Rolle

Rolle sits on a gentle shelf between the lake and a ridge of vineyard terraces, in the canton of Vaud. The old town is tidy and walkable, with a main street lined with arcaded houses and small shops, and the lake is only a few hundred metres from the railway station. The setting gives wide views across the water, and on clear days the mountains of Savoy stand along the far shore.

The castle is the town's best-known building. It was built in the thirteenth century by Peter of Savoy, one of the most active builders of the Savoyard state, as a fortified residence and a strongpoint on the lakeshore. It has a square plan with round towers at the corners, and it stands almost on the water. Today it belongs to the town and is used for events and exhibitions, so check the town's information for current opening arrangements. The exterior is worth seeing in any case, especially from the quay in the evening.

A few steps from the castle, the Île de la Harpe sits just offshore, joined to the quay by a short causeway. It was laid out in the nineteenth century and carries a small monument to Frédéric-César de La Harpe, born in Rolle in 1754. He became tutor to the future Tsar Alexander I of Russia, and later campaigned for the freedom of the Vaud from Bernese rule, which was achieved in 1798. The island is a pleasant place to sit with a view of the lake, and the trees give shade in summer.

Institut Le Rosey, the boarding school, lies on the edge of Rolle. It was founded in 1880 by Paul-Émile Carnal on the site of the fourteenth-century Château du Rosey, and it is a private international school with students from many countries. A second campus in Gstaad, in the Bernese Oberland, is used in the winter term, which is why the school is sometimes linked to that resort. The grounds are private and not open to the public, so there is little to do apart from admire the entrance from the road and read about its history. It is nevertheless a significant part of the town's identity and economy.

Rolle belongs to La Côte, the wine area that runs along the lake between Geneva and Morges. The dominant grape is Chasselas, which gives light, dry white wines suited to fish, cheese and the region's classic dishes. The vineyards begin directly behind the town, and a network of paths and farm tracks lets you walk or cycle between villages such as Mont-sur-Rolle and Perroy. Many producers offer tastings by appointment and during open-cellar days, which usually take place in spring and early summer. In September and October the harvest brings activity to the villages.

On the water, the lake is used for swimming from late spring, and public bathing spots lie close to the quay. Sailing clubs operate from the nearby harbour, and boats of the lake shipping company call at Rolle in the warm season, giving a pleasant way to reach Nyon, Morges or Lausanne. The promenade along the shore is flat and suited to walking at any time of year.

The best period for a visit is late spring to early autumn. May and June bring flowers and mild days, July and August are warm and lively, and September brings clear air and wine events. Winter is quieter and can be grey, though the lake still gives striking light and the restaurants stay open.

Getting there is easy. Rolle has a station on the main line between Geneva and Lausanne, with frequent regional trains and a journey to Geneva of roughly half an hour. By car, the A1 motorway passes just north of the town, and the lakeside road offers a slower alternative. The town has a handful of hotels and many more rooms in nearby villages, while those who stay in Geneva or Lausanne can easily visit for the day. Rolle works well as a quiet stop on a longer journey around the lake, with enough to fill an afternoon and a good meal.