FAR° FESTIVAL DES ARTS VIVANTS (living arts) starts today 09.08.2023 - 19.08.2023. The festival has been held in August in Nyon for over 30 years. Its mission is based on 3 lines of action creation, artistic guidance and mediation. Through unique performances, it has been exploring the fields of theatre, dance, performance and many other innovative forms of art.. Aimed at all types of audiences, the event has become a major place to meet and take in the very essence of the performing arts .  This year the festival is exploring the possibilities of otherness through the  spellbindingmagic of metamorphosis with four routes to help you navigate the different shows and performances.  Each one promises to put our senses to the test through immersive, spectacular,intense, funny and thought-provoking experiences… You can check out the full programme (in French). The ticketing is based on a 'pay what you can' system where you have a choice of ticket price. SYMPA   CHF 15.- SUPER   CHF 20.- SENSASS   CHF 30.- There are also open-air concerts and parties, creative workshops you can enjoy for free.

Another ‘dream edition’ of the Paléo Festival 2023 welcomed by an open and curious public as described by Daniel Rossellat at the Press Conference on Sunday. Six days of great weather albeit lots of dust in the air and in our hair - even the weather graciously waited until Monday before unleashing heavy rain and thunderstorms.  Each day brought a different energy, where the young and the young at heart were able to party in the same space. With a staggering 250 concerts over the Tuesday until Sunday, it is impossible to see them all but the diversity of the artists allows us to pick and choose who appeals to us. What started out as 250,000 spectators this year turned into 250,001 with the unexpected birth of baby Yago in the campsite. A first for the event and he now has a lifetime subscription - Paléo really does deliver! The Music A few of my highlights include Shaka Ponk. I did not know this band or their music but I was blown away by the stage set, though a little too late as it was their farewell tour. Visually, it was one of the best I have seen – a sort of tribal Mad Max versus Angelic Gospel with the choir all dressed in white.  Every single person on stage was giving it 100 percent. Super show. The much anticipated Rosalia was more captivating  than I had imagined. I thought perhaps well choreographed dance numbers but it was a little more theatrical than that.  Randomly wiping off all her make-up mid-performance and quite literally baring her soul to the crowd who just couldn’t get enough of her. Her scooter-riding dancers with cameras focused on them taking selfies, added to the theatrics and fluidity of the performance experienced on the screens. She sang all her hits and as a fan I enjoyed it very much! One thing I found a bit awkward this year was the timings of the shows between the Grand Scéne and the Vega Stage. With no time in between the start and finish of acts. If you wanted to catch another act you would have to leave one early to get a good spot for the next show. On Thursday the Vega stage was absolutely packed out for Jain (I couldn’t get anywhere near to even see the stage) but I could still hear it and when her biggest hit Makeba came on the place went wild! A lot of people left a bit earlier to walk down to the Grand Scéne for Placebo. The same for Franz Ferdinand and Indochine on Sunday.  Of course, no festival is perfect, and the Paléo organisers are always looking to improve each year. I caught Hip-Hop duo Bigflo & Oli towards the end of their set and had managed to capture the spirit of the crowd with their high energy, fast raps and jumps! Yung Singh - a UK Punjabi DJ and right up my street took me back to the good old garage days and I spent his whole set at the Belleville stage dancing away. Martin Garrix, for me, didn’t quite nail the big Friday night DJ hype compared to DJ Snake last year. But the crowd loved him and the music and to be honest that's really what it is about! It really transformed the Grand Scéne into a massive dance party. What else do you need? Paléo is known for having a good mix of up and coming or less mainstream artists as well as one or two big name international ones. A first this year was for Kt Gorique who became the first Swiss rapper to perform on the Grand Scéne. This humble folk festival has had to really open up its musical genres over the years in order to keep its appeal. It’s obviously doing something right, going from 18,000 for the first edition to where it is now. Home to so many genres, the word folk was dropped a long time ago. This year the I spent more time than usual at the Village du Monde – Brazil was a cool theme and there were some brilliant acts on and off the stage – Da Cruz was giving serious energy on Sunday. Plus the l’Escala bar made a mean Caiparinha (It is also a great spot to watch the fireworks from)! HES-SO Also another special mention to the HES-SO installation this year. I was really impressed by all the fun activities they had created this year. From static energy making your hair stand on edge, testing your cogenitive function with a colour word game to proving the theory of 6 degrees of separation in the world. (Although I have always said it goes down to 2 degrees when you live in Nyon!) Community, Creativity, and Convenience As I spend more time on the grounds I notice just how much the organisers think about their audience. With around 85 food stands not including those in the Quartier Libre, 25 information stands and 30 craft stands including beautiful jewellery, clothing, plus a foot massage spot for your dancing feet! My phone ran out of battery Sunday early evening so I popped into the Romande Energie stand and got it charged for 20 minutes. Right next door at La Mobilière you could store your stuff in a locker if you didn’t want to carry it around all evening. Super simple and easy. This year there was also a drug testing stand where festival goers could have certain drugs tested. For me the jury is still out on the mixed toilets. Toilet waiting times were said to be 5 mins and 10 mins in busy times.  I would have preferred there still be some same sex cabins available on site. Let’s see for next year. Food The second biggest reason people come to Paléo - I will say no more... Paléo should be given credit for being pioneers in sustainability since 1999. They've pledged to reduce emissions by 25% by the 50th edition – an initiative that aligns with the festival's commitment to preserving our planet. Although the last day fireworks display is still under discussion but for now the fireworks will stay. A key tradition of Paléo closing day that, until they find a cost-matching alternative will be a hard one to let go of. Farewell, 2023 – Hello, 2024! Like I mentioned earlier, you can’t catch everything but I hope this article has given you a little taster of what is on offer at one of the largest music festivals in Europe that just so happens to be on our doorstep! Everyone has their favourites - let us know who you enjoyed or maybe not so much. Next years Paléo is 23rd until the 28th July 2024. See you there!

The 46th Edition of the Brocante is happening the weekend of the 26th and 27th August down at the Rive in Nyon. You can uncover some hidden gems whilst enjoying stunning views of Lac Léman. A great day out for everyone! Opening hours are: Saturday 26th August  : 09:30 - 20:00 Sunday 27th August : 09:30 - 18:00

Some sad news  - the owner of the L'inattendu  The Unexpected  restaurant in Nyon (Place Bel-Air 5) is looking for a buyer as his daughter's health is deteriorating day by day and needs to be cared for. They will be staying open while searching for a potential buyer. If you are interested or know someone who might be please share or get in touch with the owner. Re-opening Tuesday August 15th. From Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 - 14:30 19:00 - 22:00 Closed on Sundays and Mondays

The GAOS Youth show returns!Disney Channel's smash hit movie musical comes to life on stage!Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of first love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.A talented cast of 27 young singers and dancers aged 12-19 will treat your family to lively, upbeat numbers with an action-packed storyline. A guaranteed good show! Where: Théâtre de Marens, Nyon When: 25th-27th August 2023 Performance Times: 25th August: 20h00 26th August: 14h00 and 19h00 27th August: 14h00 Performances are in English. You can buy tickets here .

Discover the best of contemporary Swiss jazz on Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd September at the Salle Communale in Nyon. Putting a spotlight on contemporary Swiss Jazz music artists and making it accessible for all with free admission and no reservations required. Definitely worth checking out! See the full programme  here. PROGRAMME 01.09.23 LUKAS TRAXEL – ONE-EYED DARUMA, LUCIA CADOTSCH AKI, LOHER - SARTORIUS 02.09.23 FIELDS, ELINA DUNI & ROB LUFT FEAT. FRED THOMAS & MATTHIEU MICHEL, ARTHUR DONNOT

Amidst the backdrop of the most recent controversy surrounding sexism in the wake of Spain's World Cup victory, the timing couldn't have been better to keep the conversation going with the release of Sally Freedman's new book 'Get Your Tits Out for the Lads – True Stories from a Woman in Football.' The book chronicles her personal journey in navigating sexism across the landscape of her life and career starting from being told at seven years old that ' Football is only for boys, Sally. You can play hockey or netball.' Sally lives (and wrote most of the book) in Nyon and will be sharing more insights and experiences at her Meet the Author event at Café Ex Machina in Nyon next Wednesday 13th September . It will be a chance to find out the inspiration behind Sally's book and the story behind the provocative title. Readers will be able to buy a signed copy of the book too. Meet the Author Event Wednesday 13th September10:00 - 11:00Ex Machina CaféWe had a chance to sit down with Sally this week and speak to her more about the inspiration behind her book. How did you start your career in football and come to live in Nyon? In 2007 I was fortunate that I was awarded an academic scholarship to study a Masters in Business in Griffith University in Australia. I was living in England at the time. A few years after navigating the work industry over there, I was able to start my career in sport. Then after nearly 12  years in Australia, my parents had been dropping hints that they would like me to move back to this side of the world. I had been looking at job opportunities here and eventually after knocking on UEFA’s door a few times they finally offered me a role in 2018 for Euro 2020. Before Covid hit it was meant to be the biggest Euro ever, in 12 different countries celebrating the 65th year of the competition and that’s what brought me to Nyon. Once the Euros were done, I was hoping to secure a permanent role at UEFA but because of Covid the whole organisation froze recruitment. I took a 6 month fixed term contract with them but the position I hoped to get no longer existed and then I left. There were a few things that happened that had led me to say enough is enough. A lot sexism, a lot of misogyny. It's really tough being a female in a male dominated world. People had warned me when I walked into football that I would struggle. I was very naïve and I ignored all their comments. I'm Sally, I'm tough, I'm strong, I'm resilient, I know football, I love football, I play it, I coach it, I will be fine . But they were very right and I was very wrong. I love the game more than most. I believe in the power of sport. I thought I had my dream job but sometimes your dreams are not what you thought they would be. What then motivated you to write the book?  What sparked it was when I went to the Euro final in England between England and Italy in Wembley 2021. It was disgusting. I went with my brother. I've been to football around the world. I’ve never been scared for my life. I was invited to talk on a Women in Football podcast in Australia of my experience of attending that final as a fan. Within 2 minutes I described some disgusting sexism that I had experienced at the match and I said quite tongue-in-cheek ' You know what, this isn’t an isolated incident. I’ve had this throughout out my career. I’ve got enough stories for a book!' After listening to the podcast, the publisher of the book got in touch with me and said 'Sally, if you’re serious about writing a book will you please let me publish it. Send me what you’ve got and let me take a look.'   I'm a writer and I have kept a diary here and there but I did not think I had a book in me. A few hours later, she got in touch 'I would love to publish your book!'  I knew nothing about writing a book - how does this work, do I get paid, when does it need to be done by? I did my research and the contract was sent and I understood that I would have 5 years to write it but if I wanted to get it out before the Women’s world Cup in Australia 2023 I would have a year to submit my manuscript by Nov 2022. I wasn’t working, this was the perfect opportunity. I actually wrote most of the book here in Café Ex Machina inside. I found it easier to write here then at home. What was your writing process? For me the order came quite easily as it’s like a diary, it’s chronological by the fact that it’s a memoir. I still had to put some structure to it in terms of story telling and I wanted to intertwine some research to back up my points and so I had to find the flow around that. I would send whatsapp notes to myself when I saw or heard about sexism in the news which these days, was sadly, daily. I would send the link to myself and it would give me food for thought and along with my diary entries turned it all into my story. How did it feel once the manuscript was submitted and the book published? I felt a huge sense of relief and the whole writing process was very cathartic for me. It was escapism. I still didn’t quite believe that it would be good enough for a book. As women we often doubt ourselves. Choosing the cover photo and design was a 3 week process in itself but I got the manuscript handed in before the end of 2022. It was released just before the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia. I was attending the Football Writers Festival there, full of authors, journalists, writers, readers and fans. People talking about their books, sexism, racism, coming out, sexual abuse, match fixing, gambling. The ugly side of sport. It was such an array of really interesting and meaningful topics. We all love football but we all hated it for certain reasons too and we were all trying to tell stories to try and make it better. It was a great event. The book flew off the shelves which was lovely to see. What’s been the response so far? Really positive. It’s an easy read, it’s not a pleasant read in some ways. It’s got some sad stories in there but it’s really important that we talk about this because so many women don’t. They are scared to. We are seeing now with the Spain story - why on earth would women speak up when the evidence is so clear and obvious, it’s on camera, in colour for the whole world yet still, nothing happens. How is that going to encourage women to speak up? There’s no accountability, no punishment. So what is the point in raising your voice? And that’s what drove me to write the book. If I have the book I have got a tiny bit more of a platform to talk about these issues and get my voice heard. It gives other women the courage to say 'Y ou know what Sally I've got a similar story to you .' I am hopeful for the future. I think we are making progress. It’s slow but there are signs of progress. I was told girls don’t play football. There weren't any girls football clubs, they didn’t exist when I was a young girl. So now we’re seeing that change which is wonderful. It’s been a lot of hard work and banging on drums to get there. I’ve been honest, I’ve told the truth. The book is very vanilla, it’s not pointing the finger at any particular individual. I didn’t want it to be about that. The reason I wrote it is because (sexism) it is systemic. This was throughout my career and it was everywhere. And it’s not an attack on men. I don’t blame men. We live in a gendered stereotype world and sometimes they don’t really know that they are being sexist. It’s a slip of the tongue, it’s culture, it’s peer pressure, it’s conditioning as well. Now the book is out, what are your plans for the near future? A lot of the people who have read it have said ' how do you still love football?'   But I do, I needed a break from it. But my passion for the game has been reignited recently being in Australia, seeing the Women’s World Cup. It's in my DNA. It’s a waste if I don’t work in football. I absolutely love the game. So I want to get back into it somehow some way shape or form and the Women’s Euro will be in Switzerland in 2025. I’m a bit unsure about what's next but I want to keep banging the sexism drum. I’m extremely passionate about it. I want to keep telling my story. Use my book as a platform, support grassroots, get girls playing, get girls believing they can be playing football. I want football to be part of Sally again. An eye-opening and insightful book that balances Sally's own experiences of sexism with that of women all around the world. As for the story behind the title, you will just have to come to the event or read the book to find out!Thank you Sally.

Thank you to Sally Freedman for writing this wonderful article on Nyon, giving us some gems and local experiences not to be missed and that can all be done in just 48 hours. Nyon is a picturesque town nestled along the shores of Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman) just 15 minutes from Geneva by train and offers a blend of historical charm and breath-taking natural beauty. With 48 hours to explore this Swiss haven, you can enjoy quaint cafes, delectable restaurants, strolls along the lakeside, memorable hikes, and lots more! Day 1: Exploring the Town Start your day at the best coffee shop in town. "Ex Machina" is a local favourite known for its aromatic barista-made coffee and fresh, delicious food. The modern décor and free Wi-Fi makes it the perfect place to chill, chat and relax. Café Ex Machina is located 2 minutes’ walk from Nyon castle , so after you’ve enjoyed breakfast, why not amble along over there where you can go inside and take in some fascinating history. Whilst you explore the 5 floors, take in the stunning views of Nyon from up high. Be sure to go outside on the terrace where you’ll grab the Instagram money shot that will likely give all your followers FOMO! Take a leisurely stroll through Nyon's delightful streets, admiring the architecture and colourful facades. If you fancy some more history, take a visit to the fascinating Roman Museum where you can delve into the town's Roman past – an intriguing glimpse into its historical roots. Be sure to take the time to stroll to the Roman pillars close-by. The views are spectacular! If you’re visiting in summer, head down to the restaurant at the Nyon Plage where you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful lunch, with wonderful views of Lac Léman, Mont Blanc and France across the water! And if the weather is playing ball, jump in the freshwater lake for a refreshing and revitalising swim. The "Promenade des Vieilles Murailles" offers a serene lakeside walk, perfect for enjoying the fresh air and stunning views. If the sun is shining and you fancy more water time, you can rent a paddle board or pedalo from Le Ponton next to the Nyon Ferry stop. For a sophisticated dinner, Auberge de Prangins is a top choice. This elegant restaurant showcases refined Swiss cuisine with a modern twist. Enjoy a leisurely meal in a cozy and intimate setting. Day 2: Nature and Adventure Fuel up with a hearty breakfast at Tête de Course - their selection of food will gear you up for an adventurous day ahead. A trendy, modern café with a great ambience and conveniently located only a few minutes walk from Nyon train station. It’s also open on Sundays which makes it a great option if you are in Nyon over a weekend. Feeling like a challenging hike? There are plenty of options close by to Nyon. One of the most popular is in St-Cergue, a beautiful 40-minute train journey from Nyon up the mountain. When you arrive at St-Cergue, you can hike up to La Dôle, where you can enjoy a drink and the magnificent views at the top in the restaurant. Once you're ready to head back, you can walk back down the other side to St-Cergue and hop on the train to Nyon. How hard is it? According to the Nyon Tourist Office's website , they classify it as “fairly easy”, but it is quite long, so take plenty of water, snacks and sun cream!  Length 19km Duration 6 h Positive difference in height 881m Negative difference in height 718m Difficulty : Fairly easy Two countries in 48 hours? That’s easy when you are staying in Nyon! If you are feeling like a leisurely relaxed day, I've got you covered. From Nyon, you can jump on the ferry to France. Yes, France! In just 20 minutes, you’ll arrive at Yvoire on the other side of Lake Geneva. Yvoire is a quaint, beautiful medieval town which has delicious crêpes, ice cream and more. It’s a very small town, so you’ll only need a couple of hours to explore. You can meander the stunning streets while browsing the independent boutiques. When you’ve finished exploring, you can enjoy some delicious French cuisine. After your meal, it’s a simple 20 minute ferry ride back to Nyon. If you love ice cream, make sure you make time to visit the infamous Gelateria Venezia ice cream shop, located opposite the Nyon ferry stop . It will not disappoint. If the sun is out, there will likely be a long queue, but believe me, it is worth the wait! Luigia is located a few minutes stroll from Nyon train station and offers a relaxed, casual atmosphere and a wonderful, delicious extensive Italian menu. From pasta to pizza to salads, there’s likely something for everyone!  For families with children, there’s a tiny little cinema room which might help keep the kids occupied whilst they wait for their meal. Note: Luigia do not take reservations. 48 hours in Nyon will combine history, nature, culinary delights and adventure. This charming Swiss town promises a getaway that will leave you with plenty of magical memories.  Let us know what your favourite things to see and do in Nyon are.

The Swiss job market is not always easy to navigate. Join the free Living in Nyon workshop for our readers as we look at the job search process a little differently! We all know we need a strong CV, great interviewing skills and some good negotiation tactics. But what about looking at them a little differently so that instead of just learning all the things you "should" be doing, you learn to do them in a way that feels natural and easy rather than forced or "selling yourself". On Friday 22nd September, we are holding a workshop especially for those currently looking for a new professional opportunity or considering doing so in the near future. Did you know your CV is "read" in 5-8 seconds? Craft Your CV Your CV is your first impression on potential employers. Learn the art of creating a CV that highlights YOUR strengths, experiences, and skills in a way that fits the role you're applying for and represents you as a person well. Master the Interview Discover the interview matrix and learn how to apply it easily to have targeted and specific answers for every different discussion. Confidently answer questions, showcase your qualifications, and leave a lasting impact on interviewers. BUT! Move away from the boring strengths and weaknesses that everyone is giving. Ace Your Salary Negotiation What salary should you even be asking for in the first place? Make sure you are clear on what you want and how you're going to go about handling the discussion can often feel uncomfortable. Gain insights into effective salary negotiation techniques that will empower you to secure the compensation package that makes you feel motivated to take on your next challenge. 🗓️ **Date** Friday 22nd September ⏱️ ** Time** 09:30 - 11:30 📍 **Location** Café Ex Machina, Nyon (meeting room at the entrance of the café) You can register here for free, but please do let us know if your plans change and you will not attend as there is limited seating. As a workshop participant, you'll enjoy: - Interactive sessions and discussions - Networking opportunities with other career explorers - Q&A sessions addressing your specific concerns The workshop is hosted by Mandy Bronsil,  founder of B-inspired Partners and an expert on professional development in Switzerland. She has 10+ years of experience in executive search in Switzerland before founding her own company B-inspired Partners and now teaches the subject for EMBA students at the UNIL and for (post) Phd students within the CUSO Network. Elevate your job search journey with this dynamic workshop that will not only help you professionally but will give you the opportunity to meet a few fellow Living in Nyon readers! You can register here for free, but please do let us know if your plans change and you will not attend as there is limited seating.

Women's Tour de Romandie The third and final stage of the Women's Tour de Romandie (2nd edition) will be in Nyon next Sunday 17th September. After leaving the Canton of Geneva, around 100 professional cyclists will complete a loop between Crans and Mont-sur-Rolle twice to the finish line at Usine à Gaz at the lakeside in Nyon. See the full route here . Fête le Sport The Ville de Nyon is also hosting its Sports Festival this same day with more than 100 sporting and cultural events taking place from 10am until midnight. These include climbing wall, disc golf, dance and martial arts classes and demonstrations, bike mechanics, pétanque, mini-golf and lots more! There will also be rallies, concerts, shows and DJ sets. Participate in a rally 50 challenges will be held across the Rive from 10 am to 3 pm. Take on as many challenges as possible. 5 entertainment areas – 50 posts with 1 sporting or cultural challenge per post. Take up at least one challenge per area (= 5 challenges minimum) Many prizes to win! Each challenge taken up will be validated by a stamp on your roadmap (can be picked up onsite or link below). Then place your route slip in one of the two urns (La Côte and Haleon) provided for this and be present for the draw at 4:15 pm at the Rive canteen. More information here. Museums There will be free admission to Nyon's three museums: Château de Nyon , Roman Museum , and Léman Museum from 10 am to 5 pm. Read more about the exhibitions on at these museums in our previous article here. You can find out more about this jam-packed day full of events at the Ville de Nyon site with the full programme. There will definitely be something for everyone!

Thank you to Sally Freedman for writing a follow up article to the wonderful 48 hours in Nyon: a fairytale location . Now giving us some more gems that are just a train or boat ride away from Nyon. Are you ready to embark on a picturesque day trip from Nyon that combines breathtaking scenery, delicious food, and history? By venturing to Lavaux, you’ll be entering a UNESCO World Heritage site which will provide wonderful memories and breath-taking views. The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, stretch for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva from the Château de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne in the Vaud region. 1. From Nyon to Chexbres Begin your day trip by catching a scenic train from Nyon to Chexbres. It is an easy journey with one change in Vevey. The journey is beautiful and you’ll see some of Switzerland's spectacular landscapes as you travel through the countryside. 2. A Stop at Le Deck Upon arriving in Chexbres, take a short 8-minute walk to Le Deck , a charming bar and restaurant with outstanding views that will make you say WOW! Order your favourite drink whether it's a cappuccino, mocktail, cocktail or a glass of Swiss wine, and enjoy the serenity. The views will not disappoint! 3. Walk through the Vineyards to Saint Saphorin After your leisurely drink at Le Deck, it's time to put on your walking shoes and explore the beautiful vineyards that surround Chexbres. The stroll to Saint Saphorin is an easy 40-minute downhill wander, offering breath-taking vistas of the lake and the Alps. As you meander the streets, you will marvel at the vineyards that produce some of Switzerland's finest wines. 4. Lunch in St. Saphorin As you reach St. Saphorin, a charming medieval village, take time to explore the narrow streets, and ancient buildings. By now, you might be feeling hungry, so why not settle in for a delightful lunch at one of the local restaurants or cafés? If you like wine, pair your meal with a glass of local wine – a must-try experience in this picturesque village. 5. To Montreux After lunch, make your way to the train station in St. Saphorin, where you can catch a train to Montreux. As you journey along the shoreline of Lake Geneva, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the water, the surrounding mountains and the charming towns. 6. Lakefront walk from Montreux to Château de Chillon Upon arriving in Montreux, take a leisurely walk along the lakefront promenade towards Château de Chillon . The walk will take about an hour, but with stunning views, plentiful restaurants and cafés for the entire route, the time will fly by! After a while, you will reach the jaw dropping Château de Chillon, a medieval fortress sat on the water’s edge which has stood the test of time. 7. Explore Château de Chillon Château de Chillon is a true gem of Swiss history and architecture and it is definitely worth the small entrance fee. You can explore the castle's well-preserved chambers, dungeons, and picturesque courtyards. You’ll learn about its fascinating history, including tales of medieval knights and famous prisoners. 8. Return to Nyon As your day trip comes to a close, you can either walk back to Montreux station and hop on a train to Nyon. Or if you are feeling tired, you can jump on the train at Veytaux-Chillon just 7 minutes’ walk from the castle. This day trip from Nyon combines the best of Switzerland's natural beauty, culinary delights, and rich history. Your perfect day trip awaits!

Yann Bechtel is intent on playing his part in making our world more sustainable and is passionately driven to making it happen. Read about his shop "Chez L'épicier" located in Gland. Yann had been working with the Coop for the past 20 years of his career, 15 of which as a manager. As time progressed, he started to realise that his values were no longer aligned with his professional activity. The change came about, in large part, thanks to his family. As a father of three children, he and his wife strongly felt the responsibility of making a bigger effort to do their part in helping minimise the climate change. In his words "I want to be able to say to my children - I did something. I didn't stand idly by". He describes that at some point he "understood" the climate change reality, not just intellectually but in his gut. Step by step they changed the way they shopped, favouring Bio products and then buying en VRAC (essentially buying loose items packaged in a non-traditional way). Eventually, he was totally misaligned with big supermarket values and knew he had to make a change. This led him to develop his own concept for a local supermarket, allowing him to once again realign his values with his professional skills. At Chez l'épicier , the organic grocery store, he unites local producers and farmers and provides those who want to live more sustainably with a place where they know all products are local and comply with their standards. The biggest challenge on his path was to find a location. Thanks to Joanna Baird who coordinates the Prix de la Nouvelle Economie in Gland, he was one of several local artisans to be present in the pop up shops. This allowed him to get his concept together properly and launch a crowdfunding campaign. The campaign showed the support he had, as well as the need and desire for a shop that allows for more environmental friendly shopping practices was something largely supported in the area. He raised CHF60'000 and that allowed him to consolidate his first months and get everything up and running. Today "Chez l'épicier" is well implanted in the local community and contributes to it actively in turn as well. In 2022 he won the Prix de la Nouvelle Economie with the concept and shared part of the prize with Tithi's shop as they had been collaborating closely from the start. Their shop is the foundation of the "Ateliers de Borgaud" that unites the local shop owners in their effort to attract more people to the area. When you come into the shop you see on the one side Tithi's products and on the other Yann's products. You can come with your containers and take advantage of the local products sourced from the region. Their vision is to keep building up the community and to support each other. There's an ice-cream stand and a kids corner decorated with little hands, children of some of the crowd funding participants. Next time you're in the area, stop by this little haven and have a coffee or go for a home made Indian lunch. Furthermore, there are also a series of events hosted at "Chez l'épicier" like Fresk du Climat that hold meetings every second Saturday morning (in French) . Visit the website or follow the Facebook page . If you've missed Tithi's story , make sure you read about it from our previous article.