Welcome to the pearl of the Swiss Riviera. Located in the foothills of the Alps and resting on the shores of Lake Geneva, Montreux has been the place of choice for many of the world’s rich and famous. Charlie Chaplin decided to spend 25 years of his life here, Queen created some of their best albums, and Lord Byron even wrote about it. Take a stroll along Montreux’s gorgeous lakeside, to see the mountain views, all the beautiful floral arrangements and sculptures along the lakeside. Notice the Statue of Freddie Mercury, at the waterfront since 1996, serving as a reminder of the love Freddie had for Montreux. His fans honour him by placing flowers at his feet every day. See the facade of the Montreux Palace, favoured by many famous guests like Freddie Mercury, Richard Strauss or Michael Jackson.
We will tell you the storey of the Casino Barrière de Montreux, built in 1881, and burned down by a fire in 1971, immortalised by the Deep Purple’s classic “Smoke on the Water”, to be later rebuilt in the shape we see today. We keep following the steps of Rock’n’roll history, strolling by the Queen Studio Experience, a museum dedicated to the band where once was the Mountain Studios, the birthplace of their many famous albums until the death of Freddie Mercury. Walk this way to the old town of Montreux (Vieille-Ville de Montreux), through steep streets, to enjoy the picturesque neighbourhood and a bird’s eye view over the city.