Mountain bliss in Leysin, Switzerland
I clearly have Switzerland on my mind this summer.
That’s because I’ve been up bringing my older son to French camp and picking him up, and I’ve had time to explore the pretty region around Lake Geneva.
And this is the idyllic mountaintop community where he’s been spending his time – Leysin. In the winter, it’s a ski resort. In the summer, an ideal base for hiking.
My son fell in love with this beautiful mountain community during his time here – and who the heck can blame him?
The part of the Alps around Leysin is known as being one of the sunniest areas of the Swiss Alps.
He spent his time here learning French here in the mornings, and hiking, swimming, playing tennis, and rock-climbing in the afternoons. Not that I was jealous at all hearing all about this while I was sitting in my office… : )
With limited time and less than ideal hiking shoes, I took my son up the gondola instead of the same path he’d hiked with his friends.
The views over the mountains, neighboring France,the Rhone River, and Lake Geneva were impressive.
I’d love to get back for some wintertime skiing, but on that sunny day in July, I enjoyed my views over the mountains, and watching in awe as the mountain bikers hurtled down the steep slopes.
Talk about an idyllic Alpine get-away.
Leysin is easy to reach by car or public transport from Geneva.
There are frequent trains from Geneva around Lake Geneva to the town of Aigle.
In that wine-producing town, you switch to the roller-coaster style mountain train up to Leysin (just over 1200 meters).
Winter or summer – you’re sure to enjoy your spectacular Alpine perch. I know my son can’t wait to get back.
Enjoy Leysin, and life in the relaxing and unhurried Swiss Alps.
Lovely. Was in the area of Basel years ago, and would love to visit Switzerland again some day.
Ooooh, I’ve been all over Switzerland, but never to Basel. Need to go next time!
It’s beeyooteeful!
: )
This is indeed a gorgeous area. I have not been many times since Normandy and Paris are quite far, but enough to know how amazing the views are there. Enjoy since you are much closer than I am from this great area.
Haha. Well now, we’re probably equidistant, since I’m in the mountains of Wyoming (Grand Teton – gorgeous!) But yes, I agree with you on the beauty of Switzerland. So glad my son enjoyed it, and made great progress with his French. Seems he wants to get back, so I’ll have great ‘excuses’ to return. How we moms suffer, n’est-ce pas? : )
😊
[…] I’ve already written about how I was able to explore around Lake Geneva this past summer while dropping off and picking up my son from camp in beautiful Leysin, Switzerland . […]
[…] For more Swiss travel tips, see my earlier posts on highlights of Geneva, the birds’ eye view from the cathedral belltower, visiting Lausanne, the jazz festival at Montreux and visiting Alpine Leysin. […]