Lavaux
Terraced vineyards along Lake Geneva, a UNESCO site.
Lavaux is a region in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, comprising 830 hectares of terraced vineyards along the northern shores of Lake Geneva. The terraces date back to the 11th century, established under Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the formal name Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces.
Quick Facts
- Official name
- Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
- Location
- Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
- Criteria
- (iii) (iv) (v)(iii) (iv) (v)
- Area
- 898 ha / 3.47 sq mi
- Buffer zone
- 1,408 ha / 5.44 sq mi
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Since 2016, the vineyards of Lavaux are no longer treated with synthetic pesticides.
- The main wine grape variety grown here is the Chasselas.
Legal protection
Under cantonal law, the vineyards of Lavaux are protected from development. In 1977, voters of the Canton of Vaud accepted a popular initiative called "Save Lavaux" with 55% approval, leading to a 1979 law (Loi sur le plan de protection de Lavaux). The 2003 cantonal constitution omitted the protection article, prompting a second initiative accepted in 2005 by 81% of voters. A third initiative by Franz Weber, aiming to reduce new construction, was rejected in 2014 by 68% of voters; the Council of State's counter-initiative, which strengthened protection less strictly, was accepted by 68%.
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