Spring 2022

Lac Leman
Lac Leman (Lake Geneva in English) is the
largest lake in western Europe. It gets its name
from either the Greek for ‘lake’s port’ or the
Celtic word ‘limos’, referring to the local fertile
mud. It’s just a 30-minute ferry crossing from
Evian to Lausanne from where you can easily
visit the Swiss Riviera and the steep-sided
UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards on the
shores of the lake. If you do, stop for a tasting
of the local Chasselas wines. The Domaine
Bovard in Cully is one of the best, their Buxus
Sauvignon Blanc is superb. In the 12 th century,
Cistercian monks created miles of walls and
terraces using French stones across the lake to
support the terraces. So, there are, arguably,
two French sides of Lake Geneva. The monks
also planted the original vine rootstock.
Lunch at Tout un Monde Restaurant in Lavaux
and you’ll enjoy a view down most of the 104
mile perimeter, croissant-shaped, 25-mile long
Evian Resort golf course © Hotel R Evian Resort
by 11-mile wide lake which is fed by forty-two
rivers. From the terrace you see Evian, the
Bernese Alps, Mont Pelerin, the Savoie and
Valais mountains, Montreux and Vevey. While
digesting your char, féra, perch fillets and lake
shrimps you can watch the yachts and swanky
boats as you relish the fabulous view.
Frankenstein connection
Everyone sleeps well at the Hotel Royal.
All except Mrs Frankenstein. She and her
husband honeymooned there, before she was
strangled. In Mary Shelley’s dark tale, Victor
Frankenstein, the creator of the monster,
agrees to create a mate for him. Destroying it
before completion, the monster vows ‘I will be
with you on your wedding night.’ On the day
Victor married Elisabeth, the monster breaks
into the bridal suite at the Hotel Royal and
strangles the new bride.
The Good Life France | 63