A day in the Three Lakes Region: discovering wines on the waterway

You can travel over 100 kilometres on the longest navigable waterway in Switzerland by boat. On the journey between Solothurn, Nidau and Biel, Erlach, Murten and Neuchâtel, the journey is the destination. And what a route it is: it runs along the southern foot of the Jura and offers views of vineyards, wine-growing villages and, on a clear day, as far as the Alps.

Until the end of October, Neuchâtel Vins et Terroir is offering a special experience for all wine lovers in collaboration with the Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten Navigation Company (LNM): the ‘Ville de Neuchâtel’ boat is wearing the colours of the Œil de Perdrix for a season.

The salmon-coloured rosé wine - named after the partridge's eye - originally comes from this region and represents the local winemaking tradition like no other. Naturally, you can taste the wine made from Pinot Noir at the ‘Ville de Neuchâtel’.

But there will also be a competition, games and the opportunity to have temporary Œil de Perdrix tattoos stuck to your skin. Guided tastings will take place on 29 August and 29 September: The trips start at 14h15 and 16h00 in the harbour of Neuchâtel.

Viticulture is very important in the Three-Lakes Region. Accordingly, the most important time of the year for winegrowers is celebrated in style: Numerous festivals are organised around the grape harvest. These include the Fête des Vendanges in Neuchâtel (27-29 September 2024), the Läset-Sunntige in Ligerz (5-6 and 12-13 October 2024) and the Trüelete in Twann (25-27 October 2024).

For the first time, the local winegrowers' festivals can be experienced during a cruise - on the Attila, Switzerland's first boutique boatel. It offers relaxing cruises on Lakes Murten, Neuchâtel and Biel throughout the summer. The former cargo ship has only nine cabins, making the trip an exclusive experience.

In autumn, so-called Wine Cruises are now on the programme on four weekends, during which the aforementioned winegrowers' festivals are visited.

Those who prefer to move away from the water will still get their money's worth in the Three-Lakes Region. For example, with a speedy scooter ride through the vineyards. The excursion starts in Ligerz, where the ‘Vinifuni’ transports its guests up to Prêles. The panoramic funicular railway offers spectacular views of the Alps, Lake Biel and St. Peter's Island.

The speedy scooter ride then starts in Prêles. On the way, you can take a look inside Ligerz church, a real landmark of the region. Once you arrive in the pretty winegrowing village of Ligerz, there are various wineries where you can sample a glass of local Chasselas or Pinot Noir.

Outstanding cuisine, a wine list with local wines and an unbeatable view: the Aux Trois Amis restaurant in Schernelz, a hamlet above Ligerz, offers all of this. The restaurant has 16 Gault Millau points and a Michelin star. It has also been awarded three glasses on Swiss Wine Gourmet thanks to its local wine list.

Further inspiration for restaurants with a good selection of Swiss wines can be found on the Swiss Wine Gourmet website. Over 1000 restaurants that have been awarded the label of the same name are already listed there.