Luxe Beat Magazine MAY 2015 | Page 55

Travel be sharing the town with the masses who are there for the Montreux Jazz Festival. The event was the brainchild of Claude Nobs, a young, enterprising Swiss man with a love of music and a forward-thinking approach to technology. He organized the first festival in 1967 and over the years its popularity has extended across the globe, attracting musicians from a wide variety of genres. Big names such as Pink Floyd, Chicago, Santana, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison and Miles Davis have all performed in Montreux. The headliners play in the acoustically sophisticated Stravinsky Auditorium, while lesser-known acts give their shows in smaller venues around town. The energy and enthusiasm is palpable among the festival-goers, who range from children to seniors, many who make this special event an annual tradition. Those who come to Montreux at other times of the year won’t be disappointed, as the city’s first-class hotels and spas, mesmerizing Alpine views and hip restaurant and nightlife scene provide enjoyment and entertainment. And its lovely palm-fringed, lakeside promenade helps to give Montreux a wonderfully relaxed vibe. If you can tear yourself away from this grand Swiss-style Riviera, take the GoldenPass Railway to Les Rochers-de-Naye, the top of the mountain that dominates Montreux. You’ll ride a cogwheel train, which will transport you to the summit in less than an hour. At almost 7,000 feet, the view overlooks Lake Geneva with an impressive panorama across the mountains. Atop, there’s an Alpine garden with thousands of plants and flowers from around the world, as well as colonies of marmots, more commonly known as the mascot of the Alps, who live in the vast expanse of the area. There are also two restaurants, a conference room and several authentic Mongolian yurts for those interested in spending the night in this serene environment. Like the celebs of the past and those of the present, you, too, will be enticed by the enchanting Swiss cities of Lausanne and Montreux. Their charms will cast a spell on you, ensuring that you will return again and again. If you