Yverdon-les-Bains

May to September is best for the lake, the beach and cycling. Spring and autumn are mild. Winter is cool and grey, but the spa is a draw in any season.

• Château d'Yverdon is a castle built in the 13th century, now with museums.
• Maison d'Ailleurs is a museum of science fiction and utopias.
• Musée d'Yverdon et région shows the history of the town and region.
• Musée suisse de la Mode shows the history of fashion.
• Temple d'Yverdon is the main Protestant church on the old square.
• Castrum Romain Eburodunum is the remains of a Roman fort.
• Oppidum de Sermuz is the site of a Celtic hill town.
• Menhirs de Clendy are large prehistoric standing stones near the lake.
• Jardins du coeur is a garden in the town.

• Soak in the thermal baths.
• Visit the castle and its museums.
• Walk or cycle along the lake.
• Swim at the lake beach in summer.
• Take a boat on Lake Neuchâtel.

• Lausanne is about 40 minutes away by train.
• Neuchâtel is a lakeside town, about 30 minutes away.
• Grandson has a castle on the lake, nearby.
• Vevey and Montreux are on Lake Geneva, about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
• Nyon is on Lake Geneva.

• Lausanne is the nearest large city in the same canton.
• Vevey, Montreux and Nyon are other Vaud towns.

• By air: Geneva is the main airport, about 1 hour 15 minutes away by train.
• By train: Yverdon is on the line between Lausanne and Neuchâtel. Check times on SBB.
• The station is a short walk from the old town.

• The old town and lakefront are small and easy to walk.
• Local buses serve the spa and suburbs.
• Bike paths run along the lake.

• A car is not needed in the town.
• Parking in the centre is paid.
• The A1 motorway passes close by.

Try lake fish, such as perch, and local cheese. The Vaud region is known for white wine and for papet vaudois, a leek and sausage dish. The old town has many cafés.

People speak French. English is understood in hotels.

• Yverdon is very safe.
• The thermal baths are hot. Follow time limits.
• Lake water is cold in spring.
• Tap water is safe to drink.

The area was a Celtic and later Roman settlement, known as Eburodunum. The hot springs have been used for bathing since then. In the 13th century, a castle was built by the Duke of Savoy.

In the early 19th century, the educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi ran a famous school in the castle. The spa opened in the 18th century and grew into a modern resort.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: