Description

This route is a slight variation of the ViaJakobi stage 9 hiking route, adapted to include part of the lakefront, and to end at the beautiful botanical gardens.

Take the train (9 minutes, 3 CHF) from Geneva train station to Coppet.

Turn right out of the train station to the village centre.

The main strip of boutique shops, tea rooms, and artisan bakeries lies parallel to the lakefront.

Coppet's architecture is of the elegant french style and the atmosphere tranquil.

Walk on down to the lakefront and take in the views whilst you can, because unfortunately most of this side of the lake is privatised, so it's hard to get a glimpse of the beautiful lake, and the walking route leads you inland.

Turn back up the road you came down from the station, but halfway up, turn left into the grounds of the Chateau, following the path straight down through the oak-lined path. When you exit the grounds through the gate at the other end, turn left and follow the yellow signs depicting an arrow with a black silhouette of a hiker.

Throughout the route, you will be following either these yellow signs, yellow arrows, or green squares with "ViaJakobi 4" written in white letters.

Occasionally the yellow arrows can be hard to spot, as they can be merely a faded painted yellow arrow on a wall, but generally, the signage is pretty clear.

The walking route leads you through a series of very small villages, connected by a shaded footpath along a stream and through woodland.

A fair section of the route goes along paved paths through suburbia, which makes it not the most exciting or beautiful hike, but it's still worth doing if you have an afternoon to spare and want to get to know Geneva's surrounding villages.

Eventually, after around 17 kilometres you will join back up to the lake, ending the route at the beautiful botanical gardens, which are free to enter and contain a lovely Zen Garden and Tropical Greenhouse.

The botanical gardens are also conveniently next to the Geneva Senteurs train station, which is one stop from Geneva Central Station.

For more information on this hike, or to see the other stages of ViaJakobi, follow this link: http://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/routes/etappe-01104.html?nopager **Sources** http://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/routes/etappe-01104.html?nopager