TOUR MONTREUX / ROCHERS DE NAYE & LAVAUX VINEYARDS

08:00-08:15: driving from Geneva to Montreux

08:15-09:30: Montreux city tour

09:30-13:30: Rochers de Naye

13.30-15:30: Chillon Castle

15:30-16:00: driving to Lavaux Vineyard Terraces

16:00-17:30: Lavaux Vineyard Terraces wine tasting & walk in the vineyard

17:30-18:30: return to Geneva

• Montreux is renowned globally for its stunning lakeside setting, mild microclimate, and deep connection to music history. It is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Swiss Riviera. We will explore the elegant lakeside promenade, famous for its flowerbeds and Mediterranean flair, and visit the iconic Freddie Mercury Statue. The Queen frontman recorded several albums here, and the town celebrates his legacy annually. Admire the stunning Belle Époque architecture that lines the shore, reflecting the town’s luxurious past.
• From Montreux train station, board the historic cogwheel train for a spectacular ascent up the mountain. The ride up to Rochers de Naye Mountain Peak offers continuously changing perspectives of the Vaud Riviera below. At an elevation of 2,042 meters, Rochers de Naye offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in Switzerland. From the summit, you can see the entire expanse of Lake Geneva, the Swiss Alps (including the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau), and the French Alps. Depending on the season, you can visit the Marmot Paradise, home to marmots from around the world, or explore the beautiful Alpine Gardens, showcasing over 1,000 mountain plant species. Enjoy the fresh alpine air and the stunning vista before descending.
• We then head onwards to Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon), one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval water castles and is perched dramatically on a rocky island on Lake Geneva. It served as a strategic toll point for controlling movement between northern and southern Europe for centuries. The castle was famously immortalized by Lord Byron in his 1816 poem, “The Prisoner of Chillon,” based on the imprisonment of François de Bonivard, a Genevois monk. Inside, you will wander through grand halls, medieval bedrooms, weapon rooms, and the famous Gothic subterranean vaults, imagining the lives of dukes, soldiers, and prisoners who once inhabited its walls.
• Our next stop are the famous Lavaux Vineyard Terraces. This region is internationally recognized for its spectacular terraced vineyards, which stretch for over 30 kilometers along the lake. The site illustrates 800 years of interaction between the local population and its environment, dedicated to producing fine wine. The Lavaux vines benefit from a unique “three suns” effect: the direct rays of the sun, the sun’s reflection off the lake, and the heat stored and radiated by the stone walls of the terraces. At one of the oldest and most prestigious wine estates in the region, you will enjoy a guided walk through the terraces and sample the local wines, while overlooking the stunning lake and mountain scenery.