Montreux is the most visited resort on Lake Geneva because of its beautiful
location in the southwestern part of Switzerland. The beauty of the city is
enhanced by the spectacular background of the Alps and the town has charmed
many people in the past.
The city of Montreux stretches along the shores of a large bay facing south
and rises in tiers to heights covered with woods and vineyards which shelter
it from the north and east winds. Besides the historic architecture, the
picturesque lanes, historical sights and exclusive shopping facilities
Montreux's attractiveness has grown by its numerous international festivals
such as the Montreux Jazz Festival (July), the International Choral Festival
(the week following Easter) and the September Musical Concert.
Fact File
Country : Switzerland
Population : 22,897.
Area : 33.40 km
Languages : German, French, Italian & Romansch
Climate : Montreux has an Mediterranean climate and is therefore
regarded as one of the noblest resorts in Switzerland. The mild climate of
Montreux makes it and the neighboring villages a climatic resort all the
year round and earns it the name of Vaud Riviera for its lakeshore.
Official Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $
= 0.678141 GBP (subject to change).
Location : In the middle of the lake Geneva nestles the lovely
little town of Montreux right on the waterfront. Montreux's location in the
heart of West Switzerland makes it an ideal base from where to explore other
places of interest. Among them are Zermatt, Matterhorn, Geneva, Lausanne,
Vevey, Gruyeres and Gstaad.
Getting There
By Air : Montreux does not have an airport of its own. The nearest
airport is the Geneva airport 90 km from Montreux. Travel time from Geneva
is 1 hour by car and 1 hour and 10 minutes by train.
The city is 200 km (124 miles) from Zurich airport and 87 km (54 miles)
from Berne airport.
By Train : One can take an international train (TGV from Paris, by
Pendolino from Milan and Intercity from Frankfurt or Munich) to Lausanne and
there change for Montreux. There are direct trains from Geneva Airport to
Montreux every hour.
A number of local trains leaving from Montreux station will take you to the
nearby summits, offering panoramic views to Geneva, the Mont Blanc, the
Matterhorn. The two most famous are the Montreux-Oberland Bernois (MOB) and
the Montreux Crystal Panoramic Express.
Getting Around
By Boat : Lake Geneva is full of comfortable and reasonably swift
steamers. They sometimes cover more distance than the trains that parallel
their routes. With a Swiss Pass one can travel free.
By Road : The Vevey-Montreux city service is excellent, as it's
impossible to find a parking place in these towns. If you have a Swiss Pass,
then you can travel free on city buses and funiculars in Montreux, Vevey,
and Lausanne.
Hired cars and taxis offer an excellent service to the tourists for getting
around in the city.
Accommodation
The city is blessed with plethora of hotels to provide the visitors with a
comfortable stay. A list of some of the hotels in Montreux is mentioned
here:.
5 star hotels in the city:
Grand hotel Suisse Majestic
Hotel Splendid
Raffles Le Montreux palace
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Eden auu lac
Hotel Helvetie
Major Tourist Attractions
Excursions (near Montreux)
Chateau de Chillon : This is the most beautiful structure standing
on the shores of the lake Geneva in Switzerland. Built in the 13th century
on older foundations, the Castle of Chillon was the home of the Counts of
Savoy throughout the Middle Ages. Originally a fortress, the Castle of
Chillon underwent several modifications with a view to its adaptation to the
advances in the defensive and offensive weapons of the age.
Chateau La Tour-de Peilz : The alluring lakeshore chateau built in
the 13th century, hosts the Swiss Museum of Games, a permanent exhibition
projecting the games cultures of all the continents of the world from Roman
times to the present day.
Chateau de Chatelard : Constructed in 1441 during the Burgundy Wars
by Jean de Gingins, the castle has, over the centuries, become a key centre
of local wine production.
St-Saphorin : A typical wine village, terraced in the vineyards of
Lavaux, adds to the charm of Montreux and Vevey. Tasting the famous local
wines in the village cellars is an old tradition of this region. Local
specialties include fresh perch from the lake and local wines such as the
light dry whites "St-Saphorin" or "Epesses".
Gruyeres : This small village of Gruyeres is probably one of the
most captivating on the Old Continent. It is approachable from Montreux via
a train or by car. One can even walk the cobblestone road to the old castle
and visit the Cheese Factory.
Wine Train : The "Train des Vignes" is an amazing way to
enjoy the captivating scenery of this wine growing region. The train passes
along the wine yards taking its passengers on a leisurely eight-km journey
which offers fabulous views of the lake, the Rhone Valley and the Alps.
Summer Sports :
Hiking
: Montreux is an excellent location for leisure hiking. Free brochures
with suggestions for walks and various detailed hiking maps are available at
the local tourist offices.
Swimming : The Lake of Geneva is a clean lake with several
public swimming areas. In the heart of Montreux you will find the popular "Lido"
that features a beautiful Olympic size pool.
Winter Sports :
Skiing/Snowboarding : From Montreux you can ski in two
attractive ski areas: "Rougemont-Chateau-d'Oex-Gstaad" and "Villars-Gryon-Diablerets-Leysin-Les
Mosses". Valley stations are accessible by train, bus and car.
Other Attractions:
Old Montreux : In the heart of the old quarter, the museum
is installed in two fine wine-growers houses and presents a lively account
of the region's eventful history.
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne : One can experience the
highlights of the Games and share the athletes' emotions in this museum.
Thanks to advanced audiovisual, data processing and robotic technology one
can actually experience the live games in the museum. Thousands of documents
and films bear witness to the times and achievements of people like Carl
Lewis or Jesse Owens.
Swiss
Ecstasy (10 D)
