Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces, World Heritage Site in Switzerland

Registration Classificationcultural heritage
Registration Criteria(3), (4), (5)
Year of registration2007

In the Lavaux region, vineyards stretching 30 km from Chillon Castle to Lausanne are on the World Heritage List. The winemaking in this area is so old that it is said to date back to Roman times. Wineries and mansions were built on the hillsides, creating a unique landscape that is unparalleled in the region, and these are regarded as cultural landscapes.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains in simple terms why Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces are a World Heritage Site. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Lavaux vineyards!

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What are the Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces?

Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
Image by shutterstock

Lavaux is located south of Lake Geneva in southwestern Switzerland. Vineyards are thought to have existed here in Roman times, but it was not until the 11th century that the current vineyards were fully planted.For the next 1,000 years, wine has been a specialty of Lavaux, and continues to be produced today.

The terraced vineyards, dotted with small villages inhabited by grape farmers, are registered as a cultural landscape because the tradition of wine making is still preserved.

For what reason are the Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces on the World Heritage List?

Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
Image material: shutterstock

Vineyards in the Lavaux area were recognized for

Registration Criteria (iii)
The vineyards of Lavaux have been developed for millennia, to the point that grapes are still being grown here today.

Registration Criteria (iv)
The development of the vineyard indicates the development of winemaking and that it contributes significantly to the economy of neighboring Lausanne and the surrounding area.

Registration Criteria (v)
The vineyard landscape is a local resource where the people who live there have been dealing with nature for centuries to produce quality wine.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

The bottom line is that it is amazing that wine has been made on this land for a long, long time.The development of the vineyards has led to the creation of mansions and wineries, and the production of quality wine has enriched the local economy.

It is difficult to understand the term “cultural landscape,” but this is an example of mankind’s successful use of nature (grapes).

*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.

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