In Veytaux, castle history and alpine landscapes offer distinct highlights side by side: the Château de Chillon offers a glimpse into the area’s history, while Rochers-de-Naye is known for its high-altitude views and seasonal nature experiences.

Château de Chillon and Fort de Chillon

The Château de Chillon was successively occupied by the House of Savoy and the Bernese. The Bernese occupied it from 1536 to 1798. For a self-guided visit, a plan with explanations leads through 36 rooms, allowing you to follow the visitor route independently.

The Fort de Chillon offers a different insight into the history of construction: this military structure, built in the 20th century, was excavated into the mountain. The Musée Fort de Chillon offers interactive exhibitions and workshops for families. Veytaux-Chillon railway station is 300 metres from the fort.

West of the Château de Chillon, there is an accessible, unsupervised bathing spot. Check local conditions and access before swimming. This lets you combine a visit to the lakeshore with a specific point of interest, without treating the château and the fort as the same attraction.

Getting there and routes to higher elevations

Regional S5 trains serve Veytaux-Chillon station hourly. The Château de Chillon is a six-minute walk from the station. As timetables can change, it is worth checking the connection for your travel date. For a trip up to higher elevations, an MOB cogwheel train connects the lakeshore with Rochers-de-Naye in about an hour.

Rochers-de-Naye is a 2,045-metre-high viewpoint overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps. The alpine garden La Rambertia is located at the summit and is open seasonally. Opened in 1896, it protects more than 1,000 species of alpine plants and high-altitude flowers. In summer, you can observe marmots and alpine plants at Rochers-de-Naye; in winter, winter sports are possible there. If you are planning one of these seasonal activities, check the conditions and operating information for your visit.

Hiking trails and sporting options

The Parcours Vita in the forest is designed for physical fitness. It is 3.2 kilometres long, with an effort distance of 5.1 kilometres and an elevation difference of 190 metres. It is considered the most difficult Parcours Vita in Switzerland. These different figures help you assess the route more precisely in advance.

Technical skills and equipment are required for the alpine via ferrata at Rochers-de-Naye. Cables, ladders, ramps and handrails secure the route. The Via Ferrata is accessible from May to October, depending on conditions; check them before your tour.

The history of the trails also shapes the landscape. The Chemin vers Sonchaux is used by the Via Alpina, a national long-distance hiking route, and passes through an exceptional landscape listed in the Swiss Federal Inventory of Landscapes. The municipality of Veytaux created the trail in 1916–1917. The Remue trail connects Sonchaux with Rochers-de-Naye and runs along the municipal boundary between Veytaux and Villeneuve. An old cattle-driving route, it connected the mountain pastures above Lake Geneva with the Hongrin basin. Dry-stone walls and remarkable wooden and metal barriers are part of its infrastructure, created in 1916.

Seasonal discoveries in Veytaux

During the seasonal chestnut season, you can reach Champbabau on foot every day to gather chestnuts. Vehicle access is prohibited from the Chemin de Liboson/Route de Sonchaux junction. At the edge of the chestnut grove, a “Castagnomat” weighs the chestnuts collected. These details are particularly relevant when planning if gathering chestnuts is intended to be part of your visit.

The annual flower market on the steps of La Veraye is also part of the yearly calendar in Veytaux. If you want to visit the market, check the date for your travel dates. Group tours of the Forces Motrices de l’Hongrin-Léman facilities are available by prior arrangement. The facilities include two underground pumped-storage power stations on Lake Geneva.

The Grotte de Naye, also known as the Grotte du Glacier, has been closed indefinitely since 11 May 2026 due to ground movement and rockfall. Before planning an excursion, check whether the closure is still in effect.

Discover more destinations: La Lécherette, Jongny, Caux, Chamby, Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Chardonne VD, Vevey, Montreux

Back to the regional travel overview: Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut.