The area
Nyon is in the French speaking part of Switzerland, in the canton of Vaud between the Jura mountains and the Lac Leman which stretches all the way down to Geneva. On clear days, one can see across the lake to the alps and when it's not hiding its head in the clouds, Mont Blanc occasionally puts in a spectacular appearance.It has a large supermarket, a shopping centre, a department store, a pedestrian area, a number of bars and restaurants, a small castle, a waterfront promenade from which cruises depart across the lake.
From Nyon, there are fast trains to Geneva and to Lausanne. Swiss trains can be expensive but are a pleasure to take and a convenient way of exploring the country. There are good connections to Bern, Fribourg, Basel, Zurich and their many museums and attractions.
There are no dedicated art shops in Nyon but a good and well stocked DIY shop with quit a lot of fine art supplies called Migros Loisirs a short bus ride away from the residency (bus 803 from Nyon Gare to Nyon Fontaine stop).
Castle and fountain in Nyon.
How to get to Nyon
You can drive, take the train or fly to Geneva Airport. There is a direct train from Geneva airport to Nyon. Geneva and Lausanne are easily accessible from Nyon and there you can connect to Bern, Zurich, Basel, Fribourg. Timetables and prices can be found at the swiss railway website here.
How to get from Nyon Train Station to the Residency
If you use google maps, the enter the address 'Route de l'Etraz 20a, Nyon'. If you don't have data on your phone, then follow these directions:
Head out of the station through the tunnel under the rails in the direction of the town. If you come out of the tunnel and see a small cafe in a gypsy caravan then head back into the tunnel and out the other side.
When you come up the stairs at the end and out of the tunnel, take a left past the station building. You will pass a small Coop supermarket (mostly good for sandwiches and takeaways for travellers but you can also get milk and cereals if need be).
Follow along the direction of the railway track still, you have to veer a little away from the railway but keep in the same direction until you are on a foot path in a small park, that goes downhill.
At the bottom of the hill take a left at the traffic light through the road tunnel under the railway line.
When you come out the tunnel, you will see a bric à brac shop on your left. This is already part of the Espasse Foundation. The residency is at the top of the outdoor stairs but you need to enter the door at the bottom of the stairs, then go up one floor before you see the door marked Trelex Residency at the top of the stairs.
Nina Rodin or another artist will be there to show you around and give you a key.
