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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