Château de Yvoire

Yvoire is a small walled village on the southern shore of Lake Geneva, in Haute-Savoie, and its castle sits at the edge of the water at the end of the old streets. The village is protected as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, and it is known for its flower-decked houses, cobbled lanes and view across the lake to Switzerland. The château forms a large part of the picture, with its square corner towers and steep roofs visible from the ferries and from the shore.

The castle was begun in 1306 by Amadeus V, Count of Savoy, who founded the fortified town of Yvoire at the same time. Its position, on a point jutting into the lake at the narrowest part of the Léman, gave it control over boat traffic and over the roads between Geneva and the valleys to the east, and it formed part of the chain of Savoyard strongholds along the lake. In later centuries it was fought over in the conflicts between Savoy, Geneva and Bern, and the region passed through French and Swiss hands. In the sixteenth century the castle was burned and left in ruins for a long period. It was bought and restored in the early twentieth century by the Bouvier d'Yvoire family, who gave it much of its present appearance, and the work was completed around 1939, with the roofs and towers rebuilt.

The château is a private home and, as far as is known, is not normally open for tours inside, so most visitors enjoy it from the outside, from the lakeside paths and the small harbour. Check locally before planning a visit that depends on going in. The real attraction is the village around it, with its fortified gates, its stone houses with timber balconies and its small fishing harbour. There are no cars in the old town, so you walk everywhere, and in summer the walls and windows are covered in geraniums and other flowers. Shops sell local produce and crafts.

The Jardin des Cinq Sens, a garden of the five senses laid out as a labyrinth with plants chosen for scent, touch and taste, is the main garden to visit and is a short walk from the centre. The Pointe de Yvoire gives a view of the lake, and there is a promenade along the shore. Passenger ferries connect Yvoire with Nyon, in Switzerland, and with other lakeside towns, so the village is also a good place to start a boat trip. In high season the village is crowded, so early morning or evening is more peaceful.

Yvoire suits couples, families and day-trippers from Geneva and Thonon-les-Bains, and a visit usually takes two to three hours.