Travel in Leysin
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Leysin, Switzerland is a laid back, non-posh, non-pretentious mountain village in the Vaud Alps, above Montreux. It also happens to be the site of a ski resort with awesome off piste possibilities. Leysin is quickly earning a reputation as the college of Switzerland, it is the home of five international schools and another opening in the fall of 2004. Live music is no stranger with an active Blues Club Summet du Blues (http://www.sommetdublues.ch/gallery/albums.php) to provide live music year round, open mike nights at the Yeti Bar, and always the impromptu jam if you can find them. When here stroll down the rue du commerce and check out the bohemian galleries, yet another side of this sleepy town. All that and a mountain top revolving restaurant (of course!) In a way it's sort of amazing that one village can have this much cool stuff and remain as laid-back as Leysin is.
Leysin is in the Alpes Vaudois roughly above and one mountain over from Montreux. The panorama includes all of the Alps Vaudois, including the Mont Blanc to the Eiger. It is just as, or more impressive as those found further up into Canton Valais, and prices that are a bit more competitive.
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Get in
By train
Leysin is served by the Swiss Federal Railways (http://www.rail.ch) which has a cog-wheel train which runs once per hour from the Aigle station, which is timed to connect with trains arriving from Montreux on the Geneva-Brig line. On certain dates during the ski season there are direct TGV (http://www.sncf.com) trains from Paris to Brig offering the same connection at Aigle. The trains up to Leysin leave from track 12, which is actually in front of the Aigle station in the parking lot (it's the track closest to the buses).
There are multiple stops within Leysin, mainly because of the grade you'd have to walk up or down otherwise. Leysin-Feydey (024 494 11 16) is the station closest to the Telecabines. For other destinations check the destination listing below for the correct station.
Get around
Leysin combines a great landscape, lower prices, and a lively atmosphere, so what's the rub? This is: a near total lack of public transport once you get off the train. The village bus circulates once per hour. Luckily it's not much trouble to walk to most places for a healthy young traveler, or for that matter for anybody who's used to it. Disabled travelers might opt for a better equipped (if pricier) mountain getaway in perhaps Zermatt or Verbier.
If all else fails you can get a cab from Taxi ABC (http://www.leysin.ch/abc) (024 493 22 93) or Taxi Kojak (024 494 25 55).
See
People mainly come to Leysin to Do things like skiing, mountain biking, or horseback riding. That said, there are a couple of sites worthwhile for the casual traveler, even on a lunchtime excursion from Montreux or Lausanne
- The Berneuse Cable-Car, Place Large, about 100m east from the Leysin-Feydey station, 024 494 16 35, info@teleleysin.ch . Open daily sunrise to sunset. The views on the ride up are nearly as spectacular at those from the top. On a clear day you can take in Mt. Blanc, the Eiger, and Lausanne from this perch above Lac Leman. 18 Chf round trip during the summer, 42 Chf for adults, 30 Chf for a half day during the ski season. http://www.teleleysin.ch/
Do
- Ski, access to most runs from the Berneuse ski station, Place Large. 024 494 16 35. If you are a total beginner of course it's best to take classes, but if you just want to brush up before you go for the gusto you should check out the beginner's slope just above the ski station which costs only 14 Chf to use. It's a bit hard to find at first, so don't be afraid to ask. If you're up to a bit more of a challenge, but still want to practice you can take the chair lifts up to the Tete d'Ai, and then -- taking a left -- ski cross-country style over to a very nice easy run below the Berneuse restaurant. The decent to the same run directly from the Berneuse cable-car is a more intermediate, but you should be able to handle it if you are comfortable turning and stopping. There are also fun descents down from the Tete d'Ai through the forest. Ski passes start at 30 Chf for a half day, and 42 for a full day. http://www.teleleysin.ch
- Toboggan Park Leysin, at the southern edge of the village. +41 24 494 28 68. info@osgsa.ch. 1 (http://www.tobogganing.ch). Claiming to be the first toboggan park in the world which allows snow tubing in bobsled like runs, the toboggan park is a good alternative for kids and adults who are a bit too afraid of heights to ski, but who feel the need for snow and speed. Tickets for an hour and 50 minutes go for 20 Chf for adults and 15 Chf for kids. A single run on a tube is 3 Chf.
Events
- Nescafé Champs Open, at the top of the Berneuse, the first weekend in February, and several days running up. World champions in free-style snowboarding, skiing and para-gliding compete over four days for several thousand dollars worth of prizes provided by the Nestlé corporation. The whole thing is free with your normal lift-tickets, but of course if you want a beer or hot-chocolate you'll pay mountain rates.
Learn
- Fly, try to do tandem paragliding from the Berneuse ski station. Very nice flight which last from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the condition of the day. More informations on http://www.panpam.ch
- Leysin American School +41 24 493 3777. 2 (http://www.las.ch) Offering an American high school diploma, and the international equivalent, the American school more or less guarantees that you'll hear quite a bit of English spoken in Leysin with an American accent. If you or your kid(s) are of high school age check out their programs, including one year, four years, and a summer program.
- KLAS. If you are a traveler who is Japanese and of school age this baccalaureate school presents an opportunity to convince your parents to let you spend 3 months to 4 years in the Swiss Alps.
Buy
- Chez Maria Place du Marché. A fairly typical Swiss souvenir shop in most senses if it weren't for their specialty: Amazing chocolate with pralines, and a huge selection of coffees.
- l'Atelier l'Art Partout. Place de la Gare de Leysin-Feydey. +41 79 215 82 50. A refreshing change from the ordinary souvenir shop, this one has a range of home-made objects many of which the multi-talented proprietor makes herself on the premises.
- La Fromagerie, in the center of the village, there are lots of signs.
+41 24 494 22 05. As the name suggests they make cheese here, and sell it. You can get a fairly personal guided tour of the facilities.
Eat
- Yeti, Rue de Commerce, on skis take a right turn just before the cable car. 076 448 60 42. A very cozy apres-ski place with a wide selection of beers (including an alcohol-free offering). The decor is recent, and very well done, and the soundtrack is fab with jazz on Sundays. The place has changed hands recently, but the new owners are old customers so there should be a good deal of continuity, though sadly the piano and Mac are both gone. There is a dinner menu, and a tapas menu for snacking (the Nachos are terrific) 8-20 Chf.
- Buffet de la Gare, Near the Leysin-Feydey station, just on the other side of the convenience shop. +41 24 494 19 65. More of a typical swiss place, the buffet offers pizzas, tartare, and fondue in a comfy château environment. During the winter there is almost always a collection of local ranchers at the bar.
- Kuklos, at the top of the Berneuse, accessible by cable-car. +41 24 494 31 41. Built to replace a Châlet which burned down in 1984, this revolving restaurant will be known by most winter-time visitors as a ski-lunch stop, but the real time to enjoy the restaurant is during the summer, when they (and the cable car) are open evenings for intimate classical and folk music concerts with a set menu dinner. They are happy to serve vegetarians and vegans any time, but will be better prepared to serve you if you book ahead.
Drink
- Lynx, rue du Commerce 18. +41 24 494 15 32.
- Saloon Leysin, in the village. An American style saloon.
- Top Pub, often frequented by students from the Leysin American School
Sleep
- Le Bel Air, Place Large. +41 24 494 13 39. If you're in Leysin to ski there is no more convenient place to stay. It's directly next to the station for the cable car to the Berneuse. With 20 rooms. As usual with ski hotels the best room is the one in the attic. 80 Chf per person per night.
- Le Grand Chalet, 3 (http://www.hotel-le-grand-chalet.ch) at the Leysin-Grand Hôtel train station. +41 24 494 16 14.
- Le Château +41 24 494 19 17.
- Hôtel la Paix, Rue Rollier. +41 24 494 13 75.
- Leysin Parc Hôtel Near Leysin-Village train station. +41 24 493 0808. info@leysin-parc.ch. A four star hotel and restaurant.
Contact
Internet
Get out
External links
- Leysin Tourism (http://www.leysin.ch/english.shtml)