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Montreux, Switzerland

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B&B, Hotels and Hostels in Montreux, Switzerland

 

  
 

 

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  Montreux is a resort town in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, on Lake Geneva with a population of 22,897. Montreux is known to be a very beautiful town, attracting people from all around the world. In the past decade there has been a noticeable tourist from the Arabic Gulf Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE. Most of the big families own homes in Geneva which is just an hour away from Montreux, but lots of Saudi families own summer homes in Montreux which some visit in the winter as well, but unlikely.

Montreux boasts one of the most beautiful walks along the lake, stretching from Villeneuve all the way towards Vevey. The main square of the town, Place du Marché, features a statue of Queen singer Freddie Mercury facing Lake Geneva. Some of the numerous small villages around Montreux include La Tour-de-Peilz, Clarens, Territet, and Villeneuve. Chateau Chillion provides a marvelous view of the entire Lake of Geneva and can be easily accessed via bus, foot or boat.

 

  
     
 

 

Montreux hosts several noteworthy festivals:

  • The Montreux Jazz Festival; annually in July since 1967;
  • The Golden Rose Festival, annually in spring (1961-2003), which awarded the Golden Rose of Montreux, an international award for television;

Deep Purple made Montreux famous with their song "Smoke on the Water", which tells the events of 1971, when a Frank Zappa fan with a flare gun set the Montreux Casino on fire.

We all came out to Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile - We didn't have much time
Frank Zappa & the Mothers were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water, fire in the sky

The Casino was reopened in 1975.