Bassins Distillery

Fields of Plants and a Still to Discover

At 750 meters above sea level, above the village of Bassins and in the heart of the Parc Jura vaudois, the Distillerie de Bassins cultivates a dozen aromatic and medicinal plants — lavender, sage, thyme, chamomile, lemon balm, oregano… — as well as conifers from the Jura (spruce, larch, arolla). On-site, these plants are transformed into essential oils and floral waters through steam distillation. It is a true place of artisanal production, open to the public on certain occasions: the ideal way to show children where scents and perfumes come from.

What Your Children Will Discover

During a visit, children walk along the colorful and fragrant fields, crush a leaf of lavender or lemon balm between their fingers, and discover the impressive distillation setup where steam extracts essential oils. It is a very sensory outing — touching, smelling, observing — that awakens curiosity about plants and the nature of the Jura.

What Happens There and the Atmosphere On-Site

The distillery is mainly visited in two ways. Once a year, a free Open Day offers guided tours open to all, with several departures throughout the day: this is the easiest time to come as a family. For the rest of the summer, guided tours are available by reservation, in groups and privately. The visit takes place partly outdoors, in the fields, at the pace of the harvests and the weather.

Before You Go

• Recommended age: for families, preferably from 6 years old (sensory visit, no play area); no minimum age is specified by the distillery.
• Duration: about 1.5 hours.
• Reservation: essential. Open Day by registration via email; private tours by reservation for groups (5 to 20 people).
• Price: the Open Day is free; private guided tours are chargeable (around 150 CHF for 5 to 20 people, to be shared).
• Accessibility: the site is indicated as accessible for people with reduced mobility; still, good shoes for the fields are recommended.
• Transport: in Bassins, the easiest access is by car.
• Ideal season: summer (tours from mid-June to mid-September, during the harvests).

Parents' Tips

• Aim for the free Open Day: it is the most suitable and economical option for families. Check the date of the year on the website, it changes.
• Outside of this event, the visit is a paid private service: gather several families to share the group rate.
• Book in advance via email; tours depend on the harvest schedule and the weather.
• Bring a hat, water, and good shoes: part of the visit takes place in the fields.
• Let the children smell and touch the plants: that’s the whole point of the outing.

Useful Information

• Address: Rue de la Ravière 16, 1269 Bassins (VD).
• Official website: distilleriedebassins.ch
• Contact: +41 22 366 15 46 (reservations via email).
• Hours: tours from mid-June to mid-September; Open Day on a specific day in summer (date of the year on the website).
• Access: in Bassins, in the Parc Jura vaudois; preferably by car.

Why We Recommend It

Because it is an original nature outing, far from playgrounds, that connects the garden, the senses, and discovery in a concrete way. The free Open Day is a great opportunity to introduce children to the work of plants and the magic of distillation, in the beautiful setting of the Parc Jura vaudois.

In Two Words

An artisanal plant distillery above Bassins, to be discovered with family especially during its free summer Open Day. Outside of this date, guided tours are private and chargeable, by reservation.