Lake Geneva
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Thehairs1970
- Posts: 714
- Joined: 11 Aug 2018, 9:30am
Lake Geneva
Simple question - is it worth cycling round Lake Geneva and which side if yes?
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rareposter
- Posts: 3388
- Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 2:40pm
Re: Lake Geneva
You can cycle the whole thing, it's about 170km (106 miles), all on tarmac. The Swiss side is better marked than the French side but both are fine. Note that the route is not just around the lake, there are sections where it goes inland a bit. Some sections of main road, especially through towns but it's France / Switzerland so everything is fine plus it's a well-used route.
It's all pretty flat and a good surface - on a decent road bike it's achievable in 6hrs plus some food stops. Worth following a .gpx file though, some of the signage can be easy to miss and if you go off route (for lunch, photos, whatever), finding the way back onto the route is a lot easier with a map display.
It can be very hot in summertime, mid to high 30's celsius. Worth starting early to avoid the heat and the tourists!
In France by the way it's called the Tour de Lac Leman or sometimes just Tour de Leman.
It's all pretty flat and a good surface - on a decent road bike it's achievable in 6hrs plus some food stops. Worth following a .gpx file though, some of the signage can be easy to miss and if you go off route (for lunch, photos, whatever), finding the way back onto the route is a lot easier with a map display.
It can be very hot in summertime, mid to high 30's celsius. Worth starting early to avoid the heat and the tourists!
In France by the way it's called the Tour de Lac Leman or sometimes just Tour de Leman.
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Thehairs1970
- Posts: 714
- Joined: 11 Aug 2018, 9:30am
Re: Lake Geneva
Thanks - I don’t want to go all the way round. We have friends who live near the east end who we were thinking of visiting and then heading off on a 8/9day tour. We were thinking of leaving the car at theirs before heading over to Aix les Bains on a circular route back via Chamonix. Some people have suggested the lake, in summer, isn’t worth it.
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simonthread
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 19 Mar 2024, 9:55am
Re: Lake Geneva
Oh, wow, this was one of our most beautiful cycling moments! The Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is the end of the Lakes Route, a really nice route across Switzerland. The very last section takes you through the stone terraces of the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Below, you can see how it looks - an absolutely unforgettable moment and a must-ride section.
Lake Geneva itself is also a kind of cycling "hub" there - several Swiss cycling routes start (end) or pass through here. For us it’s one of the most memorable places we’ve cycled in Europe.
S.
Lake Geneva itself is also a kind of cycling "hub" there - several Swiss cycling routes start (end) or pass through here. For us it’s one of the most memorable places we’ve cycled in Europe.
S.
Re: Lake Geneva
The Swiss side is much nicer than the French side with stunning views of the Haute Savoie pre-Alps across the lake. The vineyards, as mentioned above, are also beautiful. Think I suggested this to you a few years ago for your Cern-centric trip.
