Montreaux | Famed Swiss Destination with Musical Notes on Lake Geneva

Montreux is one of the most famed destination of Switzerland since long time ago highlighted by musical notes all around because music found its home in that resort located on the magnificent shore of Lake Geneva.

The popular Jazz Festival since the 60s and several artists of immense international level are or were protagonists along the coastline the Vaud Riviera in that iconic place,ideal site for their stays and unforgettable performances which consecrated that resort as a music sanctuary.

With its 26.000 inhabitants Montreux since? the second half of the 19 century and more in the early 20th century began to be a popular holiday resort mainly for English, American and German tourists who were immediately attracted by the beautiful views of that place located on Lake Lemán.

Located at the foot of? the Rochers de Naye which with its 2025,0 metres dominates the the entire, local territory, bordered by other charming and pleasant small towns,such as Blonay,Haut Intyamon and Veytaux in a land packed by picturesque terraces of vineyards and verdant forests.

The town's name derives from the Latin word Monasterium which means monastery In the year 1295 the area was before part of Girard and later incorporated to Oron.

In the mid of the 18th Century Montreux gained a certain reputation by the several stays and provisional? residence of distinguished and charismatic figures such as as Jean-Jacques Rousseau,Lord Byron and Victor Hugo.

The Hotel des Alpes and the Grand Hotel both built in the year 1887 with the Montreux Palace erected in 1905 are the iconic symbols of hospitality of Montreux.

They became soon favourite places of rest and holidays for monarchs as the Empress Elisabeth of Austria and artists such as Richard Wagner, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky among others.

Many other popular characters mainly writers of the 20th century such as the German Rainer Maria Rilke,the Russian Vladimir Nabokov and Leonid Tolstoj the Scottish Archibald Joseph Cronin and Ernest Hemingway contributed to the notable escalation in terms of popularity.

In 1967 by Claude Nobs, a member of the Tourism Authority launched the notorious Montreux Jazz Festival which attracts approximately 200,000 visitors a year.

You can start the visit from Place du Marché, opened on the lake is the large central square in which takes places the indoor market in a distinctive building on one side of the square.

In that place facing Lake Geneva stands the large bronze statue dedicated to Freddie Mercury. The British leader of the famed Rock band The Queen spent part of his final years in Montreux and it is said that his ashes were scattered in that waters basin? and a statue was erected in his memory.

During the month of September that lakeside town celebrates the Freddie Mercury Memorial Day in which the visitors can make direct contact with the atmosphere of the singer's long stay in Switzerland, such as the Duck House ,which was once his home.

The Queen band was very active for many years in that Swiss resort since 1979 and owned the Recording? Mountain? Studios which had been housed since 1975 in the newly built Casino.

Continuation with the Eglise de Saint-Vincent mentioned in 1228 although it was probably erected in the 11th Century declared national monument developed in a splendid Gothic revival style.

Walking in the centre of the town you can see many sculptures which recall artists one of them is a bust in memory of the famous Jazz artist Miles Davis who delighted with his music in different editions the Jazz Festival.

The Jazz Festival held annually in July since 1967, an annual great appointment among the most prestigious in Switzerland and in the World.

Among the artists who have performed there,worth to to be mentioned Albert King, Isaac Hayes,Miles Davis,Billy Preston, B. B. King,Albert King, Crosby,Jan Garbarek,Nina Simone,Stills and Nash and George Benson.

The Festival was also protagonist with several shows performed by several stars of different genres with a entitled Live at Montreux such as Ella Fitzgerald, Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye ,Mike Oldfield,Sade,Eric Clapton,Frank Zappa,Lou Reed,Carlos Santana,Suzanne Vega,Alice Cooper, Ray Charles,Sting and the Deep Purple among others.

About that latter the legendary Deep Purple band Montreux inspired it with the famous song Smoke on the Water. It recounts about an incident which happened in the town while the British artists were recording an album.

The Deep Purple wanted to record their latest LP Machine Head record with so-called live conditions in the hall of the Casino with the Rolling Stones,Mobile Studio and they were invited by Claude Nobs,the foundeof the Jazz Festival to assist to a Frank Zappa Concert.

There was a fire where Zappa played in the Casino on 4th December 1971 and that event with the smoke over the waters of the lake was the episode of the creation of that so popular song which conquered millions of fans in the world.?

That place was also the launch of the basic tracks of their most famous songs: No matter what we get out of this, I we know will never forget and Fire in the Sky.

In Avenue Claude Nobs just five minutes walking from the Centre de Congres you can see the building hosting Montreux Jazz Foundation titled also called Miles Davis Hall.

The city also offers a good number of interesting museums as the Musée de Montreux since 1920 housed in a group of winegrower, The Swiss Museum of Sound and Image Musée national Suisse de l'Audiovisual? and the Nouveau Musée Ruzo.

?Worth a visit the famous Le Casinó Barrière erected in the year 1881 with a restoration made in 1903 a site that hosted many important events since its inception.

From there along the stylish promenade you can reach a small, charming harbour at Quai Amis Chessex close to the Funicular Station of Territet.

The famous Montreaux Lido provides an Olympic size pool and? there is also a Diving? School ,many are the opportunities for Sailing,

As higher education institutions there are various vocational schools and training institutes including the European University and the Centre international de formation H?telière touristique, a prestigious Hotel management school, founded in 1962.

Apart the mentioned Jazz Festival many are the events which give the town a very lively and vibrant? atmosphere also linked to music are Montreux Choral Festival ,Nuits du Jazz de Chernex,Montreux Sundance, annual, held in May 1994.

The resort has not an airport but Geneva airport is just 90,0 kilometres away approximately one hour by car and 1 hour and 15 minutes by train.

If you are planning to visit the Region of Vaud, Montreux is a must for cultural tourism,events, characterised by musical notes all around and of course a great opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful corners of Switzerland.

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Link : https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-gb/destinations/montreux-riviera/

Where to Stay | Recommended Hotels

Hotel Victoria Glion

Fairmont Le Montreaux Palace

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