Dezaley – Dézaley

Autumnal hiking in Dézaley

Written on 1 October 2023. Posted in Blog, Dezaley.

The Appelation Dézaley Grand Cru lies right in the middle of Lavaux. “This UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 is a cultural landscape shaped by the hand of man since the 11th century. This vineyard of 10,000 terraces, criss-crossed by wine trails and dotted with winegrowing villages, retains its authenticity and integrity, offering an architectural heritage of exceptional richness and diversity.” (https://www.montreuxriviera.com/fr/Z13279/lavaux)

For vineyard and wine enthusiasts, autumn in Lavaux is the ideal season: it’s the time of the grape harvest, of new wine, a very special moment for this terroir that is celebrated by countless fêtes des Vendanges, but also in the vineyards and cellars by the families and teams of grape-pickers who celebrate the end of the wine-growing year.

Our association brings together some fifty producers of wines from the Dézaley Grand Cru appellation, and their cellars are booming at this time of year, so don’t hesitate to stop by on your autumn strolls through Dézaley.

Looking forward to your visit, we wish our member winemakers an excellent harvest.

Photo: Marie Contreras

Cross through the Doors of the Dézaley and immerse yourself in the beauty of Lavaux vinyards!

Written on 10 August 2023. Posted in Dezaley.

Walking is the best way to immerse oneself in the beauty of Dézaley. The winemakers in the appellation area have made a lovely and easy loop that takes about 1 hour and 50 minute, featuring five metallic framed entryways. So many emblematic place names, spots that offer sublime viewing points which look out over the lake and the Alps, where you can discover these exceptional vineyards that are suspended between the Earth and sky.

The itinerary is easily reached on foot from the CFF/SBB rail stations in Cully, Epesses, Chexbres, Grandvaux and Rivaz. Or why not go to Cully and Rivaz by lake, on one of the sumptuous old CGN steamboats from the Belle Époque ?

Discovering the terraces of Lavaux through out the Dézaley, from Cully to Rivaz

Written on 27 June 2023. Posted in Dezaley.

From the train station in Cully follow the yellow hiking trail signs for “Terrasses de Lavaux” on the north side of the rail tracks, heading in the direction of Vevey. After a few hundred metres the path begins to climb. Below the village of Epesses, you cross the trail that leads to the Epesses train station. Carry on straight along the Chemin du Calamin, which quickly takes you to the first door, Porte 1, which marks the intersection of the Chemin du Calamin and Chemin du Dézaley, the only two AOC Grand Crus in Canton Vaud.

From Rivaz (reached by the CFF rail station or the CGN dock) you climb to the village, up to the central Place; when you have found the school and its bell, you head west. After a small descent, over the bridge that crosses the Forestay stream, you climb again to the entrance to Dèzaley, where the Chemin du Dézaley and Chemin de la Dame meet (Porte 2). You also have the option to rejoin Porte 2 from the Vinorama, where a lovely staircase will take you to the departure point, going along the Forestay and its waterfall – at times quite powerful.

We recommend that you use good protective creams and make sure you have enough water to last you the length of your walk!

Time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Easy hiking level. Change in elevation: 238 metres.

Access
By train to Cully, or by CGN boat during the operating season. Return by train or boat.

Map
From Lavaux, or get the regional map, available in the Montreux-Vevey Tourism Office. Also downloadable at www.montreuxriviera.com

The Notre Dame cross

Written on 27 February 2019. Posted in Dezaley.

When heading down from Chexbres, one sees, planted in the middle of the terraced vineyards of Lavaux and accessible from the Route de la Corniche, the Notre Dame cross. It marks the fact that this was a stop for pilgrims for many centuries. The 25^th of March, the feast of the Annunciation to Mary, was celebrated in the Lausanne Cathedral with a large gathering. But for reasons of distance as well as safety because the roads were infested with robbers, large numbers of pilgrims came to this high spot, from which they could see the cathedral. Until the 19^th century, Protestants and Catholics continued to come here and to pray. In 1975, when the cathedral celebrated its 700^th anniversary, the two Churches put up the iron cross that is there today, to honour this spot so symbolic of ecumenism.

Cross, Dézaley, Notre Dame

Vineyards praised by Napolean

Written on 27 February 2019. Posted in Dezaley.

Emperor Napolean passed through Lavaux 16 May 1800 during his Italian campaign. It was the value of the work carried out by vignerons that he commented on: “Those who work here with such fervour and courage deserve our admiration and merit an exemption from taxes.”

Dézaley, Marsens, Tour

Autumnal hiking in Dézaley

Cross through the Doors of the Dézaley and immerse yourself in the beauty of Lavaux vinyards!

Discovering the terraces of Lavaux through out the Dézaley, from Cully to Rivaz

The Notre Dame cross

Vineyards praised by Napolean

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