Rhone Valley Swiss Bike Tours

Most people assume that Swiss Bike tours is about crossing mountains over very hilly terrain.

However, where there are mountains there are also valleys so you do have a choice of either type of terrain.

Swiss Bike Tours – Rhone Valley Route

The Rhone Valley is the most popular of Swiss Cycling National Routes and is over a 320 km (200 mile) distance in both French and German parts of the country.

Swiss Bike tours tips for cycling trip along the Rhone Valley:
• This entire Swiss cycling National route is signed. Where there is construction or connections with local routes it can get confusing.
• Hotels and camping in the Lausanne and Montreux areas is very popular and it is advisable you make reservations.

The Swiss Rail pass permits easy connections to other Swiss cycling routes and also provides free entrance to most museums, Castle Chillon and discounts on lake ferries

Along the Shores of Lake Geneva
You will be following the Swiss Cycling National Route 1 signs and the shores of Lake Geneva as you depart the international city of Geneva. The Rhone Valley route in this section runs along paved parks, quiet roads, promenades never goes too far from Lake Geneva with its palm trees and flower gardens.

Your first destination is Lausanne and you pass the world headquarters of the Olympic Organizing Committee, and may wish to visit their museum. From the promenade known as Ouchy heading into the heart of the city is uphill but worth the effort. The Musee De L’Art Brut featuring eccentric artists or people from mental asylums offers some very striking art.

Your Swiss Bike Tours continues to Montreux with this section mainly on bike lanes along one side of the road with vineyards stretching up the hillside on the other side. The town of Vevey is the heart of the Swiss wine industry and is also the world headquarters for the Nestle company. You are in the French speaking part of Switzerland and can expect excellent wine and food.

In Montreux stop on the waterfront and admire the statue to the late Freddy Mecury, of Queen, who lived here. Another must see is the medieval Castle Chillon located steps from the Rhone Bike route. Side trips are also available to Gruyere to sample the cheese.

The Rhone River Valley

Leaving Montreux on your Swiss cycling journey you pass the Castle Chillon and soon the Rhone Valley Bike route turns into a paved riverside bike path.

A surprise is the World Cycling Centre, a veledrome located right beside the bike path. The valley is mostly fruit farms along the river with steep mountain slopes on both side.

The city of Sion is a trendy wine center and great place to stop for the night. Continue your Swiss cycling along the Rhone Valley to Brig. If you wish to go hiking take the mountain train to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. You are now in the German part of Switzerland with the most significant different found on restaurant menu’s.

If you continue your Swiss cycling the route has a gentle uphill as you head to Andermatt. From here you can take a train a few kilometers through the mountains to reach the beginning of the Rhine Valley route which continues all the way to the Netherlands.

Swiss Bike Tours along the Rhone Valley route offers tremendous variety covering French and German parts of Switzerland, lots of vineyards, castles, museums, lakefront promenades, shopping along a gently rolling route.

Although the route is signed in sections some sections between Lausanne and Montreux there are many turns and local bike routes which can be confusing which is why I recommend the Cicerone Cycling Guide of Switzerland which covers all nine national routes.

Finally, I must say that the Swiss are the most polite people towards cyclists I have met anywhere in the world. Swiss Bike Tours are one of the most scenic anywhere, enjoy!

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