A land of picture perfect beauty and utterly bewitching landscapes, Switzerland is home to several towns which epitomize ethereal beauty. Montreux which lies at the foothills of the Alps and on the shore of Lake Geneva is one such pretty town.
A view of Lake Geneva in Montreux
Located in the canton of Vaud, Montreux is a traditional resort town that is known not only for its tranquility but also its vineyards, burgeoning music scene and Mediterranean flair. Just over 200 km from Zurich, Montreux too forms for an engaging day trip from Switzerland’s largest city and boasts of several interesting sights spanning history, nature and culture. Here is a look at some of them.
Château de Chillon
A captivating sight, Château de Chillon is an island castle perched on Lake Geneva. One of the most visited historical monuments in Switzerland, Chillon welcomes about 40,000 guests a year. Dating to the 11th-12th century, the Chillon exudes a distinctly mystical quality and appears floating on Lake Geneva.
A source of inspiration for many an artist, the Chillon with its imposing limestone hue walls consists of parade halls, vaults, buildings and courtyards within. The paintings dating to the 14th century are noteworthy.
Promenade
Overlooking Lake Geneva, the promenade of Montreux is a highly popular place and an ideal one to walk, run or just sit back and relax. The 3.5 km stretch which is prettiness personified in spring is one of the highlights of this town. The serenity of this setting has again inspired several famous personalities including Lord Byron and Charlie Chaplin.
Do not miss the statue of Freddie Mercury in the center who came here in 1978 for the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival and seeing its beauty decided to never go back!
Parks: of statues and topiaries
Apart from the statue of Freddie Mercury, the park along the promenade hosts a whole lot of statues of artists who are in the field of music. This includes those of Quincy Jones, Carlos Santana, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.
Yet another unique feature of the parks are patterns and figurines made from plants which are called topiaries. Akin to living sculptures, this unique art of growing and pruning plants to create figures of birds and animals is noteworthy.
Walk along old town
A charming town, the streets of Montreux are abuzz with several boutique restaurants, quaint stores and swanky hotels.
A walk along the streets is surely a treat for the senses especially in spring and summer when plants and flowers of all kinds bloom and flourish.
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