Sketching Vineyards and a Castle in Aigle

Aigle Castle and Vineyards

There would be no Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) without the Rhone River. The charming town of Aigle is located on the Rhone close to the lake in the Rhone Valley.

The turrets of Aigle Castle are what stands out architecturally … but … the magic is really in the location. Aigle Castle is surrounded by stunning vineyards. A friend who is originally from Switzerland raves about the wines from this area. Fondant is the local white. Dole is the red.

Watercolor sketching on Vineyard stepsSome of these vineyards remain connected to the castle. Most, are owned by small local wine producers. Entrances to individual vineyards exhibit unique personalities.  Some entrances can accommodate vehicles while others lead to footpaths. Each differs from the next.

One of the gates provided me with great shade stone steps to sit on. I took advantage of both for the painting I did at the top of this post.

Such a wonderful memory I have of the day. Views, grapes, old stone walls and charming vineyard signs at every turn. And then there was lunch overlooking vineyards and the castle on a stone terrace underneath a grape arbor. It was almost too perfect. Almost.