Yvonand: Sandy Beaches and Traces of Past Cultures

Yvonand combines sandy beaches on Lake Neuchâtel with prehistoric and Roman sites, as well as trails through lakeside and valley landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel in Yvonand, you can start by considering which of these themes you would like to shape your stay: time at the beach, water sports, history, or hiking and cycling.

Beaches and water sports on Lake Neuchâtel

Yvonand’s beaches are known for their fine sand, gently sloping shores and pine forest. The gently sloping entry into the water and weak currents at Yvonand’s beaches make them particularly suitable for children. Goncerut Beach also offers fine sand and a gently sloping shore, set in a natural, tree-lined environment.

At the beaches, you can enjoy a range of activities on Lake Neuchâtel, including pedal boating, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, sailing, motorboating and kitesurfing. At the Port of Yvonand, the Les Vikings water sports centre rents out various watercraft for use on the lake. Les Vikings’ instructors also offer introductory sessions and theoretical and practical preparation for sailing or motorboat licence exams.

Pile-dwelling history and Roman traces

Yvonand Bay is home to an archaeological site with five prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements on dry land. The three most significant sites, Yvonand II, IV and V, partially overlap at Le Marais. This archaeological site is important for understanding Neolithic settlement in western Switzerland and is the westernmost Horgen site in Switzerland. It also bears witness to the transition between the Horgen and Lüscherz cultures.

Ceramic objects from both cultures are particularly well represented at Le Marais. Two copper pins with rolled-up heads provide evidence of the earliest copper metallurgy in western Switzerland. The finds also make the site interesting to visitors who are curious about the region’s long history as well as its visible landscapes.

The Roman villa of Mordagne extends beneath the present-day hamlet of Mordagne, covering almost 10 hectares in the Mentue floodplain. In the 3rd century, when the complex reached its maximum extent, it comprised two distinct areas: the representative pars urbana was the owner’s residence on the lakeshore; the agricultural pars rustica stretched for almost 500 metres along the meanders of the Mentue. Information panels at the villa trace the excavations and explain its layout.

Yvonand’s present-day temple is also connected with this Roman past: in 1748, stones from the villa’s ruins were used in its construction. The date refers to the use of the stones in building the present-day temple.

Hiking and cycling routes with different focuses

The Sentier du Tri is a signposted 14-kilometre trail with 17 stages that you can cover on foot or by bicycle. Its two loops differ mainly in their surroundings: one runs through the countryside, while the other passes through the village and along the lakeshore. Along the way, the trail also explains a second use for everyday waste.

The Menthue Valley route is a 7.1-kilometre hike with an approximate duration of two hours, and is considered fairly easy. It passes through a protected forest reserve and a largely unspoilt area where deer, salamanders and dragonflies can be found. There are picnic areas and a covered shelter for hikers along the route. Its length, approximate walking time and difficulty rating give you concrete points of reference when comparing this tour with other routes in Yvonand.

Another signposted hike runs through the Vallon des Vaux and starts at Yvonand railway station; its highlight is the Tour Saint-Martin. The 22-metre-high tower was built around 1240 and overlooks the Vallon des Vaux. Along with a few remains of the fortifications, it is the only surviving part of an important medieval town.

The Chemin des Grèves du lac follows the shores of Lake Neuchâtel and passes through the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve. The area lies on the southern shore of the lake and is considered a habitat for nearly a quarter of Switzerland’s animal and plant life. The Sentier des Fleurs de Bach, by contrast, runs through the centre of Yvonand and passes various Bach flower locations. Yvonand and its surroundings also have signposted SuisseMobile hiking routes through forests and villages, as well as through the Vallon de la Menthue and the Vallon des Vaux.

Printing arts and practical information

At the Espace Gutenberg in Yvonand, techniques for book printing, lithography and papermaking are demonstrated; visitors can also operate some of the presses themselves. The collection includes printing machines and materials from the 18th to the 20th century. Authentic 19th-century machines are still operational. Visits are possible by appointment, so arrange your visit in advance.

For train travel, Yvonand railway station has a P+Rail car park with 55 spaces, including one space for people with disabilities. The Port d’Yvonand is two kilometres from the town centre, has 500 berths and offers five visitor berths. There is a large car park nearby. These details complement the various ways to explore Yvonand, from the lakeshore and village to the trails in the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Vugelles-La Mothe, Bullet Vd, Grandevent, Vuiteboeuf, Sainte-Croix, Grandson, Le Chenit, Yverdon-Les-Bains

For the broader travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.