Vevey, the chief town of the Canton of Valais, lies on Lake Geneva at the mouth of the river Veveyse and is dominated on the north by Mont Pèlerin (1,084 m/3,557ft) and the Plèiades (1,364 m/4,475ft). Every 25 years the "Fête des Vignerons", a unique vintners' festival is held here (last in 1999), which includes many folklore events.
Vevey lies on the Simplon railroad line and is a highway junction (N9 /E2 and N12 /E4).
In Roman times, Vevey (Viviscus) was the most important port on Lake Geneva. The town received its municipal charter about 1200 and, during the Middle Ages it rose to prosperity as a trading station on the road from Burgundy to Piedmont. It began to develop into a major tourist attraction in the 19th C.
The finest feature of Vevey is the Grand' Place, an unusually large market square on the shores of the lake. At its north end is the colonnaded Grenette (Corn Exchange, 1808) and, beyond this, near the Theater, is the Auberge de la Clef, in which Rousseau stayed in 1730 (commemorative plaque).
The Alimentarium, a museum of the history of food, is a Nestlé foundation opened in 1985. At the east end of the quay (800 m/2,625ft long) in front of a small park is an amusing bronze sculpture group, "Première chevauchée de Bacchus" (1930) and a bust of the poetess Anna de Noailles (1876-1933).
Address: Musée de l'alimentation, Rue de Léman 1, CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland
Hours:
10am-5pm; Sun:10am-6pm; Sat:10am-6pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
In the Rue d'Italie, north of Quai Perdonnet, are the Musée du Vieux-Vevey (Museum of Old Vevey) and Musée de la Confrérie des Vignerons (Museum of the Confraternity of Vintners; closed on Mondays), housing pre-historic material, fine old furniture, weapons and costumes.
Address: Musée Vieux-Vevey, Château rue Italie 43, CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland
On the northwestern outskirts of Vevey, near the Lausanne road, is the Y-shaped Palais Nestlé (1960), headquarters of the famous Swiss firm. On the Lausanne road stands the house (museum) which Le Corbusier built for his parents in 1924.
On the west side of the Vevey Grand' Place is the Jardin du Rivage (concerts during the season), with the beautiful Seahorse Fountain. From the market square and the Quai Perdonnet to the east there are magnificent views over the lake to the Savoy Alps, with Le Grammont (2,172 m/7,126ft) in the foreground. In the middle of the quay stands the "Charlot Memorial" (John Doubleday) to the great film artist Charlie Chaplin.
On a terrace above the Vevey railroad line (fine views: orienteering tablet) stands the church of St Martin (14th-15th C., with 20th C. stained glass).
The history of photography, its inventors and its techniques, is related in the Swiss Cameramuseum through the use of a collection of cameras, dating from the inception of photography to the present day. Exhibits featuring magic lanterns, stereoscopes and the secrets of the darkroom are included.
Address: Musée Suisse d'appareils photographiques, Grande Place 99, CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland
The Musée suisse du jeu offers a look at the history of games from ancient Egypt to present day in a user-friendly family environment set on two floors of the Castle Peilz.
Address: Musée suisse du jeu, Rue Château 11, CH-1814 La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland
From La Chiésaz the road runs below the massive 12th C. Château de Blonay, which has remained in the possession of the Blonay family since it was built. 5km/3mi: Blonay (623 m/2,044ft).
The Tibetan Center, inagurated by the Dalai Lama in 1988, is situated on the slope of Mont Pelerin. The Center offers visitors information on Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
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Mont Pèlerin - Tibetan Center
St Martin's Church, Vevey
