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Lavaux

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Lavaux
UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Lavaux is located in Switzerland
Lavaux
Location within Switzerland
Official nameLavaux, Vineyard Terraces
LocationCanton of Vaud, Switzerland
CriteriaCultural: (iii), (iv), (v)
Reference1243
Inscription2007 (31st Session)
Area898 ha (2,220 acres)
Buffer zone1,408 ha (3,480 acres)
Websitewww.lavaux.ch
Coordinates46°29′31″N 06°44′46″E / 46.49194°N 6.74611°E / 46.49194; 6.74611

Lavaux (French pronunciation: [lavo]) is a region in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, in the district of Lavaux-Oron. Lavaux consists of 830 hectares (2,100 acres) of terraced vineyards that stretch for about 30 kilometres (19 mi) along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva. The region is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the formal name Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces.

The terraced vineyards in the area date back to the 11th century, under the rule of Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries.[1] The main wine grape variety grown here is the Chasselas.[2]

Description

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Lavaux is a region of terraced vineyards in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, stretching for around 30 km (19 mi) along the northern shore of Lake Geneva. Since July 2007, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the formal name Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces.[1]

Since 2016, the vineyards of Lavaux are not treated with synthetic pesticides any more.[3]

Hiking trail

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There are many hikes possible through the vineyards of Lavaux. There is a hiking trail ("Terrasses de Lavaux"), going from Saint-Saphorin to Lutry, recommended by the Tourism Office of Switzerland.[4]

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Commemorative plaque honouring the commitment of Franz Weber for the protection of Lavaux.

Under cantonal law, the vineyards of Lavaux are protected from development.[5] The movement to effect this began in 1977, when the voters of the Canton of Vaud accepted (55%) the cantonal popular initiative "Save Lavaux" Consequently, in 1979, a law was made to protect Lavaux (Loi sur le plan de protection de Lavaux).

In 2003, the new constitution of the Canton of Vaud came into force but did not contain the article about the protection of Lavaux. A second popular initiative "Save Lavaux" was launched to re-introduce it and was accepted in 2005 by 81% of voters.

In 2009, Franz Weber launched a third initiative "Save Lavaux" to reduce the possibilities for new construction in Lavaux, which was rejected on 19 May 2014 by 68% of voters. The counter-initiative of the regional government (Council of State of Vaud) was accepted by 68% of voters (strengthening the protection but less strictly than the initiative of Franz Weber).[6]

Influences and tributes

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Notes and references

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  1. 1 2 Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 18 July 2026. Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
  2. ↑ Oz Clarke; Margaret Rand (2007). Oz Clarke's Grapes and Wines: The Definitive Guide to the World's Great Grapes and the Wines They Make. Harcourt. p. 59.
  3. ↑ (in French) Pascaline Minet, "Virage vert dans les vignes de Lavaux" Archived 4 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Le Temps, Friday 3 June 2016 (page visited on 4 June 2016).
  4. ↑ Lavaux Vineyard Terraces: The Swiss Wine Route, www.myswitzerland.com (page visited on 10 August 2013).
  5. ↑ "Lavaux – UNESCO Heritage - Fondation Franz Weber". Fondation Franz Weber. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  6. ↑ (in French) "L'initiative vaudoise "Sauver Lavaux" refusée au bénéfice du contre-projet", Radio télévision suisse, 18 May 2014 (page visited on 4 June 2016).
  7. ↑ The songs begin with "Take me to the vineyards of Lavaux [...]".
  8. ↑ http://www.20min.ch/ro/entertainment/people/story/31041863 (page visited on 10 August 2013).
  9. ↑ Three special stamps for the Lavaux region Archived 23 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Swiss Post, press release dated 6 September 2011 (page visited on 4 June 2016).
  10. ↑ « Lavaux », three special stamps, Swiss Post (page visited on 4 June 2016).
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  • Wikivoyage logo Lavaux travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Lavaux Vineyard Terraces hiking trail
  • Lavaux Vinorama
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