Last Updated on October 31, 2026
A pick of autumn experiences in the Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland
The stunning Alpes Vaudoises are located in western Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, easily reached by train from Geneva Airport.
Autumn is an excellent season to visit this picturesque area in Switzerland. It is much quieter after the peak summer months, making it an ideal time for a short break. The scenery is breathtaking, the cheese delicious, and the wine produced in Vaud is well worth sampling. Switzerland produces a lot of wine, something people may not realise, as most Swiss wine is sold and consumed in the home market.
We were on a short trip exploring the Alpes Vaudoises, visiting some of the key attractions. From Geneva airport, we caught the train to Rougemont in the Pays d’Enhaut, the country above. The train is the best way to travel within Switzerland, as there is an excellent, punctual rail network. With a change at Montreux station, we boarded the stunning GoldenPass Belle Époque train heading towards Interlaken.
The journey was a luxurious and memorable experience: plush, spacious seats resembling armchairs in a roomy, highly ornate carriage with large windows perfect for soaking in the scenery. I have never had a more comfortable train journey.
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Rougemont
Rougemont village, known as one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages, is located in a valley surrounded by mountains not far from Gstaad in the neighbouring Canton of Bern. The train journey to Gstaad is a short seven minutes. Rougemont, taking its name from the red hue of the mountains in a certain light, is famous for its centuries-old, beautifully preserved wooden chalets, many of which line the main street.
The carved exteriors are exquisite, bearing traditional religious inscriptions on the frontage; some feature two wooden staircases to gain entrance. Small wooden tiles, or tavillons, cover the roofs.
The Rougemont church is worth a visit. This small but charming church dates back to the eleventh century when it was constructed by the Cluny monks. The interior has been beautifully restored; today it is a delightful venue for concerts as well as worship. Rougemont church is designated a Swiss cultural building of national importance.
Rougemont was home to the Institut Alpin Videmanette, a women’s finishing school, teaching lessons in French. Its most famous attendee was Diana Spencer, albeit for a very short period.
Cheese-making demonstration at Le Chalet
The village of Château d’Oex, renowned for its annual hot air balloon festival, lies a short train journey from Rougemont. Visit Le Chalet restaurant for lunch, where you can sample a tasty, regional alpine dish, such as rösti or fondue, with a live cheese-making demonstration. The cheesemaker slowly stirs the milk in a large copper pot over flames in the traditional manner before straining off the whey and compressing the curds in a mould to form the cheese wheel. This is a highly entertaining meal.
Maison de l’Etivaz
From Château d’Oex, catch a bus to the cheese cellars at Maison de l’Etivaz where you can see the racks of artisan cheese wheels slowly maturing. L’Etivaz is a hard cheese, similar to Gruyère, made in the summer months in the surrounding mountains. The farmers move up into the pastures with their cows in the summer, living in small mountain houses called Alpages.
The cheese is made by hand over a wood fire, with the wheels transported daily down to the cave where they are soaked in brine for twenty-four hours before being stored on long shelves to mature. The cheese is aged for at least one hundred and thirty-five days to meet the AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) standard. The average maturation period is eighteen months. The tour ends with the chance to sample a selection of the cheeses. Etivaz cheese is hard and fruity, with a floral hint and delicious.
Château d’Aigle
Visit the town of Aigle, dominated by the medieval Château d’Aigle. This charming castle is surrounded by Chablais vineyards. The view from the top of the château ramparts is stunning, with vineyards stretching out into the distance.
The building, formerly a prison, now houses the wine label exhibition, an intriguing collection of wine bottles showcasing their colourful and quirky labels.
Wine tasting at Cave Alain Emery
The Chablais vineyards produce wine from the Chasselas grape, the predominant vine throughout Switzerland. A visit to a wine cave in Aigle to sample wine from local vineyards is not to be missed. Cave Alain Emery, in the centre of Aigle, holds regular wine-tasting sessions. This local family wine producer has been growing vines on parcels of land around Aigle for five generations. Although Chassalas grapes are mainly used for white wines, you can taste a variety of wines, including a light and fruity pinot noir.
Bex salt mines
A short distance from Aigle are the Bex salt mines, the oldest salt mines in Switzerland still mining salt. Take a guided tour of the mines and discover more about their fascinating history.
You board a small train which takes you deep into the impressive darkened interior of the mines through one of the tunnels. There is a labyrinth of tunnels, shafts and open galleries, an astounding fifty kilometres in total. Originally discovered by a shepherd with his goat, in a time when salt was a much-prized commodity, the mines have been extensively developed.
Nowadays, the salt is mined using the latest equipment, a long cry from the harsh conditions the first miners experienced working in a dark, damp and dangerous environment. A visit to the Bex salt mines is an interesting and illuminating experience.
Les Diablerets
No trip to the Alpes Vaudoises is complete without mountain experiences. There is no better place to stay than Les Diablerets, a mountain village at the foot of a striking mountain range, the highest in the Alpes Vaudoises. In the olden days, people believed the high alpine mountains were scary places inhabited by devils; Les Diablerets means “little devils.”
The Peak Walk by Tissot
At an altitude of one thousand and twenty metres in the village from the Col du Pillon base station, a two-stage cable car system takes you up the mountain. In just fifteen minutes, you reach the Scex Rouge summit and The Peak Walk by Tissot at Glacier 3000.
On the day of our visit to Glacier 3000, there was an inversion fog in the valley. When we took the cable car ride, we rose up through the clouds. The weather at the top was sunny; the clouds were already dissipating below to reveal outstanding views.
The Peak Walk by Tissot is unique, being the only walk on a suspension bridge between two mountain peaks in the world. A short set of stairs takes you to the start of the bridge; you can feel the effect of the altitude at this point. The bridge is a magnificent sight; it may be frightening if you are afraid of heights, as it moves slightly when you walk across it.
Set into the rock at the other side of the bridge is an impressive large Tissot clock face, showing the correct time, of course. The views are stupendous in all directions. The Peak walk by Tissot was a highlight of our visit to the Alpes Vaudoises.
Rando-Raclette Walk
From the village of Diablerets, you can walk along Le Grand Eau, the river flowing through its centre. There are marked walking paths leading in all directions. A leisurely stroll by the river is delightful, rewarding you with views of the majestic mountains towering above. A fun thing to do is a Rando- Raclette walk, where you hire a raclette kit, containing a small portable burner with cheese, local sausage, bread and beer, from the Tourist Office. Outdoor picnic tables dotted about in the valley are the perfect spot to stop and tuck into a raclette al fresco.
The Alpes Vaudoises are a beautiful destination in autumn. The scenery is spectacular, with the foliage slowly starting to change colour. You can sample some local Vaud wine, indulge in cheese experiences, and enjoy the exhilaration of a high mountain walk as well as an underground visit to the salt mines in Bex. The Alpes Vaudoises will not disappoint.
Where to stay in the Alpes Vaudoises
In Rougemont, Le Hotel de Commune, originally an old coaching inn, is centrally located a short walk from the station. The hotel has comfortable rooms, a spacious bar and restaurant.
The historic Hotel du Pillon is situated in a small hamlet close to the village of Les Diablerets. It is a cosy, homely and unique hotel, set above the road up on a hillside, with sweeping views down to the valley and the mountains beyond.
I flew from London Heathrow to Geneva with Swiss Air. In Switzerland, I travelled by train and bus with a Swiss Pass. I was hosted by Pays d’Enhaut and Vaud Promotion.
Why not check out our feature on Swiss lakes and mountains by train with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Factbox
For more information on the Alpes Vaudoises as a destination.
For details of the cheesemaking demonstration at Le Chalet in Château d’Oex.
Find out more about La Maison de l’Etivaz.
Click here for Cave Alain Emery in Aigle.
For opening times and more information on the Salt Mines of Bex. Whilst tours are in French and German, a downloaded SmartApp guides you through the journey in English.
For ticket information and cable car times to access the Peak Walk by Tissot.
Interested in discovering more about the Rando-Raclette, visit Les Diablerets Tourist Office.
Switzerland Tourism
For more information on Switzerland, visit switzerland.com
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)
SWISS connects Switzerland with the world, offering more than 160 weekly flights from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Zurich or Geneva. One-way fares start from £76 to Zurich and from £54 to Geneva, and include all taxes, fees and surcharges, one piece of checked luggage weighing up to 23kg and one piece of hand luggage. SWISS are also happy to transport your first set of ski or snowboard equipment and boots free of charge in addition to your standard free baggage allowance subject to availability (excluding hand-luggage-only fares). swiss.com
Travel Switzerland
Travel Switzerland’s Swiss Travel Pass offers international visitors to Switzerland unlimited travel on consecutive days across the rail, bus and boat network, plus scenic routes (seat reservation fees apply) and local trams and buses in around 90 towns and cities. It also includes the Swiss Museum Pass, which grants free entry to 500 museums and exhibitions. Prices start from £254 for a three-day second-class ticket. swisstravelpass.com
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