The CGN Naval Parade Returns to Nyon This May With Historic Boats, Heritage Vessels and Lakeside Festivities

Thirteen years after its last stop in Nyon, the CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le Léman) Naval Parade is returning to town on Sunday 31 May, bringing one of Lake Geneva’s most iconic events back to the quays.

If you were here in 2013, you may remember the crowds lining the lakefront. More than 8,000 people attended, with around 1,700 passengers boarding the participating boats. This year, organisers are hoping to recreate that atmosphere with a full afternoon of festivities by the water. But this edition comes with something new.

Alongside the famous Belle Époque fleet of the CGN, visitors will also see a historic flotilla of heritage boats, bringing together private owners, associations and vessels that help tell the wider story of navigation on Lac Léman. The initiative, led by the Musée du Léman, adds a new layer to the event and shines a light on the smaller boats and lesser-known pieces of the lake's maritime history.

Naval Parade 2026 - Ville de Nyon

A Rare Historic Fleet on the Water

The day begins at 2:15pm with a first parade dedicated entirely to historic vessels.

Visitors will see:

• La Vaudoise (1931) and La Neptune (1904), traditional lateen sail boats

• Gilliatt (1905), believed to be the oldest motor launch still navigating on Lake Geneva

• Ida (1913), an early motor boat

• Walkyrie (1925), a steam yacht

• Don Juan, a reconstruction of a late 19th-century steam launch

• Phoebus II (1903), a historic racing sailboat

  
  

There is even the possibility that Le Venoge (1905), a former CGN cargo vessel currently being restored at Le Bouveret, could return to the water in time for the event. It is not often you get to see this many heritage vessels together in one place.

The Belle Époque Fleet Takes Centre Stage

From 3pm to 3:45pm, the CGN fleet takes over.

The Belle Époque paddle steamers:

• Montreux (1904)

• Italie (1908)

• Savoie (1914)

• Rhône (1927)

will perform their famous choreography offshore in front of the Nyon quays. Three of these historic boats are still steam powered today. Joining them will also be the NAVIEXPRESS Thonon-les-Bains, launched in 2024, and Lausanne (1991) which will act as the viewing boat.

The parade commentary will be provided live from the quays by Didier Zuchuat, specialist in CGN history and Belle Époque navigation.

A Full Afternoon on the Quays

While the boats may be the headline act, the Ville de Nyon and Musée du Léman are also helping turn the quays into a full lakeside celebration with music, family activities and heritage experiences throughout the afternoon.

From 12pm to 6pm there will be:

• Food stalls and bars

• Street entertainment

• The municipal brass band and La Bande de Dièses

• Stilt walkers from Circodream

• Clown Filibert

Entertainment runs between 12pm–2pm and again 4pm–6pm. A concert by regional group Yalé, performing French songs, takes place under the Cantine de Rive from 4:15pm to 5:15pm.

Musée du Léman Opens Its Doors

The Musée du Léman will be open free of charge from 10am to 6pm. As official guardian of the CGN archives since 2018, the museum offers visitors a chance to dive into the history - through models, artefacts, paintings and maritime objects. Families can also take part in creative workshops inspired by the lake between 12pm and 2pm, suitable for children aged four and above.

Getting There

Traffic restrictions will be in place around the lake. The RC1 road between Clémenty and Vy Creuse will be closed from 11am to 6pm. Organisers recommend using public transport and soft mobility where possible.

To help visitors access the event:

Yellow shuttle line: Petite Prairie and Pensées parking areas

Green shuttle line: Colovray to the Conservatory

Tourist train: Continuous loop between Nyon station and the quays

It feels like one of those events that could only really happen here. Historic boats, the lake, local heritage and thousands of people gathering by the water.

For more information and full programme details, visit CGN. Tickets for onboard experiences and parade cruises are also still available.