Sabina & Sebastian

Église de Saint-Saphorin

Perched among the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, the Église de Saint-Saphorin is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches on the shores of Lake Geneva. Overlooking the water and framed by vines, its stone tower has become a familiar landmark for travelers on the train between Lausanne/Geneva, and Bern.

Sebastian first visited the church while studying at EPFL, and was immediately taken by its quiet charm and breathtaking setting above the vineyards. Long before he knew who he would marry, he already knew where — in this timeless church overlooking Lake Geneva and the Lavaux hills.

Short history of Église de Saint-Saphorin

The church’s history stretches back nearly 1,500 years. Around 590 AD, Marius of Avenches, bishop of Lausanne, founded the first Catholic church in the Lavaux region on this site. He dedicated it to Saint Symphorien of Autun, a Roman martyr who was also the patron saint of the church in Avenches. Over time, the church became so well known that it gave its name to the surrounding settlement, which had previously been called Glérolles (or Glerula in Latin).

From the 12th century until the Bernese conquest of 1536, the church and village belonged to the Bishops of Lausanne. A beautiful stained-glass window inside still shows Bishop Sebastian of Montfalcon, the last to hold the title, kneeling before the Virgin Mary.

After the Reformation, the Église de Saint-Saphorin became a Protestant church and remained the center of parish life for centuries, serving the nearby villages of Rivaz, Chexbres, and Puidoux. In 2000, these communities were once again united under the historic Parish of Saint-Saphorin.

GETTING THERE

DRIVE

We highly recommend bringing or renting a car, it’s the best way to take in the beauty of the region and explore its lakeside villages, vineyards, and mountain views at your own pace.

Approximate travel times:
🚗 1 hour from Geneva Airport
🚗 1 hour from Bern
🚗 25 minutes from Lausanne
🚗 15 minutes from Montreux

TRAIN

Traveling by train is a beautiful, relaxing way to reach the region, and the route from Geneva is among the most scenic in Switzerland, offering sweeping views of Lake Geneva and the vineyards.

Approximate travel times:
🚆 1 hour 30 minutes from Geneva Airport
🚆 1 hour 45 minutes from Bern
🚆 16 minutes from Lausanne
🚆 12 minutes from Montreux

TAXIS/UBER & RIDESHARE

St-Saphorin is easily reachable from Montreux by taxi or Uber. The ride takes only about 15 minutes and offers beautiful views along the lake.

If you’re coming from Montreux, let us know in the form if you’d like a ride, we’ll do our best to arrange one for you.

PARKING

Limited parking is available in the areas marked red and yellow on the map below.