Yvoire – the Gem of the Lake - Travel with me

For a one-day-trip, this time we decided to cross the border and visit the picturesque, medieval village of Yvoire in France. It is a tiny place, populated with around 1000 people, but if you are staying in this area of Europe, it is totally worth of making a short visit.
It is classified among the most beautiful villages of the country for its preserved medieval architecture, flower-filled terraces and tiny alleys that lead to the Lake Geneva.
If you are a photographer or just enjoy taking pictures for your Instagram page, this is a place for you. You will be inspired by this peaceful little village, its artistic souvenir shops and colorful decorations mixed with gray ancient buildings. After you finish sightseeing, there are numerous restaurants, coffee shops and, our favorite – gelato shops.
Take a tour with us through this magnificent tiny village in France and its floral displays.

Yvoire – the Gem of the Lake

The little town is located on the French shore of Lake Geneva or how French people call it – Lac Leman. Even though it is tiny and populated with only 1000 people, it is always filled with tourists from all over Europe, but mostly neighboring countries. It’s a 25-minute-ride away from Geneva and close to Thonon Les Bains.
What’s so interesting about it is that it still completely preserved its medieval look. When you enter the gates, it is available for pedestrians only. You can walk around the village through small cobblestone allies and look at the beautiful buildings which all look like little castles to me.

The architecture itself is interesting to see, but what makes it even more attractive are all the flowers that seem to bloom from every single balcony and windowsill. So, we recommend visiting it in spring and summer because the flowers add a new dimension to its beauty. A fun fact the locals shared with us is that it used to be a fishing village.
The little town is located on the French shore of Lake Geneva or how French people call it – Lac Leman. Even though it is tiny and populated with only 1000 people, it is always filled with tourists from all over Europe, but mostly neighboring countries. It’s a 25-minute-ride away from Geneva and close to Thonon Les Bains.
What’s so interesting about it is that it still completely preserved its medieval look. When you enter the gates, it is available for pedestrians only. You can walk around the village through small cobblestone allies and look at the beautiful buildings which all look like little castles to me.

The architecture itself is interesting to see, but what makes it even more attractive are all the flowers that seem to bloom from every single balcony and windowsill. So, we recommend visiting it in spring and summer because the flowers add a new dimension to its beauty. A fun fact the locals shared with us is that it used to be a fishing village.

Fortified Gates Preserve the 700-year-old History

The history of this town dates back to the 14th century. It was fortified by Amadeus V and soon gained an important geographical position.
When you enter the city, you have to go through one of the two city gates which are actually time-machines. Inside, you are in the Middle Ages, starting to imagine and thinking about how people used to live and how differently we live our lives today, 700 years later.
There is a magnificent military dungeon from the 14th century named Yvoire castle. It was used as a supervising spot for the road that linked Geneva to the high valley of the Rhone and to Italy. But, in the 16th century, trade route changed and it pushed this typical-Savoy designed castle into decline. Unfortunately, today it is not open to visitors and is only to be admired from outside.
But, what you are allowed to visit is the Garden of the Five Senses. It is a mesmerizing private labyrinth designed to awaken all of the sensations. It was classified as Remarkable Garden by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. The admission is 10€ and it is open from May to October.

Walking Tour

Yvoire is a short drive from Geneva, Evian, Nyon (by passenger ferry), Lausanne and the ski resorts.
The best way to arrive is from Mont Blanc area in Geneva. Use a regular boat or, if you are up for a special adventure, take the antique GCN steamboat. But, it has limited departures, so make sure to plan ahead.
Or you can take a train to Nyon and then a short taxi ride to the docks. From there, you can take the boat, too. And then return directly from Yvoire to Geneva.
When you enter the old city gates you will see a tourist office right there. Next to it, there is a little restaurant if you arrive with an empty stomach. Walk straight to get to the shore, because it’s absolutely gorgeous. You can see a glimpse of Switzerland in the distance. There is another entrance in the back where you can park. The town is really small, so you can easily find everything and there’s also a map on the entrance to help you make your own route.

Artistic Souvenir Shops and Restaurants

Yvoire is very popular with day-trippers and that’s why it has a large number of restaurants, cafés, boutiques, art galleries, studios. The souvenir shops are unusual, you can actually buy some artistic, unique stuff to keep as a memory of this trip, but also to use every day.
Make sure to visit the glass jewelry shop, it has some cool stuff there. You can find anything, such as home decorations, old wooden toys, ice cream… And just a tip if you are in France: “Eau potable” means “Drinkable water”, so feel free to drink the town’s water if you see this sign.
So, here it is, our lovely trip to heaven-like little cute French town near Swiss border because we’re still staying in Switzerland, but that will change very soon. So, make sure to follow us on our tour around the world and find out where we will go next. Don’t forget to watch our video about Yvoire to see this picturesque town for yourself.