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