St. Saphorin, street at the Gare (train station), 22.03.2026. 14x36 cm.

St-Saphorin Street at the Gare. 22.03.2026

This original plein-air oil painting was created in Saint-Saphorin, Switzerland, near the small railway station overlooking the vineyards and shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Painted directly on location, the work captures the quiet atmosphere of one of the most picturesque villages in the Lavaux wine region, where narrow streets, historic architecture and the landscape meet between lake and sky.

Saint-Saphorin is nestled within the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape known for its centuries-old wine-growing traditions and exceptional views over Lake Geneva. The village is characterized by winding streets, stone houses and the unique relationship between architecture, vineyards and water. (Switzerland Tourism)

On this spring day, the street near the station carried a calm rhythm of everyday life. Light moved softly across the façades and pathways, while the surrounding landscape of Lavaux seemed suspended between the lake below and the vineyards climbing the hillside above. Rather than focusing on architectural detail alone, the painting explores the atmosphere of arrival, passage and quiet observation within this historic village.

Created during a single outdoor painting session, this work belongs to my ongoing plein-air series dedicated to the villages, vineyards and lakeside landscapes of Western Switzerland. Each painting preserves a specific encounter with a real place, its light and its changing mood.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Saint-Saphorin, Lavaux, Vaud, Switzerland
Subject: Village street near the St-Saphorin railway station
Region: Lavaux UNESCO World Heritage vineyards and Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)
Medium: Oil painting
Date painted: 22 March 2026

Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 14 x 36 cm

Size with passé partout: 28 x 53 cm

Date: 22 March 2026

Location: St Saphorin, Switzerland