Things to see and do Montreux

It's a paradise for children, who choose their own miniature locomotives to take their parents for a ride! Scale models of over fifteen steam, petrol and electric locomotives take you on a tour of the park, where typical local and international architecture has been precisely reproduced. Originally designed for the private maintenance and running of these little model railways, the park is now open to all, to the delight of young and old alike. The park is very welcoming and well-maintained.

The story begins in November 1881, with the inauguration of the Kursaal casino, then more of an English-style concert hall. In 1883, a gambling game called "les petits chevaux" was introduced. From 1914 to 1945, the Kursaal's famous 6-piece orchestra played non-stop. In 1962, the first Venetian-style dance hall, the Lido, was inaugurated, and in 1966, the Montreux Jazz Festival celebrated its first edition here, as well as the twenty-six that followed. On December 4, 1971, the Casino Kursaal burned down during a Frank Zappa concert. The Mothers of Invention orchestra cancelled all its European concerts. In memory of this sad event, Deep Purple composed the song Smoke on the Water, written that very night in the stairwell of the Grand Hotel in Territet, where they were staying. Three and a half years later, the casino reopened. It offers gambling, shows, banquets, a restaurant, a nightclub, a cinema, a swimming pool, a yacht club, as well as a recording studio that has played host to some of the world's most famous artists, including David Bowie, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Michael Jackson, to name but a few.

The 10,000^m2 casino features slot machines, table games, electronic games and poker, as well as three restaurants, two bars, two terraces, a superb swimming pool and the former Mountain Studios, an area dedicated to the band Queen. And don't forget that the casino wins.... extremely often...

Majestic, it blends in naturally with the waters of Lake Geneva. Without doubt one of the most famous silhouettes in the world, Chillon Castle is a symbol of Switzerland, a fine illustration of the country through the harmony of its forms (twenty-five buildings) and the impression of solidity and balance that emanates from it. A fortress set on the water, a veritable lock watching over the old road from Italy, an obligatory passage - due to the narrowness of the site - on the north-south axis, it is also, facing the lake, a ducal residence. It is difficult to date this stronghold precisely, but the presence of a Roman post there already seems to be attested by coins and remains found on the site. Throughout the Middle Ages, the castle was the seat of the powerful Counts of Savoy, established in the region. In 1536, Chillon was known to the Bernese bailiffs, who first made it their residence, before moving to Vevey in the 18th century; as the taste for social life spread, they began to get bored within these solitary walls. Berne took pity on its bailiffs and bought the Tavel house in Vevey to make it their new residence. The demolition of the Chillon castle was then considered; fortunately, the cost of the operation was too high. Finally, the French Revolution led to the fall of Berne. In 1798, the country of Vaud freed itself from Bernese control and since then, the castle of Chillon has belonged to the canton of Vaud.

On site: A modern museography, temporary exhibitions, local wines for sale, souvenir shop and beach.

Don't miss a visit to the real Santa's home, in his grotto at the top of the Naye rocks, at 2,042 m! To get there, we suggest a train ride up to Santa's Wonderland. For children, discovering Santa's lair on the Naye Rocks is always a magical moment in the run-up to the big day. Face painting, a games corner, a treasure hunt... Small gifts and diplomas reward well-behaved children.

This tourist-oriented line offers an extraordinary journey in 2 different trains, with panoramic views of breathtaking landscapes, between lakes and peaks. A permanent spectacle punctuated by three passes, the famous 4,000 passes of the Alps, and eight lakes. The most nostalgic will appreciate the GoldenPass MOB Belle Epoque, with the allure of the Orient Express. It follows the same route as the Panoramic... In its gourmet and seasonal version, there is the Chocolate Train in summer and the Cheese Train in winter. The price includes the train journey and the visits.

The Queen singer fell in love with Montreux while recording an album in 1978. He even said : "If you want peace of mind, come to Montreux" The band will also record their last albums in the Montreux studio, including great songs such as Mother Love. Freddie Mercury will live his last months here, before dying in 1991. Since then, other musicians have come to keep him company : Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, BB King...

The Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (1837-1898), better known as Sissi, loved to stay in the region. She used to stay at the Grand Hôtel de Territet, which has since been converted into apartments and houses the Audiorama museum. Her walks took her to Caux, where she stayed in August 1898, before being assassinated on September 10 in Geneva. A statue has been erected in her honor in the Jardin des Roses. It reads: "To the memory of Her Majesty the Empress and Queen Elisabeth, in memory of her many visits to Montreux

The same Vincent Dubochet who built the Château des Crêtes also bought the land between his hill and the lake to build a series of villas, the famous Dubochet villas. No. 17 was inhabited in 1904 by Paul Kruger, defender of the Boers of South Africa and ex-president of the Transvaal, exiled in Switzerland. The Pretoria government acquired the villa in 1954 to turn it into a museum. Another of the villas is home to the environmentalist journalist Franz Weber. The whole complex is listed as a historic monument in the canton of Vaud.

Also known as "Swan Island" or "Rat Island", Salagnon is the last of the five islands in Lake Geneva (Peilz Island, Choisi Island, Harpe Island and Rousseau Island)... and the only inhabited island on the lake!

Until 1880, there was only one set of rocks, "les roches aux mouettes", in front of Clarens. During the construction of the railway from Le Bouveret to Evian, the Tonkin, the Montreux engineer Joseph d'Allinges loaded barges of Meillerie stones and poured them onto this set of rocks to form an island which he surrounded with a wall. He named it Salagnon in reference to the salt from Burgundy which was formerly presented to the customs in Clarens before being transported to Valais. The island was bought 10 years later by a French painter, Théobald Chartran, who had a sort of Florentine villa built there, by the architect Louis Villard, as well as a small port. Chartran used to organize sumptuous evenings there with illustrious characters and fireworks. When he died, the island was taken over by a Russian count, a Zurich merchant, and then an American, Mary Shillito. In 1947, Salagnon became the property of a Zurich resident, Baron Pflüger. Then in 1950, the small port of Le Basset is built, which will be quickly enlarged and which then seems to bring the island closer to the coast. The property was only accessible by boat; at the time, a boatman, who was rung with a bell, made the trip. Today the island, as well as the villa, are classified as cultural property of national importance.

You have to go up into Clarens to catch a glimpse of this astonishing red-brick building. Vincent Dubochet, a leading Montreux figure, had this château built in 1864 on the presumed site of Julie's groves described in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's La Nouvelle Héloïse . Léon Gambetta, former French Minister of Defense and close friend of Dubochet, stayed here on several occasions. The château changed ownership several times before being bought by German industrialists in 1985, who commissioned painter André Russo to restore it.

The Bex Salt Works is the story of almost three hundred and fifty years of salt extraction. The first gallery was dug in 1684. Since then, it has been transformed to be accessible to the general public, but the place has kept its originality and the unique setting allows us to appreciate the gigantic labyrinth cut into the heart of the mountain, and to discover the underground world of salt mines. A small train takes you to the heart of the mine to continue 1 hour on foot in a vast maze of galleries, shafts, staircases, gigantic rooms ..

Many Locals and even Veveysans come to fill their barrels of this pure water!

The Montreux Museum, whose origins date back to 1874, presents many facets of the Montreux region in a group of reconstructed 17th century winegrowers' houses. The exhibition retraces the town and its region through 4 themes: history, terroir, tourism and hotels. Collections of coins, firebrands, planes and woodworking tools contribute to the understanding of the subject. A lady having donated her thimble collection to the museum, an additional room has been opened to accommodate 2,100 small pieces of jewellery!

Located beneath the Naye rocks, the Liboson chalet is home to a private center for literary, musical and fine arts studies. This atypical intellectual space houses a stained-glass workshop, an Egyptian crypt and an underground library. Conferences on philosophical themes, the Egyptian world or astronomy are organized on request (for two people or more). On-site bed & breakfast and private philosophy courses are also available. You can even make a retreat in this timeless place, for one night or several days.

Criticized in its early days, it has become the emblem of Montreux. Given the lack of space between the mountains and the lake, Montreux couldn't really hope to expand. In the 1960s, when the town was back in the public eye, the question of new urban development arose. Economic and tourism obligations took precedence, and the tower was built. The top floor once housed a magnificent restaurant, but its six managers all went bankrupt. It was recently bought by a Russian millionaire.

Internet page of the tourist office of Lavaux and the Vaud Riviera (from Vevey to Villeneuve). The Events and News column on the left-hand side allows you to quickly locate current shows and other events. It is also possible to book a hotel directly, to find ideas for hikes and sports in the region. It is an ally to organize your discovery and you can also book directly thematic experiences like Panoramic Vine, guided tours, musical walks..

The Regional Tourist Office is responsible for promoting the entire Swiss Riviera, Lavaux and the Vaud Riviera (Vevey, Montreux and surrounding areas). The website offers a wealth of information, including themed ideas, events and hotel and package bookings. In addition to the office on the quays, thirty information points are at your disposal, the "i" points in the canton of Vaud, events, cultural activities... full information.

These circuits, lasting approximately 5 hours, were initiated in 2012. On the programme: guided tours in small groups (max. 7 people) in the vineyards of Chablais or Lavaux, with wine tasting and meal included. A very privileged way to discover the particularities of Lavaux wines. You follow the coast in a mini bus with guides and enjoy privileged access to the estates. The price is degressive for groups, but even if the quality is there, it may still put off some.

The church is believed to have been built in the ^15th century on the ruins of a monasteriolum, a small church possibly dating back to the ^11th century. It features a square tower topped by an eight-sided curved spire measuring 7.5 m on each side. After the arrival of the Bernese in 1536, the church became a Protestant temple, which it still is today. Old Montreusiens call Saint-Vincent le temple des Planches. The modern stained-glass windows are the work of Vaud artist Jean Prahin. From the terrace, there's a fine view of the greater Montreus area.

Superb Belle Époque building, emblematic of the Vaud Riviera, built in only two years, 1905 and 1906, by the architect Eugène Jost. Because of the new enthusiasm for sport at that time, a "Sports Pavilion" was added to the building, which has now become a restaurant. Among the many personalities who stayed there were Richard Strauss (1947), Vladimir Nabokov (from 1961 until his death in 1977), Mikael Gorbachev (1994), and Michael Jackson (1997).