Montreux Attractions

The Montreux International Radio and Television Symposium and Exhibition takes place in early June.

This popular day-long annual festival takes place in mid-May.

This annual two-week festival takes place in early July. The highlight is a non-stop 12-hour overnight marathon featuring dozens of performers. Other concerts are held daily, but the festival is not restricted solely to jazz. African, blues, soul, fusion and Brazilian music is also offered in the fully-packed program.

This annual six-week festival runs from late August to early October and includes over 30 performances. Events include orchestral, choral, chamber and organ concerts and recitals.

Since its inception in 1946, the festival has showcased famous composers and traditional works while at the same time promoting young, new musicians and their more contemporary repertoire.

The venues are as varied as the music and include châteaus, castles and halls in the two towns.

The history and development of the Montreux area, from Neolithic history up to the evolution of the tourist trade is shown in this museum.

The main part of the resort, Montreux Ville, lies on the steep slopes above the Baye de Montreux, a swiftly flowing mountain stream. From the terrace in front of the parish church (1507), higher up, there is a beautiful view of the lake. To the west, in Vernex, stands the modern Maison des Congrès, and beyond this lies the attractive residential suburb of Clarens.

To the east the district of Territet is situated on a narrow coastal strip below the steep slopes of Glion. The Grand Hôtel (1887) by Maillard ranks among the great hotels built at the end of the 19th C. A museum for audio and video technology was opened here in 1990, documenting the history and development of information technology. At the station a marble monument (1902) commemorates the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, murdered in Geneva in 1898.

From Caux a mountain road runs up 7.5km/5mi to the Col de Jaman (1,516 m/4,974ft; restaurant), with far-ranging views.

From Caux there is a cog-railroad to the popular skiing area (ski-lift) on the Rochers de Naye, and from the upper station (1,973 m/6,473ft; hotel) it is a 10-minute climb to the summit (2,045 m/6,710ft), which has superb views of the Alps and Lake Geneva.
The Alpine Garden "la Rambertia" is open in July and August.

From Glion the road starts to climb steeply, with numerous sharp bends for 3.5km/2mi to Caux (1,054 m/3,458ft), a health resort in a magnificent situation, with extensive views; meeting-place of the "Moral Rearmament" movement.

From Château Châtelard cross N 9 and continue uphill in long bends, via the villages of Fontanivent (559 m/1,834ft), Chernex (603 m/1,978ft), Sonzier (664 m/2,179ft) and Chamby (752 m/2,467ft; Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum; light railroad to Blonay).

To reach the Château Châtelard take Rue de la Gare from the Les Avstation; then left along Avenue de Belmont and into a road which climbs up in sharp bends (daffodils in flower in May). On the left is the massive Château Châtelard, built by Jean de Gingins as a refuge for the people of Montreux in 1476. Partly destroyed by the Confederates it was later rebuilt; the large dungeon is of north Italian style.

Paul Kruger, exiled South African president died in the house now known as the Villa Kruger in 1904. A room in this South-African themed hotel is reserved as a museum.

Col de Jaman is situated 14km/9mi from Montreux. Leave by Rue de la Gare and the district of Les Planches; then a road which runs uphill in a wide curve. After 3km/2mi is the first stop: Glion (692 m/2,270ft), with beautiful views of the lake and the Alps; funicular down to Territet.

The road from Blonay to the Pléiades climbs in sharp bends, passing a side road on the right to the spa (sulfurous water) of L'Alliaz (1,044 m/3,425ft). 9km/6mi Lally (1,237 m/4,059ft), at the end of the road. From here it is four minutes on the cog-railroad from Blonay or 20 minutes on foot to the Pléiades (1,364 m/4,475ft; pension and restaurant), from which there is a beautiful view.

From Chamby the road climbs, along the east side of Mont Cubly, towering above the Gorge de Chauderon. 9km/6mi: Les Avants (974 m/3,196ft), a summer and winter resort high above the valley of the Baye de Montreux. 3km/2mi farther on is the Col de Sonloup (1,158 m/3,799ft; hotel), which can also be reached from Les Avants by funicular.