iCyclades - Cyclades Discovery Guide

Chemin de la Poste is a small street which, starting from the main road, crosses the village core of the port, becomes Chemin de la Planette through some vineyards and... joins the main road a few dozen metres further on.

A few metres further on, Chemin de la Poste becomes Chemin de la Planette and leads back to the main road. Let's go back to continue the stroll!

A short street that climbs from the main road and joins Chemin Neuf just before the village centre.

To the west of the church, the street that crosses the village is named Chemin du Chapon. On the right, stairs lead up to Place du Peuplier ("Poplar Square"), then to Chemin du Mont leading to Chexbres.

Further on, Chemin du Chapon descends in a one-way direction towards the main road (Route Cantonale) and the lakeside. Our stroll will now take the narrow passage that opens up on the left and explore the most picturesque lanes of the village.

We are here in the centre of the village of Saint-Saphorin, in the heart of the Lavaux wine region, which terraced vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our virtual stroll includes of course a visit to the church of Saint-Symphorien, which name has changed over the centuries to become the name of the present village.

Above the church, an arched passageway leads to Sentier des Rondes, a path which climbs through the vineyards to the road linking Chexbres to Corseaux, just outside Vevey.

On the right, Escaliers de la Place ("Square Stairway") lead directly down to Place du Peuplier ("Poplar Square"), which is in front of the church. This is the centre of the village, where you can also go straight on.

The higher you go up Chemin du Mont, the more the view of Saint-Saphorin will resemble a postcard, with the truncated bell tower of its church giving it a transalpine look and the steep vineyards plunging into the lake surrounded by mountains.

Our virtual stroll begins (or ends) here, in the vineyards. Further up, Chemin du Mont continues to climb to Chexbres. Further down, we descend to Place du Peuplier ("Poplar Square"), opposite the entrance to the church, which characteristic bell tower we see in the distance.

Chemin Neuf is the main street, leading from the main road along the lake to the centre of the village. Here, our view is directed towards Impasse de la Papille ("Papilla Dead End"), a short alleyway leading to private houses.

Chemin Neuf is the main street, leading from the main road along the lake to the centre of the village. Here, our view plunges into Passage des Vignerons, which goes down to Ruelle Romaine.

Chemin Neuf is the main street of Saint-Saphorin, running from Route Cantonale (main road along the lake) east of the village and ending below Place du Peuplier (main square) and Saint-Symphorien church.

At the bottom of Rue du Mont, which passes the entrance to the church and Place du Peuplier before climbing into the vineyards, the main street of the village changes name. To the east is Chemin Neuf and to the west Chemin du Chapon, but both descend to the main road which runs along the shore of Lake Léman (Lake Geneva).

Where Chemin Neuf becomes Chemin du Chapon, the most picturesque alley in the village, Ruelle Romaine, opens up. Be sure to explore it, you will bring back unforgettable images, in your memory and in your camera!

We are here behind the church, at the bottom of the Rondes path that climbs through the vineyards towards the Vevey-Chexbres road.

The alley continues in the direction of a group of picturesque houses from where we can go down to Chemin Neuf (main street) via the Chevet-du-Temple staircase.

We are now facing the church and the Chevet-du-Temple staircase which leads down to Chemin Neuf, the main street of the village. Behind us, a passage under the houses leads to a small stream.

Built between 1515 and 1520 on the ruins of a Roman villa, the church of Saint-Saphorin became a reformed temple in 1536, after the Bernese conquest. For reasons that remain unknown, the spire of its bell tower was never built, giving this unfinished ridge a characteristic silhouette, unique in the Canton of Vaud.

Escalier du Chevet-du-Temple is the staircase connecting Chemin Neuf (eastern part of the main street) to the alleyway above the church, which gives access to Sentier des Rondes.

These stairs link Place du Peuplier, the centre of the village, to Chemin du Mont, which climbs through the vineyards to Chexbres.

Only the omnibus trains stop in Saint-Saphorin, and the village is not served by the boats of the CGN (Lake Léman navigation company).

Driven by curiosity and hoping to find a passage to the alleyway above the church, we made a small detour in Impasse de la Papille ("Papilla Dead End") which, as its name suggests, leads nowhere...

Sometimes what looks like an alleyway is just a dead end that just allows you to discover a little secret corner.

This narrow passage leads to the small stream that runs down from the vineyards to the harbour. It continues further on, but on the grounds of a private property. Our virtual stroll takes a small detour there to satisfy your curiosity!

The Route Cantonale (main road) is generally very busy, fortunately there is a passage under the road which allows you to go to the train station and to the tiny port of Saint-Saphorin.

This arched passage is one of the most picturesque places in Saint-Saphorin. When you walk through it, you understand why the village has inspired countless writers, painters and photographers.

Passage de l'Onde leads from the main street to Ruelle Romaine, which descends to the lake shore. On the left you see Passage de la Voûte ("Archway Passage") which joins Passage des Vignerons ("Winegrowers Passage").

Passage des Vignerons leads to the main street from Ruelle Romaine. Our panorama is oriented here on Passage de la Voûte, which leads to Passage de l'Onde. Saint-Saphorin is really a tiny labyrinth!

Beyond the arched passageway we join Chemin Neuf, the main street of the village to the east of Place du Peuplier, but our virtual stroll is temporarily interrupted here.

Nicknamed "Aperitif Square", Place du Peuplier ("Poplar Square") is the main square of the village. On one side, it faces the entrance to the church and, on the other, it is accessible by Escaliers de la Place, the stairway connecting Chemin du Chapon (western part of the main street) to Chemin du Mont, which climbs towards Chexbres. These panoramas were shot at the end of March, when the poplar was still stripped by the winter.

A perfect place to take a break and admire the view of the lake or take a refreshing dip. But beware, this place is really tiny!

Don't miss the detour around the small harbour, a beautiful viewpoint awaits you on the other side of the railway underpass!

The Route Cantonale (main road) is generally very busy, fortunately there is a passage under the road which allows you to go to the train station and to the tiny port of Saint-Saphorin.

There are only two crosswalks across this busy road, this one and another 300m further west, at the bottom of Chemin du Chapon.

We are here at the edge of the main road, at the top of Chemin de la Poste which leads down to the small port. To cross this busy road, take the pedestrian crossing a few metres further on.

Saint-Saphorin is separated from the shore of Lake Léman (Lake Geneva) by the Lausanne-Vevey road and the Simplon train line. A small village nucleus remains between road and railway, around the tiny fishing port.

Separated from Lake Léman (Lake Geneva) by the train line, the tiny fishing port is only accessible by small boats. No hope to see beautiful sailing ships here!

Saint-Saphorin is separated from the shore of Lake Léman (Lake Geneva) by the Lausanne-Vevey road and the Simplon train line. A small village nucleus remains between road and railway, around the tiny fishing port.

An arched passageway leads to the alley, which actually runs parallel to the main road through the village. Although it looks like you are entering a private property, it is a public passage, so don't hesitate to cross it!

The inhabitants call it "Gilles' Lane". It is named after an illustrious Vaudois, the poet and chansonnier Gilles (real name Jean Villard), author of the famous poem "La Venoge", which inspired Jacques Brel to sing his native land and write his unforgettable song "Le Plat Pays".

Saint-Saphorin is a very small village, so there is no risk of getting lost in its narrow lanes. From here, a stone's throw from Place du Peuplier and the church, you can follow "Gilles' Alley" which leads to Chemin du Chapon (main street to the west of the main square) or go down Ruelle Romaine to the lakeside.

If you go up to Saint-Saphorin by Ruelle Romaine, you enter another world, out of time. If you arrive by train or if you park your car along the main road, this is the most picturesque way to discover the old winegrowing village.

We are on the edge of Route Cantonale, main road linking Lausanne to the Riviera by the lakeside, and we are facing Ruelle Romaine which goes up to the centre of the village of Saint-Saphorin. On the right (east side), you will find a few metres away the underpass which allows you to go to the train station and the port.

Along Ruelle Romaine there are passages to the main street. Our panorama here is focused on Passage de l'Onde, so named because it leads to the famous inn of the same name.

The lane slopes gently down towards the lake shore, slipping between and sometimes under the tightly packed houses. Saint-Saphorin has managed to preserve itself over the centuries and a stroll through the village is like a journey through time.

As the picturesque alleyway continues its descent along the houses of winegrowers, a passageway opens up on our left and goes up towards the main street.

At the bottom of the lane we see the arch of an old wall. Let's enjoy the walk some more, beyond that we shall find the modern frenzy with the main road and the railway.

The winegrowers of Saint-Saphorin are very proud of their fine wines, which are part of the "Lavaux" AOC ("controlled designation of origin"), one of the most renowned in Switzerland, thanks to an exceptional terroir where the grapes ripen under the light of three suns: that of the sky and those of its reflections on the dry stone walls and on the lake.

If you go up to Saint-Saphorin by Ruelle Romaine, you enter another world, out of time. If you arrive by train or if you park your car along the main road, this is the most picturesque way to discover the old winegrowing village.