Visit Medieval Yvoire on Lac Léman in France
Great Day Trip from Geneva and Evian to a Romantic French Village
Jun 2, 2009
Yvoire is a small, picture-perfect medieval village on the shores of Lake Geneva in France just half an hour’s drive to the north of the Swiss city Genève. Boats on Lac Léman also call here to unload huge amounts of day trippers into this enchanting town. The number of formal sights in Yvoire is limited – the main attractions are the old town with its narrow alleys and flower-decorated balconies, an incredible number of restaurants, as well as small boutiques and similar shops that cater mostly to the well-heeled day-trip visitor. The small history museum and the wonderful Five Senses Garden are the only real formal sights in this pleasant car-free old town.
Medieval Village and Chateau d’Yvoire in Haute Savoie
Yvoire can trace its written history back to 1306. During the early years, Yvoire was an important town on the trade routes through the Alps and along Lake Geneva. However, by the sixteenth century, Yvoire has lost its strategic importance and declined into a fishermen’s village of relative insignificance for centuries.
The largest and most impressive building in Yvoire is the chateau. This typical Savoy castle is right on the bank of Lake Geneva and looks the part with thick walls, a couple of towers and turrets, and a demanding position at the entrance of the yacht harbors of Yvoire. The castle is in private hands and not open to the public.
A Fun Destination for Children & Flower Lovers
Yvoire is low on formal sights but high on atmosphere and picture-perfect streets. The historic old town is at its most beautiful during spring and summer when a variety of flowers bloom from seemingly every balcony and window sill in the old town. Yvoire is at its busiest during the warmer months but the more somber winter appearance also has its appeal, especially as the number of visitors can dramatically drop on chilly and windy days.
This romantic medieval town lives of tourism but care has been taken to keep garish advertisements out of sight. Many old houses have boutiques and small shops with wares aimed at day-trip visitors.
Yvoire has a remarkable number of restaurants and hotels. Hotels in Yvoire are generally much cheaper than in nearby Geneva or Evian plus overnight guests have the opportunity to explore Yvoire at night and in the early morning when day-trip travelers are absent.
Yvoire is a fun destination when traveling with children too. Cars and other motorized transportation are not allowed in the old town allowing children to freely and safely roam the streets. No museums but steep streets, narrow alleys, hook and crannies to explore, free access to most of the yacht harbor and moorings, several green parks, and numerous sweet, crepes, and ice cream stands all appeal to smaller children.
The Garden of the Five Senses and Other Top Sights in Yvoire
The best-known sight in Yvoire is arguably Le Labyrinthe – Jardin des Cinq Sens (the Garden of the Five Senses). This remarkable garden is in the former kitchen garden of the adjacent castle. It is meticulously maintained and full of surprises. The Garden of the Five Senses is open from mid-May to mid-October. Admission is €10.
The Church of St Pancras dates partly to the eleventh century but it is a hotchpotch of many styles. Its most conspicuous feature is its onion-shaped stainless steel clock tower and steeple – in 1989, it replaced the tin original from 1854.
The House of History has a display on local history. This small museum is open weekends from 2 to 5 pm in May, June, and September, as well as daily from 2 to 5:30 pm in July and August. Admission is free.
Other sights in the town include the town gates and some surviving ramparts and town defenses. However, simply strolling the beautiful streets and alleys while enjoying the medieval atmosphere, even if it gets a bit crowded on sunny days, is the best way to enjoy Yvoire.
Getting to Yvoire in Haut Savoie on the Shores of Lake Geneva
Transportation to Yvoire is simple from Geneva in Switzerland, several Swiss and French ski and mountain resorts, the spa towns Evian les Bains and Thonon, as well as Nyon and Lausanne on the Swiss northern shores of Lake Geneva.
Driving to Yvoire is by far the easiest option to travel to this romantic medieval town in French Rhone Alpes region. From Geneva, follow the signs towards Evian and Thonon and turn off to Yvoire in Douvaine. Once at Yvoire, follow the signs to the parking lots outside the old town. If traveling on French motorway A41, use exit 14 (Annemasse) or exit 15 (Thonon-Evian) rather than an exit for Geneva.
Yvoire can also be reached by boat. Frequent passenger ferry boats cross Lake Geneva between Yvoire and Nyon in Switzerland in around twenty minutes. Trains run four times per hour from Nyon to Geneva in 15 minutes. During the high season, boat services are available to many other Lake Geneva towns including Genève itself.
Medieval Yvoire is a great day-trip destination from Geneva, Nyon, Evian, and Alpine resorts in the region. Many other towns along Lake Geneva have historic town centers and chateaux but for the most famous and largest castle in the region, travel to the marvelous Chateau du Chillon near Montreux to see one of the most impressive castles in all of Switzerland.
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