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 This lovely prominent inn is lost in the greenery on top of a small mountain just above Montreux, and is rather unrelated to the traditional sharecropping farms that are common at this altitude. This low ceiling chalet serves dishes that have gained local reputation: the extremely famous Ticino rabbit, the just-as-famous Peking spare ribs, the saffron baked monkfish and salt sprinkled bone. A good wine selection, a warm welcome, and a shady terrace in the summer. It is strongly recommended that you make a reservation for this excellent rather well-known restaurant. It is also a starting point for several beautiful walks with magnificent views over Lake Léman and « narcisses » trails in season.
Contact and information: Auberge de La Cergniaulaz, Mathey Family, Orgevaux 1833 Les Avants, 1283 m. Tel + 41 (21)964 42 76. Closed Monday and Tuesday and from January to Easter. Accessible by car: motorway, Montreux exit. In the direction of Glion, Les Avants.
Photo: Monique Haehl
Suggested walks:
L'Auberge de la Cergniaulaz « on foot » - From Montreux, take the « MOB» - Montreux Oberland transit train - to Les Avants before getting on the hundred year-old funicular that cheerfully, and creakily, makes its way up the 54% slope to Sonloup. Then walk up the last kilometre, which is rather steep. You'll be rewarded at the end of the trek.
Forêt de Cubly - From Sonloup, take the small path behind the hotel that runs into the forest in the direction of Cubly. Magnificent views over Lake Léman, the Rhône Valley and Mont-Blanc glaciers, and ruins that show that local legends are awaiting you.
« Neige de mai » - The « Avants-Cubly-Sonloup» circle is the official narcissus trail. Other less known walks are just as appealing, especially along the Pléiades mountain. To get there, take the train from Vevey towards Blonay and Fayaux. From here, in season (that is in May), whole pasturelands are filled with narcissus and resemble large snow-covered fields. The Pléiades summit offers an interrupted view of the Alps, Mont-Blanc and Lake Léman. For the descent, you have two options: the first and standard route heads north to the Pantin chalet. You'll discover narcissus-filled meadows and marshlands that resemble Lapland along the path towards Tenasses. The other less known route follows the path heading west, in the direction of Veveyse, to Pré du Chable, and then north behind Pléiades to Prés Bettex. This area is renowned for narcissus in abundance.
Did you know? - The word Cergniaulaz comes from the old French « cerne» - circular mark and closed ground - and from the Latin « circinus,» adapted and used in Patois (« cergno» ) to refer to a group of farms surrounded by a hedge.
See also accomodation in the region: Les Sapins, return to nature
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Switzerland, french part 
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