Vineyards and green spaces surround Lavigny in the La Côte region. The village’s landmarks include a church with medieval roots, covered fountains and Château de Lavigny, home to an international writers’ residency. The panorama takes in the lake, countryside and mountains. Here, cultural history, wine and trails through the surrounding area come together.
Village views and trails through wine country
The “Bancs pour mon Village” walking trail offers views of the lake, the Alps, Lavigny and the surrounding villages. If you are looking for a signposted route, “Autour de Lavigny” starts and ends in Lavigny and passes through Combe Lavaux, Villars-sous-Yens, Yens, Moulin Martinet, St-Livres and Es Côtes on the way back. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out.
The La Côte vineyard route also leads to Perroy and continues to Lavigny along signposted Route No. 63. It runs through vineyards and offers views of Lake Geneva, the Alps and Mont Blanc. The landscape is therefore not just part of the village scenery, but also a consideration when planning your route.
Church, fountains and château
The church in Lavigny, formerly called Saint-Maurice, probably dates back to the 11th century. Its stone vaults feature 16th-century murals. There are three covered fountains on Rue de l’Église; the oldest was built in 1803. Together, these buildings offer a tangible glimpse into the village’s history.
Château de Lavigny was commissioned by Gabriel-Henri de Mestral in 1732 on the site of the former castle of the Lords of Lavigny. Another remarkable building is Château du Grand-Lavigny, a 19th-century manor house. It is one of Lavigny’s three buildings of historical and architectural significance.
Writers’ residency and public readings
Château de Lavigny is home to a residency for writers from around the world, run by Fondation Ledig-Rowohlt. Jane Ledig-Rowohlt founded it in memory of her husband Heinrich Maria Ledig-Rowohlt, the German publisher of Rowohlt Verlag. Since its founding in 1996, the residency has hosted around 600 writers.
From May to September, public readings are held at the château on Sundays at 6 pm. Writers in residence are introduced, and members of the public can meet them. Admission is free; booking by email is required. On reading days, the château opens to visitors at 5:45 pm. Check the current programme before travelling so you can plan your visit around a reading.
Swin golf and wine tastings
Swin golf is played in the open air on an 18-hole course, using a single club and a soft ball. Allow around 1.5 to 2 hours for nine holes and up to four hours for 18 holes. This gives you a practical guide for planning your time. The course and restaurant are open seasonally from March to November; check the details again before your trip.
Three winery cellars in the municipality welcome visitors, present their products and offer tastings. Daniel Rossier et Fils offers cellar tastings at its winery in Lavigny and asks visitors to announce their visit in advance. At Domaine des Remans in Lavigny, wine tastings can be booked. If you are planning a tasting, follow the booking instructions for each winery.
Getting there and choosing accommodation
Lavigny is not connected to the rail network; the CFF railway stations in Etoy and Morges are accessible by bus. MBC bus route 726 connects Lavigny with Morges railway station in about 20 minutes. PostBus route 722 connects St-Livres and Etoy via Lavigny. Checking the timetable can help you coordinate bus connections with your arrival and departure times.
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider your journey and planned activities together: bus connections link to the railway stations, while readings, wine tastings and the seasonally open Swin golf course each have different time slots. Which of these options shapes your stay depends on whether you want to focus on cultural events, trails through wine country or a tasting.
A broader focus on nature
The Arboretum du Vallon de l’Aubonne is also part of the region’s natural attractions. It covers more than 130 hectares and showcases 3,000 species of trees and shrubs. Highlights include historic orchards with old fruit varieties, wild roses, and recreated forests from the United States and Japan. This offers a different botanical focus from Lavigny’s vineyards and village trails.
Discover more destinations: Aclens, Chigny Vd, Saint-Prex, Echichens, Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, Montherod, Montricher, Préverenges.
See the broader travel guide: Morges.
