Montreux - A Cultural Feast
If you like to people-watch, Montreux may be the place for you. Known for its cultural festivals, it's a great place to visit, both in summer and winter. This area came under the control of the princes of Savoy from south of Lake Geneva. They ruled this region well until after the Burgundian Wars in the 15th century. At that time, the Swiss took occupation. During the Reformation, this region became attractive to the Huguenots of Italy. In 1798, Napoleon's army liberated this area from the Bernese. The area has since become an important tourist destination, featuring grand hotels that attract celebrities and the well-to-do from all over the world. Montreux is part of the so-called Swiss Riviera. Besides sunbathing on the shores of Lake Geneva, you can visit the Château de Chillon, a historic castle built on a tiny island in Lake Geneva only a few meters from the shore. It looks like it is floating. It was the inspiration for Lord Byron's poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon." Click here to find the best city tours, boat cruises and day trips for Lake Geneva visitors. Another interesting site is the Marmots' Paradise. This is an odd little place where you can observe marmots from all over the world as they burrow and live their lives. If you like to hike, you can't ask for a better place to visit. The area around the city is threaded with trails, caves and grottos to explore. This protected little valley enjoys a microclimate that allows Mediterranean plants like cypresses and palm trees to thrive. The city of Montreux features fine dining, fine shopping and luxurious hotels for visitors.
The city is the starting point for the train that takes you to the place where the original Gruyère cheese comes from. This so called Swiss Chocolate Train stops in Gruyères for cheese on its way to the Nestlé chocolate factory at Broc. You can also take the famous and legendary
Alpine line with the famous Golden Pass Panoramic trains,
which go to Château d’Oex, Gstaad, Zweisimmen – (Interlaken) – (Lucerne).
In the summer, most people enjoy sunbathing, water sports or cruising on the lake. The nightlife is lively and a casino provides even more entertainment. In the winter, there are trails for cross-country skiers and hikers, and there are some fantastic ski and toboggan runs nearby. Find Great Vacation Rental Deals at TripAdvisor Many of the world's rich and famous spend time in this city. Musicians from all music genres descend in the summer for the month long jazz festival. The city has been memorialized in Deep Purple's song, "Smoke on the Water." It was also the subject of "A Winter's Tale" on Queen's 1995 album, "Made in Heaven." The city has made a big impression on the music industry. Montreux is host to the Golden Rose Festival in the spring, the Golden Award of Montreux, an annual award ceremony held in April that recognizes excellence in advertising and multimedia and the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in July. The city also plays host to an annual Comedy Festival in December. At Christmas, the city hosts a Christmas market for several weeks that features local wines, chocolates and crafts. Father Christmas (Pere Noel) is available for the children and they also put on a wonderful holiday festival atmosphere. Read more about this city on the following pages: Montreux Jazz Festival - An Event For Every Possible Music Genre Interesting Spots and Famous Names Le Chateau de Chillon – Why You Must See The Chillon Castle Back to top of Montreux - A Cultural Feast
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The trains run to and from the city to the other villages in the region regularly, so travel is easy and carefree. 