Tongue:French
Population (with surroundings): 23 K people
Square:33 sq. Km.
Montreux is located in the western part of Switzerland and is considered one of the centers "" - a strip of resorts that are located on the northern coast. On the other side of the lake, the city with a population of twenty-three thousand people is "propped" by the picturesque Alps.
A once small village of winemakers and fishermen has long ceased to be such. The status of "one of the best resorts Europe "dictates its own rules - in Montreux every year more and more comfortable hotels offering rooms for every taste and budget - from modest single rooms, to the "royal suites". The streets and the embankment are gradually overgrown with chic restaurants, cute cafes and expensive boutiques.
Montreux has long become a "resort for the rich" who prefer going to a good expensive restaurant, expensive hotels, comfortable walks on Lake Geneva and excursions to elite vineyards to all other types of recreation.
Of the sights worth paying attention to the Chillon Castle, located in the suburb of Montreux and described by Lord Byron in the poem “The Prisoner of Chillon. It is considered one of the most famous in Switzerland and has long been a symbol of this prosperous country. From the Montreux train station to the castle no more than forty minutes walk. And along the way, you can admire the beautiful view of the city. There are two monuments on the embankment of Lake Geneva - Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury.
Every year in early July, musicians, cultural figures and just connoisseurs of good music arrive in Montreux to fully enjoy the international jazz festival for two weeks. This event is held annually, starting from one thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven. Over the years, a variety of world stars have performed on the festival stage. Claude Nobs remains the director and inspirer of Montreux Jazz Festival all these years.
Over the years, Montreux was visited by such personalities as Vladimir Nabokov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky and Lev Tolstoy.
At the recording studio Mountain Studios, owned by Queen, a huge number of famous stars have been recorded over the years.
Watch a small beautiful video of the main beauty and sights of Montreux.
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Montreux located on the banks Lake Geneva, in the western part. The city is part of the French-speaking canton of Vaud and is one of the most visited resorts, especially since it is located between and Villeneuve, in the heart of the central wine-growing region of the country.
Features:
Montreux is well known in tourist map the world. The cleanest air and mild climate, developed infrastructure, an abundance of excursion routes, excellent conditions for sports and the extraordinary beauty of these places, annually attract guests from all over the world. Many celebrities, including movie and pop stars, politicians, businessmen and influential people, own villas and cottages right on the shores of Lake Geneva, just a couple of kilometers from the city limits. In Montreux, all kinds of concerts, exhibitions and celebrations are held annually. The loudest of them is the renowned Jazz Festival, which takes place here in early July and regularly gathers thousands of fans of this musical direction. The resort is also famous for its grape treatment, which was widely used at the end of the 19th century to cure various diseases. Many interesting sights await here and curious travelers who want to enjoy the grandeur of ancient castles and stroll along the narrow streets of the Old Town. Great importance is attached here to nightlife, therefore, dance and music lovers can have fun until the early morning in local discos, clubs and entertainment venues.
general information
The urban area of \u200b\u200bMontreux is small and has a population of about 23,000. The local time lags behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer and 2 in winter. Time zone UTC + 1 and UTC + 2 in summer. Telephone code (+41) 21. Official site www.montreux.ch.
A brief excursion into history
In the Middle Ages, Montreux had the status of a tiny fishing girl, whose inhabitants were engaged in winemaking, farming and fishing. At the beginning of the 18th century, noble representatives of the royal family began to come here, and gradually the reputation of these places acquired a different color. As a result, by the end of the 19th century, the village had grown significantly in size, cozy comfortable hotels appeared on the coast of the lake, and Montreux became a popular climatic resort, where such important personalities for Russia as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky, Vladimir Nabokov rested. , Lev Tolstoy. Monuments of great tourist interest have been erected here to some legendary people who have visited the banks of Montreux at different times.
Climate
On climatic conditions the resort is strongly influenced by the Alpine peaks and the waters of Lake Geneva located in its vicinity. Winters are relatively warm here, and in the summer months there is almost never an intense heat. It rains regularly throughout the year, but it is not prolonged, and therefore does not cause significant difficulties for vacationers. In the period from May to September, the bulk of tourists come to Montreux, although the resort also receives guests in winter.
How to get there
International airports are located 188 and 86 kilometers from the city, respectively. From them, as well as from the nearby one, trains and regular buses run daily to Montreux. The railway route from Interlaken is extremely beautiful and spectacular, allowing you to appreciate the grandeur of the natural landscapes of Switzerland while the train is moving.
Transport
Within the city limits, it is most convenient to use a bicycle or walk on foot, since the territory of the city is small and not very adapted to traffic. To overcome great heights, they are actively used cable cars, and funiculars in Switzerland have become traditional for a long time and are equated to the usual mode of transport.
Treatment
The famous medical clinic La Prairie is very famous in Switzerland, specializing in cosmetology, plastic surgery, assistance with the elimination of excess weight, as well as problems associated with the nervous system. The center employs competent specialists who are ready to give professional advice at any time and prescribe to the patient not only an effective course of treatment, but also control the stages of recovery.
sights
One of the main historical sites of the city is the Montreux Palace Hotel, built at the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries and today is considered one of the most popular hotels throughout the entire Swiss Riviera. On the Market Square, a monument dedicated to the great musician Freddie Mercury is striking, and not far from it, the gaze opens amazingly beautiful view on the coast and magnificent groves of magnolias, palms, cypresses and almonds, in the green of which are buried numerous mansions and villas. About 3 kilometers from the city, there is a unique architectural landmark of the region - the graceful Chillon Castle, built on a rocky island and connected to the mainland by a bridge. Gothic windows, characteristic battlements and medieval turrets remind of its glorious past and the times when the castle was the seat of the Dukes of Savoy. At one time, its majestic appearance was repeatedly described by Byron, Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo, who visited Montreux in different years. Among the interesting excursion routes, special attention should be paid to a cruise on Lake Geneva, a train journey through the vineyard areas of the canton of Vaud with visits to wineries, a walk in Bouvray Park and wandering through the world's largest labyrinth - Evionne.
Entertainment
A huge selection of ways of exciting pastime allows the guests of the resort to easily determine the right direction, depending on their preferences. Extreme and active sports enthusiasts can go mountaineering, mountain biking or horseback riding. Also in Montreux there are excellent opportunities for water skiing, tennis and golf. For those looking for some fun at night, visit the local nightclubs and bars in the city center. Those who wish to spend large sums of money in order to satisfy the fits of excitement can go to the city casino. During the Jazz Festival and the Festival of Laughter, many people gather on the city streets and unrestrained fun begins. On such days, the resort has an unforgettable atmosphere. Children are always delighted to visit the Pere Noel Park, with an ice rink and mini-train moving through its grounds.
Kitchen
For true gourmets and connoisseurs of culinary traditions, Montreux is a real paradise. There are many different restaurants offering various international dishes, as well as drinks and pastries. An extremely wide selection of Swiss and Italian wines. The restaurant with the most gorgeous views of the surrounding landscapes is known as Le Palais Oriental, which has a unique romantic aura. In the evenings, a fair number of people who want to admire the peaks of the Alpine mountains and appreciate the quality of the local cuisine always gather here.
Shopping
Most of Montreux's shops are concentrated in the Market Square area and along the waterfront, as well as on the city's main street, Grand "Rue. The buzz is especially high during Christmas, when the city hosts a market fair with free tasting of wines and chocolates. This magical time is especially memorable. children, who are more than ever at the resort just on the eve of the New Year.
Every year Montreux gathers an impressive army of tourists who are happy to come to the shores of Lake Geneva to have a good rest in the bosom of nature, enjoying the enchanting views of the Swiss Alps and traveling through the historic French lands, always extremely hospitable to their guests.
(100 km from Geneva) can be called one of the most luxurious resorts in Switzerland. Montreux is located in the Cato of Vaud. The nature of this small town surprises with a variety of tropical plants. Along the promenade you can find palms, almonds, and cypresses with magnolias. And all this thanks to the unique microclimate. The landscapes are very reminiscent of Sochi and Crimea. If not for the snow-capped Alps on the opposite side of Lake Geneva. The air here is so clean that you immediately want to quit smoking.
During the day, mainly transit tourists walk along the Montreux embankment, who, passing along the coast of the lake, stopped here to explore the beauty and sights of the city. If you have the opportunity during your vacation to visit this wonderful Swiss resort, this Riviera of Switzerland, then first of all I advise you to see the monument to Fredy Mercury on the embankment.
Monument to Fredy Mercury in Montreux.
Here in Switzerland, in Montreux, "Queen" and Mercury filmed a recording studio, here they worked a lot. The monument is easy to find, it is located right on the embankment.
Another attraction of Montreux, which, I think, is also a must see, is the monument to Vladimir Nabokov. The monument is located near the hotel where he lived with his wife from 1960 to 1977. By the way, he moved here from America. The hotel is also easy to find, everyone knows it. The hotel is called "Montreux-Palace". Here they rented a room on the sixth floor. They walked along these streets, went to the nearest cafes to drink coffee or tea. In Montreux, more precisely, not far from Montreux, in the town of Clarens Nabokov, he was buried together with his wife, who died in 1992.
In the hotel itself, in the lobby, if you go inside, there is a gift from Yuri Luzhkov. More precisely, a gift from the Moscow mayor's office. This is a sculpture by V. Nabokov.
It is not surprising that the bohemian society rested in the Swiss Montreux, namely such celebrities as L. Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Including Charlie Chaplin. By the way, he also moved here from America and lived in Switzerland for twenty years. A monument to Chaplin is visible on VIDEO Montreux. So this is not in Montreux, but in Vevey. Vevey is a town next to Montreux, if you go towards the Chillon Castle. There are also monuments to BB King and Miles Davis. Montreux is a musical city. It hosts an annual jazz festival, and the Montreux Palace Hotel hosts guitar and pianist competitions. If you're lucky, you can get into these contests, because the entrance is free. And the jazz festival takes place in the concert hall. Stravinsky. As you can see, Russians loved to relax in Switzerland, and especially in Montreux, and therefore Russians are still respected in Montreux. Rich Russians.
However, what is remarkable is that the waterfront is now full of all sorts of different street vendors. In my opinion, these are simple (or not simple) migrant migrant workers in earnings. They sell all sorts of nonsense: cheap watches, knives, etc.
The Montreux resort in Switzerland is not for rich people, but for the very rich. The most famous and richest people on the planet send their children here to private closed schools, which, in turn, attend private closed nightclubs, bars and casinos. And their parents, coming to visit their offspring, make an appointment at the local expensive clinics and SPA-salons. If you are lucky, you may meet some of the celebrities in the streets of Montreux.
We failed to swim in Montreux. The shore is lined with stones and the water is not at all for swimming. We were in Switzerland in Montreux in the spring, at the beginning of June. And we took a swim later, when we went to Chillon. Indeed, the water is cold in Lake Geneva, but we simply could not help but swim. For memory.
Above the city itself are vineyards, and opposite, on the other side of Lake Geneva, you will have a stunning view of Swiss Alps... If you use the cogwheel railway, you can get to the top of the Rochers de Naye mountain at an altitude of about 2000 meters above Montreux and enjoy the magnificent panorama. This tour takes you through the vineyards and you will be very lucky if the weather is fine. Especially in summer. Otherwise, you will not see anything and waste your time. Toothed railway, this is a type of funicular from two or one carriages. At the top there is observation deck... The cost of the tour is about 30 euros (I don’t remember how many francs it will be).
From Montreux you should definitely go to Chillon Castle.
But that is another story.
For those who are gnawing at cultural hunger, and the long-awaited vacation is just around the corner, we would like to offer a good option for spending time. Today we invite you to visit the resort town of Montreux, which is located in the western part of Switzerland. The city of Montreux is built on the coast of the largest lake, and of all Europe,. Montreux has something to see and where to go. This place is rightfully called the "Pearl of Switzerland", as well as its cultural center. Let's take a walk around the area so you can fully appreciate the benefits of your vacation here.
General informationAs already mentioned, the city of Montreux is located on the shores of the huge Lake Leman. From it in the immediate vicinity there are other very interesting citiessuch as Villeneuve. Arriving here, you will find yourself in the very center of the region of winemakers - you will guess this yourself, passing countless vineyards (by the way, they are a very popular place). Due to its unique location between a large lake and the majestic mountain peaks the city of Montreux could safely be ranked as.
Weather
The weather in Montreux is significantly different from other resort towns in Switzerland. In autumn, there is very little rainfall in it, and in winter there is practically no snow. Such climatic conditions are created by the Alps, which seem to defend the city from bad weather. In winter, the average air temperature in Montreux is +3 degrees, and in summer - +20. These are ideal indicators for growing grapes, as well as for a comfortable tourist vacation.
The special climatic conditions of this place allowed nature to show itself in all its glory. Here you can see magnolias, palms, cypresses, as well as almond and laurel trees, the city seems to be immersed in their luxurious greenery. Along coastline stretches a beautiful quiet boulevard with many monuments to celebrities. Directly from it you can go down to the shore along one of the many stepped descents.
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You will lose a lot if, having visited Montreux, you do not see the annual event. This event usually starts in early July, hundreds of thousands of jazz music fans from all over the world gather for this grandiose event. But apart from this enchanting event, there is something to see here!
You should definitely visit the monument to Vladimir Nabokov, which is installed in the city of Montreux opposite one of the best Montreux Palace. It was here that this outstanding writer lived, who was forced to leave his homeland due to the persecution of the authorities. After the death of an outstanding figure in 1977, his wife donated her personal richest collection of butterflies to the University of Lausanne, where she still occupies a worthy place to this day.
The visit will be no less interesting for vacationers in Montreux. It is believed that its construction began in the 12th century, and its final appearance, which has survived to this day, it acquired in the middle of the 15th century. This structure is built on top of a cliff that rises above Lake Leman, from where a magnificent panoramic view the surroundings that are simply breathtaking!
As you walk along the waterfront, be sure to check out Place du Marché. Here in the city of Montreux there is a monument in honor of the legend of rock music Freddie Mercury. He stood forever with his hand raised skyward on the pedestal of the embankment, in his favorite pose. There is nothing to add here, the show must go on, no matter what ...
The guests of this city will not be bored, because there are all conditions for a calm quiet rest, and for active pastime... There are several large ones nearby, such as Champery, Leysin or Villars. You can also go for a walk in the mountains, go water skiing, play tennis, learn horse riding. In this city there are a lot of hotels for all levels of income, as well as countless good inexpensive bars, restaurants, discos and cafes. In general, you will definitely not be bored here, you can be sure of it!
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Montreux is the ideal place where you can taste almost all the best authentic Swiss cuisine. Of course, the main dishes in the city's restaurants are teeming with an abundance of seafood, and the favorite drink in them is real delicious wine. In Montreux you will find many cafeterias or restaurants of other national cuisine (Asian, French, European, etc.). The prices for food in them are varied. For example, in restaurants located on the territory of hotels, meals are much cheaper than in establishments in the city center. But at the same time, Montreux is not a cheap city, which means that a full-fledged dinner will result in you a lot of money. But in return you will receive the most delicious, hearty and delicious dishes, the taste of which will make you forget about the cost of the treat. So, among all in Montreux, tourists distinguish the following:
- Restaurant Le Museum (Swiss, European and vegetarian cuisine);
- Le Pont de Brent (French cuisine);
- La Rouvenaz (European and Italian cuisine);
- La Terrasse du Petit Palais;
- Jaan Restarant.
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The transport infrastructure in Montreux is quite well developed. Visitors to the city mostly prefer to travel by taxi, but its services are distinguished by their high cost among other resorts in Switzerland (6 francs per km). If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a taxi, then use better by public transport.
More than 30 buses run in Montreux in ten directions, which means that you will not stand for a long time at stops waiting for transport. Many tourists buy themselves a Regional Pass - a regional pass. It will allow you to use public transport completely free of charge and not only in Montreux. Cost - 155 CHF.
Some hotels in the city provide their own Montreux pass for certain routes. Basically, they run between the main attractions. Such a ticket is already included in the payment for a long (more than five days) stay at the hotel. You can also move around the outskirts of Montreux using cruise ship... Compagnie Generlade de Navigation is responsible for all water transportation in the city. In this company you can arrange a trip on Lake Geneva or rent a yacht.
A travel guide from Difficulty.net to the resort of Montreux in Switzerland.
Montreux: The main resort of the Swiss Riviera
The so-called Swiss Riviera, located on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, includes coastal resort towns, smoothly flowing into one another, with an almost uninterrupted and not blocked embankment. The largest of them are Lutry, Vevey and, of course, the "star" of these places - Montreux.
The riviera, by analogy with the seaside, these Swiss resorts were named, among other things, because of the local microclimate - this part of the lake is reliably closed by the Alps from cold winds, and it is warm in winter and hot in summer, like in seaside resorts. Therefore, in this area, plants of more southern latitudes grow quietly - palms, magnolias, many types of flowers. Add to this the fresh mountain air, the luxurious resort infrastructure that has been formed since the beginning of the 19th century, the breathtaking views of the mountains and lakes, as well as the Swiss service - and you have a recipe for the perfect vacation spot.
In a review article about is the main general information about this resort: its history, attractions, what else to see around.
Here I propose to take a walk around Montreux on a summer day and see how it looks, what it is famous for and why it turned out to be so loved by numerous aristocrats, rich men of all stripes and representatives of the artistic world of the XIX-XX centuries. I think after viewing the photos you will not have any questions - why. Just because these edges are so damn beautiful.
So let's go.
The main place in Montreux, as in all self-respecting seaside towns, of course, embankment... It stretches along the lake for seven kilometers. The most the best hotels resort, built in the XIX - early XX century.
An important thing for vacationers is that there are no beaches in Montreux, at least along the main part of the city's promenade. In summer it is very hot here, and the sight of blue water beckons to dive into its coolness. But it was not there. You will have to look for where you can swim culturally - on the beach with infrastructure or even without it, but still in a specially designated place for this - you will have to outside the resort. Of course, if you get into the water, most likely no one will comment on you, but no one will be responsible for you either. In general, it is not accepted. Here, rather, ceremonious walks along the embankment in the manner of the last century, under an umbrella and with a dog are encouraged. And to imagine aunts in bathing suits, wandering along this embankment with inflatable rings in their hands, is somehow wild. So maybe it's for the best that you can only swim outside Montreux.
One of the landmarks of Montreux - casino (Casino de Montreux). Knowing its history - it burned out in 1971 due to unbridled rock fans of Frank Zappa and then was restored again - we are no longer surprised that it gives way to its modern look to the luxurious historic casino buildings on this and that side of Lake Geneva.
(In general, the Savoyard nobility knew a lot about entertainment, and casinos in these parts amaze with their monumentality and at the same time elegance, for example, a casino in or).
Another iconic landmark of the city is of course monument to freddie mercury, which we eagerly expected to see, twisting every time around the bend of the winding boardwalk along the lake. The monument is located on the Marche Square, approximately in the central part of the embankment. In the same square, "according to the name", there is the city market, as well as the Migros supermarket, where numerous tourists buy sandwiches and ready-made salads to eat, sitting on the curb of the embankment and looking at the lake. In my opinion, it is still wrong when there are excellent restaurants and cafes around here. In Montreux, you have to allow yourself a little beautiful life.
Monument to Freddie Mercury is a place of constant pilgrimage for fans and ordinary tourists
Marchais Square and the market located on it. From this square you can delve into Old city Montreux and wander through its tangled streets. You have to understand that despite its apparent compactness at first, this Swiss resort is far from small, and you don't have to worry that you will go around it all at once. On the contrary, all its infrastructure, medical and spa facilities, restaurants, clubs, concert halls, casinos and other respectable recreation areas are specially created so that wealthy guests stay here longer. It is impossible to get bored here, there would be funds.
Jazz festival in Montreux
Historically, Montreux has attracted many famous musicians. Russian geniuses of world fame - Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, many European composers of the 19th century in the 20th century were replaced by no less great jazzmen. Since 1967, Montreux has hosted international jazz festival,in which took part (and still do) the stars of jazz and other musical styles of the first magnitude - from Miles Davis and Ray Charles to David Bowie and Prince. Naturally, over the years, the Montreux Jazz Festival has undergone a transformation and today it is not only jazzmen who perform there. But thanks to the strict selection policy, the reputation of the Montreux Jazz Festival remains top notch.
Here are just a few of the musicians who have performed at various times in Montreux:
1970 - Carlos Santana, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans; 1971 - Aretha Franklin and Frank Zappa (during whose concert the incident with a zealous fan and a rocket launcher, a casino fire and the subsequent birth of the hit Smoke on the water by Deep Ash); 1973 - Miles Davis 1974 - Van Morrison; 1977 - Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald; 1978 - Ray Charles; 1986, the year of the 20th anniversary of the festival, was marked by performances by Eric Clapton, Simpley Red, Chris Rea and others; 25th anniversary - a grandiose concert directed by Quincy Jones, and Sting had a hand in organizing the sound part, with the participation of Elvis Costello, BB King, Ray Charles etc; 1993 - Robert Plant, BB King, again Ray Charles, James Brown and Chris Isaac; in 1999 the festival broke the record for the number of spectators who visited it - 220 thousand - and the headliners were R.E.M and Blondie; 2001 - Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morisett. The list goes on and on.
The most convenient way is to purchase tickets for concerts online on the same official website.
We continue our walk along the embankment. One of the piers of Montreux.
And finally, another must see place - chic hotel Montreux Palace, built at the beginning of the XX century (1904) in the Belle Epoque style. It was here that the writer Vladimir Nabokov spent the last 16 years of his life. Opposite the hotel there is a carved square where a monument to Nabokov is erected, as well as busts of famous musicians who performed here (and, of course, stayed at Montreux Palace) - Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald.
The monument to Nabokov looks very realistic; it is clearly a very successful sculpture.
Carlos Santana
That's probably all about Montreux. By the way, the mini-golf lawn near the hotel is quite Nabokov's, as if from the dreams of the main character of the novel "Lolita". Remember in that adaptation of Adrian Lyne, where a seductive Lolita lies on the grass and dangles her legs?
