Travel Itinerary: 5 stops around Lake Geneva

Soup is served during the Fete de L'Escalade commemorating Mother royaume who apparently poured a cauldron of soup on an attacker.

The distance is not far. You can certainly drive around Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman as it is known locally) in a day, but there is far too much to see  not to take it slowly.

Geneva – go in December for the extraordinary Escalade Celebration
Geneva is a stunning city with expensive shops, luxurious hotels and wonderful restaurants. But there is plenty to enjoy for those with  shallow pockets as well.

A tour of the United Nations Building, while a little obvious, is a must mention. The tour gives you a good history of this important international organization.

Beyond that, I recommend a lot of walking and cycling. Saint Peter’s Cathedral is stunning as is all the walled portion of the city. Naturally, there are many museums and the parks are large and luxurious making them perfect for relaxing.

Ah, but the best part of my visit to Geneva in early December was the Escalade Celebration commemorating the successful defeat of an attack on the city in 1602. I went on the Sunday when there is a torch light parade with over 1000 people in costume plus many observers like myself. It’s an astounding event (it would never happen in cautious North America) culminating in a huge bonfire in Cathedral Square.

Evian Les Bains – famous for its water.
All the towns in this post attract tourists for one reason or another but Evian Les Bains is the only real tourist resort. While it is famous for its thermal spas, for me it was a place to watch and wonder at how the rich take holidays. The clothes and cars, the hotels and casino all offered a very different sort of people-watching. It was worth a look but I didn’t stay. 

Smoke on Lake Geneva

Montreaux, Switzerland – famous for “Smoke on the Water”.
For a small city, Montreaux has a lot to offer.  The famous Monreaux Jazz Festival is held each year in July (2010 will be its 44th year) and a much younger though more traditional Christmas Market is held each December. I’ve seen many castles throughout Europe but the Chateau de Chillon in Montreaux is one that has stayed with me. Its an extremely well preserved 13th century castle that offers a real sense of life those many centuries ago.

In Montreaux there is also a Deep Purple connection. In 1971, they were in town to record a new album using the Rolling Stones mobile recording studio. The evening before they were to start, a fan at a Frank Zappa concert shot a flare gun into the rattan ceiling and set the casino where the concert was being held on fire.  The smoke on the water that became the title of the song was the smoke spreading out over Lake Geneva from that fire. You can read the story in Wikipedia.

Banned from the US, Chaplin settled in Vevey.

Vevey – the choice of Charles (Charlie) Chaplin
Vevey is a charming town with a lovely waterfront and a town square offering good coffee, an interesting photo museum and a market of produce and other goods. The area also offers truly wonderful white wines. Worth purchasing at the cellars there.

But it was Charlie Chaplin that drew me to Vevey. A big Chaplin fan, I had to go and pay my respects at the modest grave site in the Corsier sur Vevey cemetery. His house is now a luxury hotel.

Lausanne – great shopping on pedestrian streets
Lausanne is the second largest city on the shores of  Lake Geneva.  The city is built on three hills so it can be a bit of a challenge on foot but well worth it. The shopping downtown is mostly on pedestrian streets and includes boutiques as well as chain stores. Wednesday and Saturday are market days  when stalls line the pedestrian streets as well.

The city is also the home of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Museum – an inspiring half day.

There are many other charming small towns along the shores of Lake Geneva. Which would you recommend?

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