Unbeknown to us, we had picked the city where the famous singer, Freddy Mercury, once lived—Montreux, Switzerland—right on Lake Geneva.
Along the waterfront is a large statue of Freddy.
As some of you may know, he was the lead singer for the band “Queen.” Rami Malek would win an Oscar playing Freddy in the 2018 movie, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Montreux is famous for their musical heritage as they hold music festivals at certain times of the year. We came across a band practicing.
We made the tallest hotel in the area our place to stay for four days, Eurotel Montreux.
It was indeed the largest room in our six-week sojourn through Italy and Switzerland in 2016.
We had a side view of Lake Geneva.
The staff was quite pleasant. They even handed out free umbrellas to use when it rained.
One day, outside the hotel, we saw all these vintage French cars.
The walkway that stretches for miles is right along Lake Geneva.
At various points along the walkway were pieces of sculptures.
One could take a ferry from one city to another.
You have got to love a society that places a volleyball court right on Lake Geneva.
Along the walkway is a small but beautiful casino. Different than those in Las Vegas. Although, the game is the same: to take your money!
Less than a three-mile walk is the famous Chillon Castle that sits on a small island out in Lake Geneva. It was once a Roman outpost.
The actual construction began as early as 1195A.D.. For a long time, the owners were of the Savoy families. It was not only used as a home, but as a garrison and as a prison.
The most famous prisoner being monk Francois de Bonivard. He was placed in chains around a stone column for six years. The ruts of where this monk walked are still visible.
One of the most notable visitors to the Castle was a famous early 19th century poet named Lord Byron. His initials carved in stone can still be seen. We missed seeing Byron’s name the first time as we had to make a second tour of the castle the following day.
There is some doubt or controversy whether or not he actually carved his initials on the column. This is also true to the ancient ruins near Athens, Greece on Cape Sounion–the Temple of Poseidon– where Lord Byron may have carved his initials also. I was at this beautiful ruin overlooking the Aegean Sea in 1979, 85 and 1994 with Kathie.
In our four days on Lake Geneva, we did eat at Manora’s Restaurants at Minors Department store twice. They have an excellent buffet meal. The prices are not too bad either.
We did find a delicious pizza place on our hotel street in Montreux.
A five-minute train ride will take you west to a town called Vevey. This is the home to Nestle’s International Food Corporation.
We also uncovered that Vevey was the home to Charlie Chaplin who lived here from 1952 until his death in 1977. There is a statue of him along the waterfront.
Charlie had an interesting life. Most people remember him by his silent screen films at the beginning of the 20th Century. He also was married four times and had 11 children. At 54, Chaplin married Oona O’Neil—daughter to the playwright Eugene O’Neill—as she was but 18. The marriage lasted from 1943 until his death in 1977 at the age of 88. They had 8 children together.
Charlie got involved with the Communist Party and for a long time he was barred from coming into the United States. In 1972, though, Chaplin came back to the United States and was given an Honorary Oscar by Jack Lemmon in 1972.
We regret not visiting Charlie Chaplin’s home which is today a museum. Close to his statue is a large fork in Lake Geneva. It was there to advertise a Culinary Museum that was close by.
We did make day trips to the legendary cheese capital Gruyere and to the beautiful city of Geneva. Both these sojourns will be covered in other travel blogs.
