From the lake to the mountains and vineyards, Montreux Riviera offers a postcard landscape. It’s an authentic little piece of paradise that has attracted many artists, writers and travellers in search of beauty, tranquillity and… inspiration.

It’s no surprise that Charlie Chaplin chose to spend his last 25 years on the hills of Vevey, that [Freddie Mercury](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/freddie-mercury/) immortalised Lake Geneva with the peaks of Le Grammont on the cover of the album “Made in Heaven”, that Igor Stravinski composed “The Rite of Spring” in Montreux, or that Prince declared his love for Lavaux in a song named after the famous terraced vineyard, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From Villeneuve to Lutry, along the shores of Lake Geneva, Montreux Riviera enjoys a microclimate that gives it a Mediterranean flair. The atmosphere is perfect for relaxing, going on walks, discovering new areas, and the climate is ideal for a rich terroir, cultivated expertly by restaurateurs and winegrowers.

A few minutes from the shore up on the hills, forests interspersed with meadows invite walkers to roam the hiking trails, observe blossoming wild narcissus – known locally as “the snow of May” – and admire a panorama that transforms with each season. The arrival of the first snowflakes signals the beginning of Alpine fun, on skis, snowshoes or simply on foot.  
For less sporty visitors, [Chaplin’s World](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/chaplins-world/) and [Chillon Castle](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/chillon-castle/) are the top museum choices. Why not let yourself be tempted by a ride aboard a historical CGN ship, or a Belle Epoque train on the GoldenPass line?

Montreux Riviera is a land of contrasts. It’s a kind of miniature Switzerland where visitors and locals have been living together for three centuries. The region is especially rich in cultural events, including the unmissable Montreux Jazz Festival, and boasts some of the best hotel schools and private clinics in the world. It is also a business hub with infrastructure that is perfectly suited to organising international conferences.

myswitzerland.com

Montreux

The natural wilderness is just a few steps away from the old town of Montreux. The La Baye de Montreux River flows through the gorge from the foot of Rochers-de-Naye into Lake Geneva.

The entrance to Chauderon Gorge is just a short walk from the Montreux train station. As soon as you enter, you will forget the city entirely. The scent of wild garlic pervades the air as you follow the trail across both banks while listening to the burbling and gurgling of the Baye de Montreux River. The gorge, which is narrow at the beginning with some areas that are reminiscent of a rain forest, gradually opens up the farther up you go to Les Avant.

If you would like to keep on going, then you can continue on the Sentier des Narcisses trail. a signposted walking trail that passes along meadows, forests and viewing points overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps. May carpets the path in narcissus blooms and fills the air with their perfume, while the green meadows are covered in a white blanket of May Snow creeping phlox. This rare spectacle attracts numerous visitors every year to the hills of the breathtakingly beautiful Montreux Riviera.

**Getting there:** By public transport or car to Montreux.

Chauderon Gorge - Montreux