©Marion-Landon-2014
Payerne / Estavayer-le-Lac
This region is set in the bucolic atmosphere of Lake Neuchâtel in the north of the canton of Vaud and near the canton of Fribourg. The few parcels of vines in this small wine area feature rare treasures that go well together with delicious fish dishes in the nearby restaurants.
Lake Neuchâtel has been a valuable resource for millennia, as evidenced by the prehistoric stilt dwellings classified as UNESCO world heritage. The shores feed the vines, while the lake provides many fish varieties to the fishermen.
The monks who, nearly one thousand years ago, built the abbey church of Payerne, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, were certainly attracted by the tranquil beauty of the area. Not far from the medieval town of Estavayer-le-Lac, visitors of today can enjoy the preserved nature site of Grande Cariçaie, the largest lakeside marshes of Switzerland, and try their hand a vast variety of water sports, while the large palette of local products will satisfy the most discerning of gourmets.