he
Swiss riviera, as they call it, is one of the sunniest places
in the country. on the shore of Lake Geneva - the biggest
fresh water lake of western Europe - is the world-famous
home of the Montreux Jazz Festival , 6km
east of Vevey, Montreux enjoys spectacular views of the
Dents-du-Midi peaks opposite and hosts a colourful Friday
market. The whole town is protected from chill northerly
winds by a wall of mountains and so basks in its own microclimate,
nurturing lakeside palm trees and exotic flowers.
The
zigzagging streets and hillside terraces of the old quarter
above the train station provide marginally more interest
than the thronging honky-tonk of the Grand-Rue below (head
100m left out of the station and cut down the stairs between
buildings), although you should make time for the touching
statue of one-time resident Freddie Mercury silently serenading
the swans on the lakefront beside the vast covered market.
Montreux,
5 km from Vevey, is more touristically oriented, but the
promenade on the lake side, with the Castle of Chillon,
is a must. Montreux give you the opportunity to enjoy at
a glance the lake, the mountain and the vineyards.
Year 2009 marks a moment in festival history
as the 40th Montreux Jazz Festival continues to set the standard as one of Europe's
leading music festivals. With an awe-inspiring lineup of
more than 50 artists and musicians performing live at one
of 10 venues, the festival is expected to attract in excess
of a quarter-of-a-million visitors from around the globe
over the duration
