The medieval village is the reason for Yvoire’s existence. Founded in the early 14th century by the Counts of Savoy to watch over the lake, the town has crossed the centuries almost intact. Today ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and award-winning for its blooms, it’s discovered on foot, along its lanes and its harbour.
What you discover
You enter through the medieval fortified gates, remnants of the ramparts. The cobbled lanes wind between stone houses covered in geraniums, down to the harbour on the lake, one of the most photogenic on Lake Geneva. At the heart of the village, the Yvoire castle, a turreted fortress standing by the water, remains private but offers an emblematic silhouette. Craftspeople, galleries and terraces bring the town to life.
The flowering village
Yvoire owes part of its fame to its flowers: awarded the highest blooming honours, the village overflows with geraniums, roses and climbing plants from May to September. That’s what gives it its postcard charm, especially in early summer.
Booking
The village is freely visited, on foot. For guided tours of Yvoire’s heritage and history, contact the tourist office. As the castle is private, it can’t be visited inside.
Good to know
Avoiding the crowds. Yvoire is very busy in summer; come early morning or late in the day to enjoy the town in peace.
Pedestrian village. You park at the entrance car parks and discover everything on foot.
When? The village is finest from May to September, when it’s in bloom; it keeps its character off-season, quieter.
To combine. With the Garden of the Five Senses, at the heart of the village.
See also in Yvoire
Follow up with the Garden of the Five Senses or a trip on the lake. Back to the destination: Yvoire.