Montreux, Switzerland

The first weekend my boyfriend came to visit me I was determined to travel as much as I could. So we planned a little trip to Montreux on the Saturday as I had previously been advised to go. Montreux is known to be the “Montecarlo of Switzerland”. This may partly be because of its waterfront casino but also for the scenery, the breathtaking landscape view of the mountains. It is also known for its famous Jazz festival held in the summer and attended by many stars.

As soon as we arrived we were stunned by the amount of supercars passing us and by the beautifully presented five star hotels with bright verandas. We went to the tourist office to ask how to reach the famous Château de Montreux, the number one tourist destination. We took the bus to the castle admiring the interesting architecture surrounding us. When we arrived to the castle I was completely wowed by the medieval architecture of the castle; it was absolutely beautiful and looked like something out of a fairytale. We took a quick tour of the inside of the castle because we were intrigued but a real, in depth tour can take up to two hours. The historic architecture contrasted to the beautiful naturalistic landscape was really a view to remember. We then returned back to the center by foot enjoying every possible moment. Although Geneva is beautiful, this is on a completely different level. The weather was somewhat misty which added to the pretty landscape as the mountains were almost amalgamating to the lake. Close to the city center is the Casino of Montreux, which we entered into. We didn’t play because we weren’t feeling lucky but it is worth visiting as it is a fun atmosphere inside.

Top things to do in Montreux :

Chillon Castle:

How to get there: There is the bus n. 201 (If you have the carte journalière you do not need to buy a ticket) that passes every 10-20 minutes and takes you straight to the Chillon Castle. The bus stop is “Chillon”. You can also take the “flower-path” route from Montreux station and walk for 45 minutes. We did this on the way back from the castle and it is a spectacular walk.

Tickets: you get a discount if you have the Carte Journalière so do not forget to show this to the ticket office.

Tickets cost 12. 50 CHF for adults, 10. 50 CHF for students.

History of the Castle:

Three major historic periods influenced the Castle; The Savoy period (12thcentury-1536), the Bernese period (1536-1798) and the Vaudois period (1798 to present). It is through these distressed historical times that the castle is as spectacular as it is now. The castle is result of centuries of constant buildings, restorations and renovations.

Flower Path Route / Promenade:

The walk from the center to the castle or the other way round is spectacular. You have a 180° view of the lake Geneva, surrounded by impressive mountains and the city along the coastline in front of you. It’s a romantic expedition and a wonderful thing to experience. I don’t know how to describe its beauty in words, it’s just something that you must see for yourself.

Gorges du Chauderon:

Another beautiful, natural scenery is the Gorges du Chauderon. You can find this beauty just a few meters away from the Old town of Montreux. You can take the train to the stop “Les Planches” which is the bridge across the Baye de Montreux. The trail is easily marked out and they will lead you to the Highway Bridge where you will find the entrance to the gorge. Keep on following the trails (and the people) and you will see this beauty.

Queen: The studio Experience:

This is a fantastic opportunity for music fanatics to go and explore the wonderful studios in which Queen once recorded a total of seven albums including their final album Made in Heaven. The main part of the exhibition is the original sound studio where Freddie Mercury recorded his last songs. The exhibition free entry so I would advise if you have time to go and have a look.

This is their website.

Montreux Jazz Festival:

If you’re lucky enough to be in Montreux for the summer then try to get tickets for this festival. It's a festival from June to July where people and musicians come from all over the world to have a blast. There are two main stages, Auditorium Stravinski and Miles Davis Hall, a Montreux Jazz Café and many open-air stages around Montreux. Some of the most influential musicians and bands have played here including Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, Green Day, Muse, Radiohead, Black eyed peas etc.

Rochers-de-Naye:

Unfortunately I did not have time to see this but I have read that if you have time, you must take the railway up from Montreux train station. It goes up to an altitude of 2042m and it is definitely the destination for nature lovers. You have a 360° Mountain View of fields, villages and forests. In the winter it is the perfect ski destination whereas in the summer you can go for some beautiful hikes. There are various attractions such as the Alpine garden “La Rambertia”, marmot colonies and the “Grottes de Naye” which are caves. If you wish to stay the night you can book an original Mongolian tent. For this you can have a look at the website.

Lavaux Vineyards:

Another thing which unfortunately I did not have time to do but I definitely will if I return to Montreux are the Lavaux Vineyards, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. You can see them from the train on your way over to Montreux but I am sure the walk is beautiful. You are surrounded by a stretch of 830 hectares of vineyards where you can walk through and maybe treat yourself to some wine tasting in the Lavaux cellars.

For more information visit the UNESCO website.

Travelling to Montreux:

-If you are travelling from Geneva you can either buy a return ticket for 60 CHF, or a city –city ticket (valid in zones 10, and 73 therefore travel within both Geneva and Montreux) and that will cost you around 75 CHF return.

- I travelled from Lausanne therefore it will turn out a lot cheaper – You can buy a return Mobilis Carte Journalière, valid for 7 Zones for 25. 20 CHF.

-If you go on the SBB mobile app or website you can always check for Supersaver tickets. You can travel with 50% discount if you know the exact date and time of your travel (subject to availability).

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