Jongny: Vineyards, Forest and Alpine Panorama

Jongny lies in the heart of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The municipality overlooks Lake Geneva and is situated on Mont-Pèlerin. Vineyards, forests and an Alpine panorama shape the village. The landscape, trails and local history are natural highlights of a stay: these include views across the Lake Geneva basin, wooded paths and the terraced vineyards below the village.

Hiking Trails and Cycling Route

Bois de Reule is a forest area consisting mainly of beech and fir trees. Trails and paths run through the forest and are used by hikers. Jongny has 15 hectares of municipal forest. The plan dated September 2, 2025, lists a hiking trail passing through Jongny in the cantonal inventory and also mentions SuisseMobile cycling route No. 478, “Tour du Mont-Pèlerin,” which passes through Jongny. This means that both hiking and cycling are represented by specific routes in the village.

Landscape and Protected Nature

Walkers and visitors enjoy the view across the Lake Geneva basin from the lookout point in Chatillon. Protected landscape features include dry grasslands of national importance in Jongny, which are protected as biotopes under federal and cantonal nature conservation law. Part of the area is listed in the cantonal inventory of monuments and protected sites as object No. 178, “Mont Pèlerin, Mont Cheseaux.”

If you also plan to visit the nearby Marais de la Tuilière nature reserve, the walk from Chaudette takes about ten minutes. The area is maintained every year to preserve its rich biodiversity. The named starting point helps distinguish this visit from the forest trails in Bois de Reule.

Refuge de Reule: Rental and Getting There

The Refuge de Reule can be rented from April to the end of October and is fully equipped. Its facilities include a kitchen, a dishwasher and a barbecue; it can accommodate a maximum of 45 people. If you plan to rent it, check the period and availability for your preferred date. The refuge can be reached on VMCV bus line 13, getting off at the La Chaudette stop; check the current timetable when planning your trip. The regional VMCV line 213 also connects Vevey, Jongny, Monts-de-Corsier and Châtel-St-Denis.

Vineyards and Tastings

Below the village, the vineyards of Domaine des Allours lie on terraced slopes. The winery was founded by Emmanuel Taverney in the 1920s. Product tastings are available by appointment at Rue des Bourgeois 8 in Jongny. The municipality also has vineyards: four hectares of vineyard land lie in the lower part of the municipal area, of which 3,500 square metres belong to the municipality. The municipal vineyards are managed by a vigneron-tâcheron.

Roman Traces and Local History

Archaeological evidence suggests that Jongny has been a transit point since Roman times between the Rhône Valley (Rauraci) and Avenches, the capital of Roman Helvetia. The Sentier romain and the Chemin romain are thought to be remnants of this route. Local tradition also suggests that the Sentier romain may have passed through Jongny in the direction of Attalens Castle.

A bell dating from 1504 comes from the former Saint-Laurent Chapel. It was cast by Pierre Mouron of Chardonne and bears a Latin invocation with the year 1504. It still rings from the bell tower of the former college and is protected as a historic monument; the cantonal inventory entry is dated August 21, 2018. The chapel was in use at the beginning of the 14th century and was subordinate to the parish church of Corsier. The building “La Bourse des Pauvres,” near Place du Molard, was originally used to house citizens in need.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, L'etivaz, Blonay, La Tour-De-Peilz, Montreux, Chardonne VD, La Lécherette, Château-D'oex

For the main travel overview: Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut.