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

Freddie Mercury, the singer of the rock band Queen, settled in Montreux where the group had bought Mountain Recording Studio and where he learnt to appreciate the peace and quiet. He recorded his last album, Queen - "Made in Heaven" at the Montreux studio.

The son of a British official of Indian origin, Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) was born on the island of Zanzibar and moved to London where he began his fruitful collaboration with Queen in 1970.  
  
At the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1978, the singer recorded the album "Jazz" with Queen. He fell in love with Montreux and Lake Geneva and decided to settle here. He said, among other things, "If you want peace of soul, come to Montreux".  
  
To commemorate his time in Montreux, a bronze statue of Freddie Mercury was placed by the waterfront in 1996. And what of today? Well, his fans still come and place flowers by his monument every day.

[More information](https://www.montreuxriviera.com/en/P7643/freddie-mercury-and-queen-in-montreux)

Freddie Mercury - Montreux