Simply Abu Dhabi XXVI

W estern Europe’s biggest lake stretches like a giant liquid mirror between the French-speaking canton of Vaud (to the north) and France (to the south). Known to most as Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman, it is surrounded by cities and towns such as Lausanne and Montreux, the wide-open spaces of the Jura and the charm of the countryside. The Swiss side of the lake presents the marvellous emerald spectacle of tightly ranked vineyards spreading in terraces up the steep hillsides of the Lavaux area, while down by the water’s edge the lakeside is graced with fairy-tale châteaux, luxurious manor houses and modest beaches. In the mountains, there are the magnificent Alpes Vaudoises (Vaud Alps) in the southeast corner of the canton, where hikers play in spring and summer and skiers and boarders hit the slopes in winter. All the different facets of Switzerland are concentrated in the Lake Geneva region, a key feature being its lifestyle, with local events and international occasions, outdoor sports, regional know-how, typical cuisine and fine dining. The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, which promotes unity in sport, art and culture, is the only museum of its kind in the world, and marks the region’s proud status as Olympic Capital. The headquarters of various Olympic institutions and of international sports federations, Lausanne has forged a solid reputation as an organiser of major sporting events, including world and European championships and Davis Cup events, as well as stopovers for the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. The Vaud Alps are an ideal destination for sports enthusiasts, and skiing is, of course, one of the main attractions. Alternatively, visitors can choose to tackle the slopes on a toboggan or to enjoy curling or ice-skating in the village. The famous aerial cableway in the Diablerets-Gstaad region transports visitors at a height of 3000m with its eternal snows and stunning glacier, while the Peak Walk is the only suspension bridge in the world spanning two mountain peaks. Extending from the floral quays of Ouchy to the forest of Jorat in the north are the terraced Lavaux vineyards, which were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. They can be explored on foot, by bike or during the summer on the Lavaux Express or Lavaux Panoramic, miniature tourist trains that wind their way through the vineyards. With 400km of walls and 10,000 terraces, the Lavaux vineyard is one of the most extensive in Switzerland, covering steep slopes that reach heights of 600m. The historic centre of Vevey is just a short distance from the region of Gruyère and Lavaux vineyards. In Corsier-sur-Vevey, visitors can explore the Jenisch Museum, founded in 1897, which displays paintings by Balthus, Courbet, 1 4 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Chillon Castle © Stephan Engler Caves a ̀ fromage L’Etivaz Alimentarium Giant Fork