Pully: Lake Geneva, Literature and Forest

Pully is an eastern suburb of Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva and at the foot of the Lavaux vineyards. The municipality stretches from the lake to the Jorat and includes the Monts-de-Pully, with a summit at 806 metres. Pully is also on the road towards Vevey and Montreux.

Literature and art in Pully

La Muette – espaces littéraires is dedicated to the writer Ramuz and his work. An audio-guided tour takes you through his writing room and offers insight into the background of his work. The tour covers around 100 square metres. In addition, from September to June, La Muette hosts a monthly literary programme featuring events, readings, performances and gatherings. Check the programme’s exact dates before your trip.

School classes can book a visit that combines a tour of Ramuz’s writing room with an independent literary walk and a writing workshop in Pully. Availability and participation requirements may change; check them before planning your class visit.

The Musée d’art de Pully presents and promotes national visual art. Together with the literary offerings, it creates a cultural focus that is distinct from the area’s nature and wine themes.

Forest trails and nature observation

The educational trail through the forests of Pully is 1.2 kilometres long; the Vita fitness trail in the forest is 1.8 kilometres. If you are choosing by trail length, the educational trail is the shorter option. The trail passes a viewpoint on the former 300-metre shooting mound at the Volson shooting range. From there, you can look out over a nature reserve with five ponds. A viewing point is also open to the public on the trail at the Volson shooting range biotope.

The ArchéoLab has numerous activity stations: puzzles involving the five senses, hands-on experiments, multimedia and games. These different formats make the museum another specific activity option, alongside the forest trails and observation points.

Wine and history

Le Prieuré originally served as the priory court of the Priory of Payerne. Under Bernese rule, it was used as a wine cellar and vineyard house.

At the Cave de Pully, you can taste and buy nine wines every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.: white, rosé, red, sweet and sparkling wines. As visiting arrangements may change, check the opening hours before your visit. For private wine tastings, the Cave de Pully welcomes groups of up to 30 people by prior arrangement; agree on the date and make a reservation in advance.

On the outskirts of Lausanne, the Campagne Guillemin has a deer park and children’s playgrounds, as well as a beautiful view of the lake and the Alps.

Getting around from Pully

From Pully, trains and CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation) boats provide connections to towns on Lake Geneva and wine-growing villages. Check routes and timetables before your trip. When planning, you can choose between different focuses, from Pully’s cultural attractions and forest trails to an excursion by train or boat.

Discover more destinations: Chexbres, Puidoux, Lutry, Cully Vd, Grandvaux Vd, Saint-Saphorin, Rivaz Vd, Bourg-En-Lavaux.

For the main travel overview: Lavaux.