The Lavaux terraces are an exceptional site in the canton of Vaud. This region is famous for its terraced vineyards, which stretch over almost 800 hectares along the banks of Lake Geneva. These terraces were built several thousand years ago by the first inhabitants of the region, during the Neolithic Age, to cultivate vines.
Since 2007, this vineyard has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of its historical and cultural importance. The biological diversity of the region is particularly remarkable, with over 700 different plant species, some of which are very rare. The Lavaux terraces are also home to numerous birds, insects and mammals, including the hoopoe and many reptiles. The surrounding fields, vineyards and forests also provide a variety of ecological niches.
Sustainable management of the Lavaux terraces is essential to maintain biodiversity and nature intact. Nature conservation and restoration programmes are in place to protect rare plant and animal species. For example, the scree slopes installed a few years ago make it easier for Viperine snakes to dive into the lake in search of fish.
Unique in its kind, Lavaux benefits not only from the sun's rays, but also from the reflection of the sun on the blue waters of Lake Geneva and the reflection of the heat on the vineyard walls.
Although UNESCO heritage status physically protects features such as dry stone walls, it is important to keep the soil as low in nutrients as possible to support rare vegetation over the long term.
