Chamby: Historic Railway and Lake Geneva Views

Chamby is defined by the historic Blonay–Chamby museum railway and nearby hiking trails. At an altitude of around 749 metres, the village offers views of Lake Geneva and the surrounding Alps. If you want to combine culture and outdoor activity, you’ll find two distinct travel interests here.

The Village and Its Landscape

The trails around Chamby offer panoramic views of the Montreux region and beyond. The museum railway runs above the Vaud Riviera; you can also see Lake Geneva and the Riviera from the train. This lets you experience the landscape either on foot along the trails or on a ride aboard the historic train.

The Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway

Chamby’s historic station serves as the starting point for the Blonay–Chamby museum railway. The train runs from Blonay via Chamby to Chaulin-Musée; the Blonay–Chamby section is three kilometres long. The museum railway is considered the oldest in Switzerland, and Blonay–Chamby was the country’s first living railway museum.

The line has features of a genuine mountain railway: a steep gradient, a viaduct, a section along a steep slope, and a tunnel. Historic trains run on the line, hauled by old steam locomotives or historic electric railcars. The journey thus combines railway engineering from a bygone era with views of the lake and Riviera.

The Chaulin–Chamby Museum houses around 80 metre-gauge railway vehicles. The collection includes steam locomotives, electric trams, and elegant Belle Époque carriages. About 70 per cent of the museum railway’s vehicles are kept in working order—a glimpse into the work required not only to preserve historic railway vehicles, but also to keep them operational.

A special chapter in the collection is the G 3/3 No. 5 steam locomotive, named Bercher. Built in 1890 for the Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher railway, it is one of Switzerland’s oldest locomotives and is considered the oldest locomotive in the canton of Vaud. After being installed as a monument in a playground in Feldkirch, Austria, Blonay–Chamby rescued it in 1973; Bercher returned to service in 1985.

Ernest Hemingway is also connected with Chamby: during his first visit to Switzerland in January 1922, he stayed at the Pension de la Forêt. Hemingway wrote several chapters of «A Farewell to Arms»; his sources of inspiration included sledging in Les Avants and walks in the snow near the Bains de l’Alliaz.

Hiking Trails and Seasonal Views

There are hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels around the museum. The Sentier des 22 Contours runs between Chamby and Azot. The walking section between Chamby and Les Avants can also be followed as a route in its own right; from there, you can continue by train to Montreux. Check the current train service in advance if you plan to continue this way.

Between Azot and Les Avants, the trail offers views of daffodil meadows during the flowering season in May. The timing of the bloom varies from year to year. During the Belle Époque, the May daffodil bloom in Montreux and the higher elevations of the Vaud Riviera was the main attraction of the year—a historical backdrop to today’s seasonal hiking scenery.

Elevation gain can also help you choose a route: except for Route 3, the hiking routes involve around 250 to 300 metres of ascent. The climb on foot from Les Avants to Sonloup involves 450 metres of ascent; the descent can add up to 600 metres. One hiking route is listed as taking around 3 hours and 15 minutes when the ascent from Les Avants to Sonloup is made by funicular. This duration is a guide and depends on conditions and the availability of the transport service.

Plan Your Visit

A volunteer-run association operates the museum trains on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, as well as on some public holidays. Check the timetable before your visit. The Buffet de la Gare de Chaulin offers several hot and cold menus.

Discover more destinations: Rougemont Vd, Chardonne, La Tour-De-Peilz, Caux, Chardonne VD, Les Avants, Château-D'oex, L'etivaz.

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