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