First in a series of articles on villages and towns in the Nyon area. This one is on Coppet and is written by Marina Marangos who lived in the town for five years.
Coppet
The reason for the popularity of Coppet and its surrounding area, is easy to understand. Apart from the town being on the main railway line into Geneva (a 15 minutes journey), it is also very convenient for the UN organizations and major offices (approx 20 minute drive). It is close to France, the auto route and the airport. It has one of the biggest international schools nearby which children can walk or bike to if they live in the area and the town is a short drive to two main shopping centres, Chavannes Centres and Signy Shopping Centre .
Coppet has a rich history and a great Chateau . The Chateau is a wonderful “working chateau” as the current owners live there for part of the year. They open the Chateau from Easter to the 31st of October in order for the public to view some of its rooms such as the library, the reception rooms and some private rooms. The stables have been converted into wonderful reception and dining areas and can be rented for special events. The gardens host a variety of activities and functions.
There is grand Spring sale of plants and an ice rink in winter at the castle. “Bonsoir Madame de Stael” is a theatrical production that took place outdoors in the grounds last year and was an important reminder that one of the most important occupants of the chateau was Madame de Stael, the daughter of William Necker, Louis XVI’s minister of finance. Since then the chateau has remained in the hands of Necker’s descendents. The current owner represents the 8th generation since Necker and the 10th generation since 1784.
The Chateau sits on a slight hill, within a stone's throw view of the lake. The paddle steamers stop in Coppet and the small marina is home to some private yachts. The shack along side the lake (called the Coppet Cabana!) offers cold beers and caprinhas in the summer months.
On the Route du Lac you will find the Temple of Coppet which hosts many services, choral and musical evenings. Opposite the offices of the Mairie is a door which very few people know about, but it's worth investigating as it leads out to a small enclosed garden which goes right down to the lake and where the burgers of Coppet can relax and spend some time.
The hidden garden in Coppet
The Hotel Orange dates back many years but its menu now is more pizza then mediaeval banquets. Across the road is the arcade which has the main shopping area of the village, including an excellent butcher, a chocolaterie, a vegetable shop and a bread shop. Brocante markets and fairs are held under the arcades several times a year and are well worth strolling through.
One of the shops in the arcade of Coppet
Maison Michel can be found half way along which is open to the public and is an excellent example of a museum home of the 16th Century (see previous post on this museum) At the edge of the main road lies the Hotel du Lac after which many a novel has been named. It has beautiful rooms and a splendid terrace overlooking the lake as well as a restaurant.
Further out on the Route du Lac is the Coppet Poisonnerie which has an eclectic variety of fresh fish and offers cooking courses for those who regard cooking fish as a bit of a challenge. There are modern apartment blocks in Coppet too and Domaines de Perierres is one of them.
The big communal school is called Terre Sainte. It is one of the best schools in the area and extends from the primary years through to secondary with extra curricular activities taking place on a daily basis as well as offering excellent sporting facilities. Amateur dramatic clubs in Geneva use the theatre within the school to stage their productions. It is very much a local landmark, not least for its dwarf like statues leading up to the school and its great "cake" fairy lights which are switched on in December heralding Christmas and the New Year.
The Terre Sainte area of Coppet is particularly sought after. It is a small village of several thousand people and houses amongst the vineyards and the orchards of the area. To the north, the beautiful Jura mountains.To the south, the serenity of Lac Léman.Coppet is a great place to live, I thoroughly recommend it.
Photos of Coppet taken 2008 and March 2009