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Visiting The Swiss Riviera
The Swiss Riviera
is located on the shores of Lake Leman stretching from
Geneva which is 99 km to the south and Montreux to the
north east. With an abundance of sailboats dotting its
shores, Lake Leman is the biggest fresh water lake in
Western Europe and a pearl for travelers visiting Switzerland.
Most of French-speaking Switzerland
is so appealing because it barely registers on the package
tour circuit. You can swap a bus full of Japanese tourists
shopping for cuckoo clocks in Lucern for a hillside
of blooming narcissi or a wine village with spell-binding
views and a deep blue-green gleam along Lake Leman.
Make your first glimpse of the Swiss
Riviera, a playground for the rich and famous, from
the window of a Panoramic train as it descends the snow-capped
Alps upon French-style farmhouses adorned with terraced
vineyards just beside you and Lake Leman.
Lake Leman possesses such grace with
its calm azure waters and graceful swans patrolling
underneath the medieval Chillon Castle. However, Chillon's
history is no fairytale. During Switzerland's witchcraft
purges, dozens of women were tortured here while many
others were incarcerated. Lord Bryon, who visited in
1816, wrote an epic poem about Francois Bonivard, the
prisoner chained in the dungeons of Chillon.
Steep mountains and vineyards terraces
mirror in the crystal clear waters of the lake, providing
a feeling of complete harmony and relaxation. Discover
the unique terraced vineyards of the wine growing village
of Lavaux which represents the culture of the region.
Why not take a stroll along exceptional landscape away
from the road traffic and into ever changing colors
of the over 50 vineyards alongside Lake Leman.
Montreux is one of those places that
seem to hold a certain tantalizing magic. With a sought
after and mild microclimate, Montreux is spectacularly
located at the shores of Lake Leman with the afternoon
sunshine streaming across the lake. Visitors can marvel
at a wide variety of well kept tropical plants lining
the scenic ten km lakeside walk.
Lake Leman's summers are definitely
Riviera-like, reaching a sweltering 95 F in mid July.
Be sure to cool off at one of the many beaches and regattas
in the summer months, surrounded on all sides by the
Swiss and French Alps. Relatively speaking, winters
can be quite mild, which explains the terraced vineyards
and infamous banana and palm trees along the lakeshore.
Take a day trip on a classic Pullman
rail car to the medieval village of Gruyere where you
will witness cheese making demonstrations the traditional
way. In the afternoon, enjoy Nestle's Callier chocolate
factory located in Broc where you can indulge in the
taste of pure chocolate heaven.
In high summer, ferries ply between
the lakeside villages, spending much of your time afloat
on the lake. Ferries also go to such areas as Geneva
bound for Yvoire and Lausanne bound for Evian (source
of the famous bottled water) in France. Such cultural
attractions as the Nestle food museum and farmers markets
open along the shores every Saturday to shoppers.
Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Noel
Coward, Shania Twain and Freddy Mercury all owned homes
in Montreux and neighboring Vevey. Charlie Chaplin spent
the last 25 years of his life in Vevey, with a statue
of him along the lakefront. One can only bask on a terrace
at sunset and marvel at the huge expanse of green land
and presence of mountains beyond.
While the Swiss Riviera is in some ways
passe these days, new luxurious wellness centers have
sprung along its shores to entice visitors to come rest
and play. Come relax at such wellness centers as the
Amrita Wellness Center at Le Montreux Palace, the Givenchy
Spa at Le Mirador, the Puressens Spat at Hotel Trois
Couronnes in Vevey and La Reserve Hotel and Spa in Geneva.
Switzerland is renewing its spa reputation and millions
have been spent to create everything you could possibly
need to de-stress, detox, lose weight, tone up and bring
mind and body back to optimal health.
It's quite easy to understand why once
you catch a glimpse of the ambling quai des fleurs among
the neighboring towns and villages you will never want
to leave its beauty. You'd never tire of the ever changing
panorama of lakes, alpine pinnacles, and twinkling villages.
Best of all, within a half-an-hour you can be high in
the mountainous Alps enjoy various winter sports.
The people of the Swiss Riviera are
very International. Don't worry if your French is a
little rusty, as they are English friendly (among Switzerland's
four national languages) and are happy to answer your
questions. Make the Swiss Riviera your ideal spot for
your next vacation at any time of the year.
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