Search

Every year, the Swiss Heritage Society selects a swiss municipality as the winner of its "Wakker Prize". The decision is based on the development and preservation of architectural heritage. Let's take a closer look at our neighbouring village, or one that is home to many of our readers. The Federal Inventory of Built Sites (ISOS) defines Prangins as an "object of national importance". It's classic French-style castle is the largest 18th-century castle open to the public in Switzerland. It is now home to the Swiss National Museum 's headquarters. It's parks and open spaces in the town centre are also considered worthy of protection. Throughout it's development, Prangins stays true to it's values and aims to have a harmonious balance between demographic growth and high standard of living, in which it invests actively. Prangins offer an educational trail called " On the lands of Baron Guiguer ". It goes from the castle to t   he shores of Lake Geneva, showing the historical importance of this seigneury during the Age of Enlightenment. There are clear growth regulations for the village that is part of the "Greater Geneva" area. It's population is expected to increase by approximately 30% anywhere between 2030 and 2040. All of these elements contributed to it's winning of the Wakker Prize fr 2021 awarded by the Swiss Heritage Society . Why not take a stroll around their lovely gardens at the next opportunity and see Prangins through a new perspective?

Nyon has a new ambitious artistic and playful project in the making -A 13m wide labyrinthine to provide fun or relaxation for all! Thank you to Charlotte Laubard from the Nouveaux commanditaires for the information provided and the energy put into this initiative. The association facilitates articstic commissions for a variety of objectives. The Maison Gubler recently acquired, renovated and converted into a " UAPE" , a structure to which parents can subscribe children outside of school hours. It welcomes 97 children every day. This generated an idea amongst a group of parents, UAPE educators and people surrounding the parc. What if a large-scale artistic creation were installed that was not only purely for children but made would provide a meeting point for the locals to gather around? The chosen artists were the Chapuisat Brothers , originally from Founex, whose large-scale temporary installations are known internationally. Together with Charlotte Laubard as part of the " Les nouveaux commenditaires ", they developed a monumental sculpture that has been designed to be versatile and accessible to all. A 13m wide maze invites play, puzzle-solving or simply relaxing in its oak beams! To complete the sustainability aspect, a young company Samedi SNC was mandated. They promote sustainable forest management and support a network of local operators, thus contributing to the rediscovery and know-how of traditional carpentry. The City of Nyon , the Region of Nyon and the Canton of Vaud committed to supporting the ambitious artistic project as well as several private foundations. A crowdfunding campaign was launched to promote and complete the remaining financing You can find out more about the Nouveaux commanditaires and their initiatives by following them on Facebook and Instagram .

There is a new "Community Café" it's a new charity second-hand shop located in the Maison de Quartier La Redoute, Nyon. A place to meet, exchange and find some hidden treasures. Thank you to Linnann Muhlemann for the information and the initiative. Her efforts allowed her to make a donation of CHF1'000.- to Compassion International. Congratulations for this achievement Linnann! The Community Café is here to provide a place where local people can come to meet, exchange, and find some new tresasures ! The concept came about from the wonderful space at La Redoute, and we wanted to see people using it actively. Since opening the shop in January 2020, it has developed a great stock of good condition second-hand clothes for adults and children alike. Goods can be exchanged and all in an ambiance of fun and or low prices. They are open on Tuesdays between 11 :00 and 17 :00. Pass by, have a look, and do bring along anything you want to donate. All support is appreciated. It is run by Linnann Muhlemann who is of American origin, and has been a Swiss citizen for 17 years. She is accompanied by a few local volunteer with 3 different nationalities. All money raised is given to charity. In December 2020 a donation was made for CHF1000.- to Compassion International . This mother and daughter team have set out on a mission to connect children to sponsors worldwide. Through them, the community café supports a young boy named Daniel who lives in Bolivia. Events are organised to fundraise and simply to have some fun like the fun sing-along event in February 2020. Corona allowing, there will be another one in August 2021. Please visit when you are in the area ! 12 Ch. de La Redoute, Nyon. Bus 805 or 820 stop : La Redoute. It's in the Maison de Quartier for the building La Redoute on Rte de L'Etraz. Tuesdays 11 :00-17 :00 You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram .

The Municipality submits CHF 500'000.- in funds to support its small and medium-sized companies. In a press release on the 8th of March, it expresses its concern over the local economy. COVID-19 triggered a crisis starting in March 2020. It has had major repercussions on the businesses and their capacity to operate and generate income. The Federal restrictions needed to be imposed, but have resulted in considerable losses and a general decline in economic activity. Federal and Cantonal aid was given to certain companies and industries. Nevertheless, the municipality highlights that many companies are not applicable, or are overlooked. They are now in dire need of support in the face of the extended sanitary crisis. With this aid, the Municipality seeks to prevent lack of liquidity or even bankruptcy for the local businesses.

Nyon's coworking, ATELIER 9 has opened up a new location with private offices on the Place du Chateau! During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant rise in demand for private offices where small businesses could come to work together without the risk of larger infections in the open-space. More information on the trends the coworking noticed can be read in our previous article on the coworking space here . Roland Schaller, ATELIER 9' s co-owner, and his business partners had been on the lookout for a suitable location since the summer and finally found what they needed at the end of last year. A stone's throw away from their original location the Rue du Vieux-Marché 9, a perfect opportunity arose for them on the central Place du Château 7. The space became available for them to take over a space in November. The months of November and December saw an intense period of renovation to bring in their unique urban style that mixing a modern vibe with trendy materials and the easily recognisable "red thread" as a colour. In January, 6 brand new office spaces, each with a capacity of 2-4 people, were ready to welcome their first tenants. Several local businesses had already expressed interest in renting private offices and moved in very shortly after opening their doors. Two of the private offices at the Place du Château are available as of October 1st ! Now, you can benefit from a 10 m2 office or a 13 m2 office, the former can host 2 people and the latter 3 people . Both include desks, comfortable office chairs and a lot of shelves. The notice period is only 3 months as compared to traditional rentals with contracts lasting from 3 to 5 years ! The offer comes with the following services : High speed Wi-Fi 4 hours of meeting room credit per month Credit for 200 prints per month Free coffee and tea Access to Atelier 9's chill corner and cafeteria Cleaning 3x per week Air conditioning 24/7 building access. On request, both offices can also be hired as one unit. Company domiciliation in option. Please contact us for more details or pass by for a visit. A communal area is available within the space to allow for much-needed coffee breaks. There is a friendly and relaxed atmosphere between people as they come across each other, usually stopping for a quick chat before starting the day. These are also an opportunity for the various business owners to exchange ideas and get to know each other's companies. For example, Emilio Hernandez is one of the employees of COSY Web Agency, a digital Nyon-based agency. His clients are based in the heart of Nyon and by being based in ATELIER 9 he is extremely flexible to move quickly between his office and COSY web's physical shop right opposite the cinema. Another of the tenants is Martin Tengelin, Managing Director for Switzerland of Datatonic, an innovative company in the field of AI and analytics. They rent 2 separate office spaces and make sure to rotate between colleagues and days in the office. Due to the current pandemic, this is an ideal solution for them. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram to get all the latest information. More to come from ATELIER 9 soon...!

Last night, March 9th, a display of candles was lit in front of the municipality building in Nyon to honour those lost to COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. A group of local citizens lit 25 candles in order to pay tribute to the memory of the deceased during the pandemic with each candle representing one person. On the 13th of February 13 in front of the Château Saint-Maire in Lausanne the first initiative of this sort was taken. You can read more about it here , the article is in French. You can read more about the initiative on the "coronamahnwache" website (in German).

Looking for a professional for your photography and videography needs? Here is a list of the local talent for you to contact! Photos and videos illustrate our professional and personal lives. There are many fantastic, English-speaking professionals out there but it's a fragmented industry, and they can be hard to find outside of the word-of-mouth channel. If you are looking photographer or videographer for a personal event or for marketing and branding purposes, this list gives you an overview of some of the local and talented professionals around us. Is there a summary of another field you would like to see in Living in Nyon? please get in touch I would love to hear it. Get in touch with me by email here . Thank you to all that have provided a short description of their work and contact details to get in touch with them directly for more information.  Images are copyright of the artists and are taken from the websites. Pieter Nijssen - Video "You don't need video, you need results; more clients, more engagement, more sales.I specialize in making beautiful videos that sell and I distribute those videos online, using a proven, trackable system." Pieter makes professional videos beautifully filmed and edited to market yourself or your business. For more information: Visit Pieter's website to see his videos or to contact him, you can also follow him on Instagram . Anna de Wit - Photography "Through photography, I show the love and connection that exists in families. I do not require (nor like) traditional posing but rather direct and prompt to achieve the unique imagery you can feel instead of just see." Families and personal branding photography for women is Anna’s field. Through her photography, she has also helped raise money for charities while living in Asia and she is always happy to support local community projects. For more information: Visit Anna's website , and follow her on Instagram or Facebook . Amber Roberts Images - Photography "A photo shoot with me is fun and uplifting and definitely counts as me-time. It's a pampering session, fantastic morale booster and girl’s day out all rolled into one!" Amber Roberts is an award-winning British female portrait photographer. She empowers women and families through beautiful photography and helps professionals elevate their image with powerful headshots and business portraits. Her style is a blend of contemporary, casual, stylish and fine art with a touch of vogue fashion. For more information: Visit Amber's website here, follow her on Instagram or Facebook . Michael Kuszla - Photpgraphy & Video "I capture and illustrate people and their activities. I tell stories with passion. I also enjoy food photography and documentaries with a contemporary and studio style."  Michael has a wide experience working for Monocle, Nat Geo, Grand Reportage or GQ magazines, as well as for CEO's, entrepreneurs and public people with photography and video. For more information: Michael's website is under construction currently, but he has an active Instagram account that showcases his work. Danielle Andrews - Photpgraphy "For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the intangible. Our experiences in this world are core to my practice and my curiosity has led me to make art that touches upon my spirituality."  Danielle has a BA in Photography and uses photography and other mediums such as painting and sculpture, I aim to explore ideas through visual matter to verbalise what cannot always be easily written. For more information: Visit Danielle's website or follow her on Instagram . Mickel Naumann - Photography "I create an easy-going ambiance to get your natural expression. I take pictures for professional purposes and also for ID cards and legal documentation of almost any nationality. Smile!" Michael's specialty is professional headshots and ID pictures for adults and babies alike. For more information: Visit the website Photo-studio Buzzmedia for more examples or to contact him,   Reto Steffen - Photography & Video "I love to tell stories! Either in one frame as photography or multiple frames in video and film. Connecting with people and helping them tell their story is my passion." Reto regularly works for NGOs internationally or locally to help raise awareness for their projects. And is always very happy to discover more local initiatives and tell their stories. For more information: Visit Reto's website or follow him on Instagram . Copyright @Reto Steffen

Living in Nyon has undergone a change of editorship in September last year. Catherine Nelson Pollard created the -then blog -11 years ago and developed a wonderful website we now all know and love. Catherine continues to contribute with articles and we enjoy exchanging ideas for the future and development of Living in Nyon. It has recently been turned into an association (more on that soon!). Share your own ideas with us too if you have them! Contact me by email here . Catherine and Lisa from Know-it-all Passport have had a great collaboration over the years and it is an honour to take over this site from Catherine and to be able to continue the collaboration with Lisa. Lisa recently interviewed me for her website. We talk about my background, my motivation to take over Living in Nyon and the obstacles I met on the way. We also discussed my company B-inspired partners and how it all fits together. I work with people who want to position themselves clearly in their careers and there is a great discount for readers looking how to make the most of their career with an upcoming masterclass on the 25th of March. You can read the full article on the Know it-all website here . Know-it-all passport is a fantastic English-speaking guide that covers the whole of the Swiss-French region and neighboring France. Aside from the wealth of information, you will find there in our area, there is a host of ideas for events and activities. Head over to the site and subscribe to the newsletter here (LINK) if you haven't done so already. Thanks again Lisa for the article!

If you want your child to think, create, and develop curiosity for what is powering the future and engage in digital learning made simple, this camp is for you - awarded “ most innovative education specialist ” in Switzerland by Corporate Live Wire UK. “My sons definitely enjoyed the camps because they wanted to go back again and again. As parents, we enjoyed the open-door sessions on the last day” Alison Bewick, Nestlé Vevey* Semi-private classes of 3-5 students. Suitable for children from 11 to 18 years old. From Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 April from 09:30 to 15:00 Price range: CHF 699 – CHF 799 Lausanne Camps Geneva Camps

La Lignière has a great medical centre with specialised doctors most of whom speak fluent English. Living in Nyon met with Samy Benchouk, the centre's new sports doctor to hear more about his area of practice. Samy Benchouk joined La lignière in January and works with patients with orthopedic issues and he is the new sports doctor. In this interview, he tells us more about his field and the way he works. He also has some great tips for avoiding sports injuries in the first place! Living in Nyon (LIN): Can you tell us a little more about yourself and what made you specialise as a sports doctor? Samy Benchouk (SB): I studied medicine at the university in Geneva and spent time in the emergency room in Valais. This gave me a lot of exposure to sports injuries due to amount of skiers, sledgers and hikers in the area. When I moved to the Hospital de la Tour in Geneva I was in the sports and orthopedic department. It was there that I realised I wanted to specialise in that field. I was seeing so many, very active and healthy people, that had often simply pushed themselves too hard training. We had to fix the injury they had but also ensure they recover on the long term. We would help them to make a training plan that was compatible with their recovery, but also their ambitions. LIN: Can you explain in more detail what a "Sports doctor" is and how it differs from, for example, an orthopedist? SB: An Orthopedist is there to determine if the injury needs surgery or not. If it doesn't they will refer the patient according to what they judge is the best course of action. A sports doctor specialises specifically in the pains and injuries related to sports. We focus on building up people's body and muscles to reach the level of activity they are aiming for. This is done by developing exercises that take into consideration their medical history, their lifestyle and their ambitions. LIN: What are the signs that we need to consider contacting you as a sports doctor? SB: Often people tend to wait too long before seeing somebody. When there is an injury that doesn't heal or a muscle pain that remains people often go to an orthopedist or their family doctor. The problem is that it's harder to fix once a lot of time has passed. There are 3 main signals to watch out for and that will tell you it's a good idea to come and see me: A recurring pain A pain that doesn't go away over a certain period of time A pain that disrupts your sleep LIN: Who are your typical patients? SB: It can vary quite a lot. I see the patients from the clinic that need to rebuild their muscles of course. Then there are people that come in for consultations related to sports. For example, I recently had a patient who wanted to get back to golf after a long break during the COVID restrictions. After his first day of golf he was in teremdous pain and was worried he would need a hip operation or even a replacement. We worked together built up his exercise routines gradually. This allowed him to rebuild his muscles and bring them to the level necessary to strengthen his hip. He is now able to play his 18 holes of golf without surgical intervention and pain-free! LIN: What can we expect when we come to see you for a consultation? SB: I take a holistic approach to the meeting. I spend quite some time simply asking your questions not only about the pain and the reason that brought you here, but also about your lifestyle. Your amibtions and what level of fitness you want to achieve. What I love most about my work is the fact that I get to look at the whole picture of a person and their life. Not just the fracture or the pain point in an isolated and medical manner. I also regularly consult expert colleagues at the clinic and Nyon Hospital such as the orthopedic surgeon Dr John McManus . LIN: Are the consultations covered by the insurance? SB: The consultations are covered by the insurance just as a visit to your doctor would be. Depending on the diagnosis and treatment, there may be other expenses. These are often covered by the complementary or "complementaire" insurance such as the sports evaluation for example. LIN: Do you have any tips on how to avoid injuring ourselves when exercising? SB: Of course! The most common thing I see is that people decide they want to get back in shape and pick up where they left off their training a year or two ago. They assume they are still in the same physical condition they were then, and they push themselves too hard at the beginning. Because of this, a twisted ankle or a pulled muscle can very easily happen. When you want to pick up your sports or fitness activities again, it is important to build yourself back up gradually. Build up your muscles and cardio and also have the right equipment. If you do an exercise that causes you pain, don't do that exercise for another 48h to give your body time to heal. Do other ones in the meantime that work different areas and muscles giving the pain area to recover. Then you can try again after 48h. Thank you very much for the interview and all the interesting information! Is it time for you to consult a sports doctor? You can make an appointment with Samy Benchouk or any of the other specialists at La Lignière here . Watch this video (in French) Where Samy Benchouk presents himself and his specialisation: For more information on La Lignière, you can also read our previous articles on the clinic.

Are all of us are artists, who knew? The Ecole club Migros is offering Acrylic pouring workshops in May and during the summer months. Find out about this relaxing and artistic workshop coming up! Do them alone or with your children ages 16 and up. Do you want to get started in abstract art? Acrylic Pouring allows you to express your creativity and detach yourself from everyday life in a fun way that is accessible to all. If you are curious to discover artistic techniques and methods, come and see the magic of Acrylic Pouring. The results are immediate and highly satisfying! The workshop teacher is perfectly bilingual in French and English. She leads you through an introduction to the method, taking into account everyone's creative desires and she adapts to the needs of the group. Beginners and experienced artists alike are welcomed. At the end of the second workshop, you get to take home your piece of unique art to proudly display! Material is provided and the workshops are open for people as of 16 years old. Children as of 12 can accompany their parents too and share the artistic experience. The workshops are held over 2 Saturdays between 09:00 and 12:00, with the next ones open for registration on the 26th of June and the 3rd of July , inscription fees are 135CHF. In July they are back on the 3rd and 17th of July. You can find all the information you need to sign up here. Not artisiticly inclined but curious about other workshops? The Ecole Club Migros has a big selection, you can see what else is on offer here .

Do you own property or are you considering buying something in the area? This series of articles is for you! The Nyon property digest is published once a month. Thank you to Harriet Kibbe for sharing her knowledge of the local real estate market with us and breaking down the information. In this monthly series, she highlights different topics giving some local property-related insights and tips. To start off, she dives into one of the most common reactions when people move or look to buy in our area: "Why is everything so expensive?" What I hear most from recently arrived expats is usually ‘I didn’t realise how expensive it was to live here!’ shortly followed by ‘but it is really beautiful’. Even after living here 15 years, and having partly grown up here, I catch myself muttering under my breath ‘so bloody expensive’ several times a day! Property in this part of Switzerland is no exception to this ‘it’s so expensive’ knee-jerk comment and the reason for that is very basic economics: the demand for property, and in particular single family units, far outweighs the supply thereof. There are, of course, several factors that combine to ensure that prices in the Geneva - Morges area remain high, higher than the rest of Switzerland, which I will attempt to sum up: Cap on new-builds through communal, cantonal and federal regulations (for many reasons: green space, landscape, demographics, favouring agriculture, local plans to maintain low levels of noise and other pollution, etc); Record low mortgage rates , incentivising medium to long term residents to buy; High rentals due to demand from short term residents, pushing people aiming to stay longer to save money by buying; The famous lump-sum taxation (particularly in Vaud) does attract wealthy homeowners, who also drive prices up on the higher end of the property market. There is so much to say but the reality is that we all enjoy the Swiss landscape, greenery and quality of life and construction... and so do the Swiss authorities who intend to maintain them. My advice to anyone looking to buy is to become good friends with a local estate agent and follow up regularly because there ARE houses for sale, you just need to be at the top of their list! If you want to contact Harriet you can reach her by email here .