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