How to get to Les Paccots in the Prealps

Introduction 

Public transport options to Les Paccots involve a few changes, however, the journey is part of the fun, and there are beautiful views along the way.  It is sensible to check times, and platforms etc on www.sbb.ch/en/  The site gives exact times, platforms and how long the journey takes.  The Swiss public transport system is incredibly reliable, so the journey is quite relaxing.  Be aware, that as this is a rural village, the last bus to Les Paccots from Chatel St. Denis is just before quarter to 6 pm and the last bus down from Les Paccots to Chatel St. Denis is at about 7 pm. 

Once you have reached the village, to reach individual places mentioned in the Inside Dining Scene (Les Paccots insider page), follow the instructions next to the restaurant name.

Below are detailed directions to help you with your journey (scroll down to find the most appropriate directions for you).  Public transport directions are first, followed by driving directions.  

Public transport from Chatel St. Denis:

  1. Go to Chatel St. Denis train station.  Wait for the bus to Les Paccots on outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. denis station. 
  2. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus (exact change only).  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office.  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
    • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
    • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
    • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
    • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
    • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Gruyeres:

  1. From Gruyeres train station, take the train to Chatel St. Denis (approx. 40 minutes).
  2. Go to Chatel St. Denis train station.  Wait for the bus to Les Paccots on outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. denis station. 
  3. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office.  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
      • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
      • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
      • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
      • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
      • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Vevey by lake Geneva:

  1. From close by Vevey train station, catch the bus to Chatel St. Denis station (route 13).  To help you locate the bus stop - exit the station and turn right, crossing the small car park.  Cross the side road.  The bus stop is next to the the post office (La Poste)  On this bus you pay at the back of the bus at a ticket machine (pay to the zone you are going to - there is a map on the ticket machine which shows the zones).  When you arrive at Chatel St. Denis station (last stop), wait for the bus to Les Paccots on outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. Denis station. 
  2. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office.  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
    • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
    • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
    • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
    • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
    • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Montreux by lake Geneva:

  1. Take the train or bus from Montreux to bus stop opposite Vevey gare (station).
  2. From close by Vevey train station, catch the bus to Chatel St. Denis station (route 13).  To help you locate the bus stop - exit the station and turn right, crossing the small car park.  Cross the side road.  The bus stop is next to the the post office (La Poste)  On this bus you pay at the back of the bus at a ticket machine (pay to the zone you are going to - there is a map on the ticket machine which shows the zones).  When you arrive at Chatel St. Denis station (last stop), wait for the bus to Les Paccots on outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. Denis station. 
  3. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office.  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
  • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
  • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
  • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
  • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
  • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Lausanne by lake Geneva:

  1. From Lausanne train station, take the train to Vevey. 
  2. From close by Vevey train station, catch the bus to Chatel St. Denis station (route 13).  To help you locate the bus stop - exit the station and turn right, crossing the small car park.  Cross the side road.  The bus stop is next to the the post office (La Poste)  On this bus you pay at the back of the bus at a ticket machine (pay to the zone you are going to - there is a map on the ticket machine which shows the zones).  When you arrive at Chatel St. Denis station (last stop), wait for the bus to Les Paccots on outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. Denis station. 
  3. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office. You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
    • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
    • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
    • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
    • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
    • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Geneva airport (route 1):

  1. From Geneva airport train station, take the train to Vevey. 
  2. From close by Vevey train station, catch the bus to Chatel St. Denis station (route 13).  To help you locate the bus stop - exit the station and turn right, crossing the small car park.  Cross the side road.  The bus stop is next to the the post office (La Poste)  On this bus you pay at the back of the bus at a ticket machine (pay to the zone you are going to - there is a map on the ticket machine which shows the zones).  When you arrive at Chatel St. Denis station (last stop), wait for the bus to Les Paccots on outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. Denis station. 
  3. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office. You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
  • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
  • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
  • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
  • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
  • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Geneva airport (route 2):

  1. From Geneva aiport train station, take theLuzern bound train, getting off at Palezieux station.  At Palezieux, cross under the tracks to the furthest platform with narrow tracks (the platform is signposted for Chatel St. Denis).  This takes only 2 minutes so a short interchange time between trains is fine.  Take the narrow gauge train to Chatel St. Denis station.  At Chatel St. Denis, wait for the Les Paccots bus on the outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. Denis station.
  2. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office.  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
    • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
    • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
    • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
    • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
    • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Public transport from Zurich airport:

  1. From Zurich airport catch the train to Bern (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes).
  2. From Bern catch the train to Palezieux (pronounced Pal-aye-zyer) (approx. 50 minutes).
  3. At Palezieux, cross to the furthest platform with narrow tracks (the platform is signposted for Chatel St. Denis).  This takes only 2 minutes so a short interchange time between trains is fine. Take the narrow gauge train to Chatel St. Denis station.  At Chatel St. Denis, wait for the Les Paccots bus on the outdoor bench by the ticket office end of Chatel St. Denis station.
  4. On the bus to Les Paccots, you pay at a machine by the driver at the front of the bus.  You need to tell the driver which stop you want to get off at, so he can help you with the machine.  If you do not have change, you can buy your bus ticket in the train station ticket office. You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign just before you reach the village centre.  See www.sbb.ch/en/ for exact times.  Here is a guide of the most useful bus stops to get off at:
    • Le Bivouac (pronounced Luh Bivwack): Useful for campsite Le Bivouac, Parcours (fitness walk) and tiny chapel. 
    • Les Paccots, Dent-de-Lys (pronounced Lay Packo, Don duh lease): Useful for village centre, Hotel Corbetta, Sport Yves (sports shop and hire), village shop, tourist office/post office, Dent-de-Lys restaurant, Corbetta ski lift (drag lift), Catholic church.
    • Les Paccots, Ermitage (pronounced Lay Packo, Ermeetaj): Useful for Hotel Ermitage, playground, public tennis court, Aparthotel Chavacots, Le Tsale Restaurant, skating rink and cafe (winter only), start point for hiking.
    • Les Rosalys, Place (pronounced Lay Rohzahlee, Plass): Useful for Les Rosalys hotel, start point for hiking.
    • Lac-des-Joncs (pronounced Lack Day Jhonk) - Bus Summer only: Useful for Auberge du Lac des Joncs and the small lake, start point for hiking.

Flying and driving from Geneva airport:

  1. From Geneva airport, follow green motorway signs to Lausanne.  Stay in Simplon and Grand St. Bernard lane. 
  2. Approaching Vevey follow Fribourg and Bern lane to motorway A12 (do not turn off towards Bern at any time before Vevey, do not take Vevey local exit). 
  3. From motorway A12, take the first exit you reach, Chatel St. Denis/Les Paccots.  Follow the signs to Les Paccots (right as you exit the motorway).  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign when you reach the village.

Driving from Lausanne by lake Geneva:

  1. Take motorway A9 (direction Simplon/Grand St. Bernard/Fribourg). Approaching Vevey follow Fribourg and Bern lane to motorway A12 (do not take Vevey local exit). 
  2. You are now on motorway A12 heading towards Fribourg and Bern.
  3. From motorway A12, take the first exit you reach, Chatel St. Denis/Les Paccots.
  4. Follow the signs to Les Paccots (right as you exit the motorway).  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign when you reach the village.

Driving from Vevey by lake Geneva:

  1. Take motorway A12 (direction Fribour/Bern), and exit at Chatel St. Denis/Les Paccots. 
  2. Follow the signs to Les Paccots (right as you exit the motorway).  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign when you reach the village.

Driving from Montreux by lake Geneva:

  1. From Montreux, take motorway A9 (direction Bern/Lausanne).
  2. Approaching Vevey, take motorway A12 (direction Fribourg/Bern)
  3. From motorway A12, take the first exit you reach, Chatel St. Denis/Les Paccots.
  4. Follow the signs to Les Paccots (right as you exit the motorway).  You will see a big wooden Bienvenue (welcome) sign when you reach the village.

Driving from Gruyeres/Bulle/Fribourg/Bern:

  1. Follow motorway signs.  Take motorway A12 (direction Lausanne/ Vevey).
  2. Exit at Chatel St. Denis/Les Paccots.
  3. Follow the signs to Les Paccots (left as you exit the motorway).  You will see a big wooden Bievenue (welcome) sign when you reach the village.