Discover Chens-sur-Léman

Chens-sur-Léman brings together the shores of Lake Geneva and notable reminders of the town’s history. Key themes include Château de Beauregard, the architectural and artistic history of the town, and walking routes connected with the lake and its cultural heritage. At Port de Tougues, expansive lake views also meet archaeological history. This gives you the flexibility to plan your trip around different interests without reducing the area to a single theme.

Lakeshore and landscape

Chens-sur-Léman has about five kilometres of lakeshore. The Lac Léman Natura 2000 site also extends into the municipality: it includes both aquatic and terrestrial areas. Port de Tougues offers an exceptional panorama of Lake Geneva and Switzerland. Views of the lake and the protected lakeshore landscape provide a different focus from the town’s historic buildings.

Château de Beauregard is set within a 25-hectare English-style landscape park on the shores of Lake Geneva. The combination of lakeshore and landscaped park is a distinctive part of the local scenery.

Architectural history and cultural heritage

Château de Beauregard is partially protected as a historic monument. The protection covers the façades and roofs. Its main construction phases date back to the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th centuries. These four dates give an overview of the château’s long building history, while the protected status explicitly applies to only part of the building.

Les Granges de Servette are part of Chens-sur-Léman’s historic heritage. Contemporary art and folk crafts come together there with collections of tools and traditional objects from Chablais. The archaeological remains of the prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement at Port de Tougues reveal another chapter of the past. They are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attest to a lakeside settlement dating from between the 12th and 10th centuries BC.

Église Sainte Anne also has its own distinctive historical and architectural character: it is Sardinian Neoclassical. After being destroyed during the French Revolution, the church was rebuilt in 1827. The landing stage at Port de Tougues dates from 1864. Alongside the prehistoric settlement remains, it stands as evidence from a very different period.

Walking routes and trip planning

The Boucle de Beauregard is a walking route from the shores of Lake Geneva through the landscape of Chens-sur-Léman to the Musée des Granges de Servette. The starting point is the Tougues car park in Chens-sur-Léman. The route thus links a lakeside walk with a destination that is part of the local cultural heritage. It is accessible daily throughout the year and free of charge; check local access conditions before setting out.

The GRP® Littoral du Léman route also ends in Chens-sur-Léman. This is a separate route detail from the Boucle de Beauregard. As route conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before hiking. These two details help you consider a walking path and a hiking route as different trip-planning options without treating their routes as the same.

Beaches and waterside activities

Plage de Tougues has a designated picnic area on the lakeshore. The water sports centre there offers a range of water sports activities for children and adults. Check the current availability of these activities before your trip. At Plage de Beauregard, a footpath runs along the lakeshore towards Château de Beauregard and continues below the château. If you are planning for local parking, bear in mind that parking options may change.

Chens-sur-Léman offers several distinct points of interest to help you choose what to focus on: architectural history and art, archaeological remains, walking routes, and Lake Geneva with its shores. Whether you focus on the construction phases of Château de Beauregard, the collections at Les Granges de Servette or a route connected with the lake depends on which of these themes matters to your trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Yvoire, Lyaud, Montagny-Les-Lanches, Saint-André-de-Boëge, Marcellaz-Albanais, Bonneville, Archamps, Nâves-Parmelan.

For the wider travel overview: Haute-Savoie.