle is decorated with a triangular pediment and topped by a large roof. The oldest and most interesting part of the Martheray is the small inner courtyard, dominated by a tower with a hexagonal roof. In 1737, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, then 15 years old, engraved on the door an inscription that could still be read at the end of the 19th century: "Jean-Jacques Rousseau, citizen of Geneva". The castle of Martheray is a private property.
Château de Martheray (VO-Swiss)
537.16241455078
Church of Begnins
The parish church, in its oldest part, was probably built around 1150, on the ruins of an old Roman building. It was then dedicated to Our Lady.
The main parts date back to the 13th century, the rectangular choir is vaulted and crossed with warheads. Above it stands a bell tower that was raised in the 16th century. The bells date from 1812 and 1851 respectively, but the church already had a clock around 1600.
Three chapels were later added to the south of the choir and nave. They are joined to the original building by large arches. The one in the middle is the most remarkable, with its small curved window. Until 1798, the lords of Begnins had their graves in these chapels.
The Protestant parish of Begnins is very old. The Notre-Dame church was reformed in 1536, when the Bernese annexed the Pays de Vaud. The church of Begnins is a listed historical monument.
Consecrated in 1970, the Begnins Catholic Chapel was designed in a modern style, where wood and concrete dominate.
Eglise de Begnins (VO-Swiss)
520.04876708984
Water in the vine
Known for their robustness, vine plants have roots that can sink 2 to 5 metres deep into the ground, sometimes more. This feature anchors the vines in the soil and allows the plant to find water, even in dry areas. In the case of a lack of water, the vine plants enter into what is called "water stress". If it is too severe or prolonged, it can cause a "maturity blockage" that can be permanent and damaging to the wine. On the other hand, a moderate water stress during the grape ripening period (August-October) can have a beneficial effect on grape quality.
In Switzerland, one of the criteria for the production of wines under the AOC label (appellation d'origine contrôlée) prohibits the watering of vines. But increasingly hot summers are pushing the authorities to issue exceptional permits in some years. Depending on the municipality, winegrowers are allowed to water through the traditional network or by sourcing water from Lake Geneva.
The villages of Begnins and Luins are connected to the SANE water network (Syndicat d'Arrosage de Nyon et Environs). This union distributes water pumped into the lake 300 metres off Prangins and 50 metres deep to 18 municipalities between Luins and La Rippe. To ensure a good supply of water to the 500 water intakes for farmers, 19 pressure recharging stations are distributed along the 73 kilometres of pipes that transport approximately 350,000 m3 of water annually. The year 2018 having been very dry, 750'000 m3 of water were distributed by the network!
During some scorching summers, the Swiss army's civil protection was even requisitioned to help the winegrowers.
Le Lavasson et l'eau dans les vignes de la Côte (VO-Swiss)
505.98522949219
Winegrowers of the Caveau des vignerons of Luins - Vinzel
In Luins and Vinzel, but also in Begnins and Bursins, passionate winegrowers have been cultivating a famous vineyard for several centuries. Some have come together to create the Caveau des Vignerons of the appellations of Luins and Vinzel, this association aims to promote the wines produced and stored by its members by managing a common tasting place. In addition to their presence at the Caveau on weekends, many of these craftsmen open their doors for tastings at fixed times or on request. Here is the list of domains, by commune.
Begnins :
• Cave des Trois-Clos
• Domaine la Capitaine
• Domaine de Serreaux-Dessus
• Domaine des Combes
• Domaine de Sarraux-Dessous
• Cave du Fort
Bursins :
• Domaine Delaharpe
• Domaine de Corbière
Luins :
• Domaine des Sieurs
• Domaine la Passion
• Cave la Rose d’Or
• Domaine d’Arzillier
• Réserve du Vigneron
• Cave du Treyblanc
• Domaine Maison Dutruy
• Château de Luins
Vinzel :
• Cave des Ruaz
• Château La Bâtie
• Cave des Saules
• Cave des Rossillonnes
• Château de Vinzel
• Cave Berthet
• Domaine de la Tuilière
Les Serraux (VO-Swiss)
523.20263671875
Panorama on Lake Geneva
In La Côte region, many vantage points let visitors admire the vineyards, which seem to dive into the crystal clear waters of Lake Geneva.
Formed by the retreat of the Rhone glacier during the last Ice Age (15,000 BC), Lake Geneva is the largest lake in Western Europe: 72.8 km long, 13.8 km wide and 309.7 m deep. Spanning two countries, Lake Geneva is nearly 60% Swiss, while its southern shores are French.
Lake Geneva has always provided for the people on its shores thanks to the fishing and winemaking. It influences a climate that is beneficial for growing grapes, especially with the sun’s rays on the vines.
More recently, the beauty of Lake Geneva has encouraged the development of another important economic activity in the region: tourism. Each day, thousands of visitors enjoy the banks of the lake or travel on a modern or Belle-Epoque CGN boat.
Panorama de Luins (Antonio Porreca)
507.93862915039
Work in the cellar
In September-October, the harvest time puts the vines in a state of turmoil. During these intense days, the grapes are picked and processed differently depending on the grape variety and the type of wine you want to obtain. The white grapes are pressed to give must. The latter is settled, to make it clear. Specific yeasts are then added to start the alcoholic fermentation. In concrete terms, the yeasts will transform the sugar of the fruits into alcohol. To obtain red wine, the dark grapes macerate for several days or even several weeks in their juice and skins. It is by this method that the wine will extract the colour and tannins contained in the grape skin.
Rosé wine is obtained exclusively from red grapes. We can differentiate between rosé wines obtained by direct pressing of the harvest, or after a short maceration, and "bleeding" rosé wines, which are more full-bodied and more colourful because they come from a maceration lasting several hours or days.
Rarer in La Côte, sparkling wines benefit from two successive alcoholic fermentations, while sweet wines are made from overripe grapes, harvested well after the others, or botrytised (affected by noble rot). It is also possible to make sweet wines from raisined grapes (natural concentration of the grapes by evaporation of water), or frozen (cryoextraction).
Travaux dans les vignes (VO-Swiss)
513.32452392578
Chestnut Trail
The Chestnut trail, which benefits from a south-facing orientation, is a 5 kms loop walk, to be done in about 2.30 hours. Walkers can follow its marking from the villages of Luins, Vinzel or Bursins. The upper path runs through the freshness of the forest, while the lower path runs between the trees and the vines, revealing the magnificent panorama of La Côte AOC vineyard, Lake Geneva, the Alps and the majestic Mont Blanc.
On the way, about fifty plates on stakes give the name of the tree species, as well as a number referring to the brochure "Trees and Shrubs of the Vaudoise Forests" of NatuRando (on sale at the municipal office). A good way to learn about the flora of the region, while enjoying a pleasant walk.
From Luins, it is essential to stop at the Devens refuge, built in chestnut with a roof made of anchovies (very large pavilions).
The Chestnut Trail was created in 1998, as part of the forestry restoration of the forests of the Côtes, which aimed to regenerate the forests of the communes of Luins, Vinzel and Bursins.
Sentier des Châtaignes (VO-Swiss)
495.59652709961
The Church of Luins
The church of Luins is a picturesque building in the middle of the vineyards of La Côte. You can taste the local wines at the Caveau des Vignerons of Luins-Vinzel, an essential stopover.
According to historical writings, this small church dates from the 17th century. It was largely rebuilt in the 1675s. It has three chapels. Older, its 15th century nave and bell tower are of Gothic architecture, the rest is more of a Romanesque tradition. Its two bells struck by the year 1507. During the Reformation, in 1536, the church became a Protestant temple; it was then annexed to the neighbouring parish of Begnins.
Threatened with destruction in 1896, the sacred building was saved by the famous cantonal architect and archaeologist Albert Naef, who led its restoration. As a result of this work, in 1903, the church was classified as a historic monument.
Today the church, known as "La Sentinelle", is truly part of the visual identity of the village of Luins, thus giving it its brand image. It offers its visitors an exceptional panoramic view of La Côte AOC vineyards, Lake Geneva, the majestic Mont-Blanc and the Alps.
Eglise de Luins (Ben Becker)
Eglise de Luins (©Peter Colberg)
403.76385498047
The Huguenots trail
In 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes and caused one of the great exoduses in our history. Nearly 200,000 hugenots fled France. Today, the Sentier des Huguenots pays tribute to these fugitives by offering a route from Poët- Laval (drôme, France) to Bad Karlshafen (Germany) that enters Switzerland in Geneva.
There is reason to believe that some of these walkers passed through La Côte and the Pied du Jura, crossing the villages of our region and sometimes settling there.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
Sur les Pas des Huguenots carte (Sur les Pas des Huguenots)
Sur les Pas des Huguenots (Sur les Pas des Huguenots)
466.58108520508
Castle of Luins
The great history of the castle of Luins is difficult to trace, but its small history dates back to 1909. In that year, the wine merchant Hermann Trüssel bought the castle and its vineyard. It is still in the hands of his descendants. The Baechtold family preserves its authentic character, as well as its 10 hectares of vines.
According to the first archives dating back to the 13th century, it can be noted that Luins wines were already very popular. The wine-growing vocation of the castle of Luins is certainly not new. Even today, the grapes grown are entirely encavated in the estate and vinified in the traditional way in oak barrels.
Open from Monday to Friday, as well as on Saturday mornings and by appointment, the tasting room, traditionally called "carnotzet", welcomes wine lovers to taste the wines of the vintage. The visit of the cellar is worth a visit. There are still six wine-making presses installed there in the 1920s, one of which was reopened for an old-fashioned press in October 2018. Castle of Luins is also a popular venue for private events, especially weddings. This monument is classified as a Swiss cultural property of national importance in the cantonal heritage inventory.
Château de Luins (Château de Luins)
Château de Luins (Château de Luins)
Château de Luins (Château de Luins)
450.9801940918
Vineyard walks of Luins & Vinzel
- Route Luins-Begnins: These two villages with an historic background are connected by this interactive walk of about 5.5 km, which you can start either from the Caveau des Vignerons de Luins or the centre of Begnins. The Lords who lived in the gorgeous castles of Luins and Begnins in the Middle Age were the first ones to appreciate this exceptional panorama of Lake Geneva and the Alps, while tasting the delicious wines of La Côte AOC.
- Route Vinzel-Luins-Bursins : From the Caveau des Vignerons of Luins, the centre of Vinzel or Bursins, discover the largest vineyard in the canton of Vaud - La Côte AOC - and its magnificent landscapes, between forests, castles, vineyards of course, Lake Geneva and the Alps, including the famous Mont Blanc. On a 5.5 km route, you can admire the region, learn about its history and discover its products.
Enjoy the comfort of modern technology by downloading the Vaud:Guide app which will guide you throughout the tour. In a fun way, you and your friends or family will learn more about the wine-growing methods specific to the region, the history of the two villages and the gastronomic traditions.
Panorama de Luins (Antonio Porreca)
Balade Oenotouristique (Copyright: Yoann Lapijover)
Vineyard Village Luins (Peter Colberg)
Village de Vinzel (VO-Swiss)
Dépliant Balades Oenotouristiques Luins, Begnins & Vinzel, Bursins (Vo Swiss)
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