Montreux, Switzerland

Montreux is a town located in western Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, picturesquely situated on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva, between Lausanne and Villeneuve in a rich wine-growing region. The climate here is mild due to the proximity of Lake Geneva on the one hand and the high Alps on the other. Montreux is the town that offers one of the most wonderful walks along the shores of Lake Geneva, from Villeneuve to Veuve.

Montreux is a pearl of the Swiss Riviera, a lively resort as well as an important cultural centre. The city offers a rich programme of cultural entertainment such as concerts, variety shows and balls, the most famous being the International Jazz Festival which takes place in July. Since the time of the great Roman Empire, Montreux has been an important settlement, the center from where the road from Rome splits in two, to Aventicum and to Gaul via Besançon. A key moment in the Montreux's development was the introduction of viticulture to the region in the 12th century. The sunny slopes from Laveau to Montreux became a thriving wine-growing region.

In 1798 Montreux was conquered by Napoleon I, but after his defeat in 1815 it was returned to Swiss rule. In the 19th century, Montreux was transformed into an important tourist centre, attracting a large number of wealthy clients from Europe and America.

Montreux is a city where culture is at a high level. Montreux hosts several important festivals - the Freddie Mercury Festival, held annually (since 2003) on the first weekend of September, the Montreux Jazz Festival, held annually in July since 1967. Since 1967, the Golden Rose Festival, held in spring, whose prize, the Golden Rose of Montreux, is an international award for television, and the Golden Prize of Montreux, held every year in April and Europe's first international advertising and multimedia competition.

And speaking of music, we should mention a few more very important details related to Montreux - the statue of Freddie Mercury facing the lake is erected on the Montreux waterfront, and Deep Purple made Montreux famous with their song "Smoke on the Water", which sings about an event in 1971 when a fan of Frank Zappa set fire to the Montreux casino. A concert hall in the city is named after Igor Stravinsky.

Speaking of attractions, we must say that Montreux has many of them, and that it offers an unlimited number of places for recreation and relaxation.

Recommended attractions in Montreux are the statue of Freddie Mercury, which was built by the sculptor Irena Sedlecka and was placed in its current location by Freddie's father and Montserrat Cabaye, the historical museum in the old town, the Chillon castle, which was built before 1150, the wine museum in the town of Montreux. Egl, the world-famous La Prairie clinic, which is a magnet for celebrities wishing to relax here after some adjustments to their appearance, the largest Christmas market in all of Switzerland and more.