Lavaux Vineyard Terraces

Used for growing grape vines since at least the 11th century (and probably as far back as Roman times), this 18-mile, 2,050-acre stretch of terraced vine-rows across the Swiss canton of Vaud is one of the world’s most remarkable examples of human interaction with a natural landscape. The southern-facing terraces, which maintain a mild climate within a country known for its spectacular winters, are famed for producing the Chasselas grape, which make a full, dry and fruity white wine that fueled the local economy for centuries.

While the Swiss wine industry doesn’t rival that of its neighbors in Italy and France, this area has remained in continuous, productive use, and its historic buildings, footpaths and vines have been well maintained and preserved. While there is clear evidence that the vines were cultivated by Benedictine and Cistercian monks, traces of Roman settlements here and in nearby Lausanne, a city which historically owes some of its wealth to the Lavaux wine industry, has led many to believe that ancient Romans also used the terraces for growing wine grapes.