Montreux Christmas Markets, Switzerland

Montreux is my favourite Christmas Market! I don’t think it is that well known outside of the French region of Switzerland, I could be wrong, for me, this is hands down, the best!

Montreux is a small lake side town located on Lake Geneva at the other end of Geneva city. To get here you can fly into Geneva and take a very easy and comfortable train to Montreux in about an hour. You could also fly to Zurich or Basel and take the train but it would be longer at around 3 hours.

Montreux is a beautiful town, and even in winter you see exotic well kept trees and flowers on the lake side. A bit about the city. The song, Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple was written in and about Montreux. When the casino was burning down during the Jazz Festival, Frank Zappa fans set off fireworks igniting the casino, as Deep Purple were high watching this happen it inspired the song. Queen had their recording studio here, Mountain Studios, you can visit the studio for free in the casino, there is no issue taking kids to this part of the casino, it is done like a museum. Simply go to the front or road side entrance of the casino and follow the signs for the Queen Studios Experience. On the market place square is a big statue of Freddy Mercury. I think it is impossible not to love Montreux as a town, once you have been you may see and understand why I say that.

Montreux Christmas Markets make a huge effort and have several locations with different themes going on. For the smaller kids, they can visit Santa. He is on top of the mountain Rochers De Naye. You will need to buy a Santa ticket for the train ride in advance which should be around 20 CHF. I would do this well in advance to ensure no one is disappointed. The small train takes you to the top of the mountain. At the top you will walk through a long cave well decorated for Christmas, and at the end, the big man himself, Santa. It can be busy and there may be a queue, but you will be warm and dry no matter the weather as you are in this tunnel thing. Push chairs are fine. The kids and parents wait in line to see Santa, when it’s your turn, you meet him, chat to him (he does speak English). Hand your letter to him and have some pictures. You can ask next in line to take some with your phone and will get a professional one done as well. If I recall the professional one costs 20 CHF and you receive the print in a card frame.

After being shuffled on, you visit Santa’s office, the children will get a stamped certificate from Santa’s secretary, to say they have met Santa and a decent gift, it’s a small teddy usually. As well as some small bits, a badge and maybe gummy bears. Leaving Santa's office and before going back down the tunnel, is a shop window selling some mulled wine or Vin Chaud as it's known locally, as well as some snacks, hot drinks etc. You can hang out there if you want, but at this point there’s nothing left to do. We headed back down the tunnel towards the train, and decided to have lunch in the restaurant, above the mountain train station, a nice sit-down meal. You can enjoy traditional dishes, I can recommend a fondue, ideally with some local Chasselas wine from the region. Outside the restaurant is the mountain itself, with luck there will be snow, and you can have a look and play outside.

Eventually you will take the train down the mountain back to Montreux city. From the station back in Montreux, you will follow the crowd and head towards the lake. The main market area is built along the lake shore. Traditional wooden huts with the backdrop of Lake Geneva and the Alp Mountain range, off in the distance across the water is Evian, famed for its bottled spring water. The markets here are big, essentially on one very long bord de lac promenade. There is lots to see. You have a mix of gifts and crafts, many items for sale, together with the food and drinks stands, although at this point it is mainly gifts for sale.

If you continue down the markets towards the casino, they eventually open up at the traditional market place. Here you will see the Freddy statue. A little tip, on the lake side path, under the covered markets are free public toilets.

On this market square, which you can’t miss, not only is Freddy there but a huge big wheel, which is an enjoyable ride to go on, all will enjoy taking in the aerial view of the markets, city, mountains and lake. There is usually a queue but it moves relatively quickly. At the big wheel and the market square, is the covered market that has the concentration of food and drink stands. They have everything here for every taste, wonder around and pick your dish. For us, and we have been to this market a few times, we are creatures of comfort and always take the duck and foie gras sandwich.

Very much a highlight and USP for the Montreux markets is Santa whizzing along the lake! They install a Sleigh that shoots along the water’s edge, elevated high above the markets, which travels quite a stretch. It’s a 'real' Santa inside, not a plastic model. The sleigh has fireworks and sparklers coming out the back, and the last time we went, Santa reached the end of the markets, the length of cable and he played Hawaiian music on his guitar, before subtly being pulled back to its starting point. This spectacle runs several times in the evening. Montreux Market has a very good website, so do check it out and get the times. It starts from the ferry harbour and ends at the market square, if you see the cable above the markets, it is probably the route Santa takes. Plan to be in a good position to see this, and at the right time it is on. You won’t want to miss it. It’s impressive for any age and gives a great festive feel, you can’t help but smile and enjoy this.

The final festive thing I know of in Montreux, is at Chateaux Chillon, or Castle Chillon. I am told it is the most photographed thing in Switzerland. This is a castle built in the lake. Its stunning. To visit, which if in the area you should/must do, you can walk there and back, probably 45 minutes each way, or you can take a train or bus there, but arguably the nicest way, take a boat if one is running. Take a boat there, then walk or train journey back. The castle is an incredible site to see. Inside is perhaps bigger than you expect, at least for me it was. If you go to Montreux, you must go here. Not only is it a must-see sight, but on certain advent weekends, inside the castle they have a Medieval Christmas Market to enjoy, actors dressed up and some fun and games. Of course, kids are going to love this, adults will too.

Have I convinced you? Is it booked yet? You really should go and experience Montreux and the Markets!

If you still have time, and want to see other things in the area, there is plenty to do. Lavaux, this is the name of the wine region here. It is recognised by UNESCO. The grape grown is mainly Chasselas. Beautiful wine terraces covering the hills running from the top right down to the lake and looking across the water to the alps. The beauty of the nature here is outstanding. You can walk among the vines, perhaps even try the wine at some vineyards, the one caveat I will point out, the time of year we are talking about, means the vines will be bare and twig like. You know what it means? You will need to visit again in the summer months when the vines are full and colourful.

Charlie Chaplin (the famous silent movie actor) used to live in the area, he was kicked out of America, and he spent his final years living here with his wife Oona and their children in a large family house near Vevey. The Charlie Chaplin Museum, Chaplin's World is great! I am not one for museums usually, this one is exceptional. It’s divided in two, three if you count the gardens and grounds, the first part is his family house, actually in his family house, as in, where they all lived. It shows not only his life in Switzerland but his life in the years before Switzerland, his friends, his family, how he lived and grew up, his personal side. The second part is the new bit of the estate, added when the museum was created, in a dedicated building, and this highlights his professional life, his life as an actor and the life he led on screen. The rags to riches story. I always recommend this museum to anyone in the area. I have been several times and give this ten stars out of 5, it is that good.

There is loads more to see and do in this area, away from the Christmas Markets and festivities, Lausanne is close by and is a lovely city, the Olympic Museum is there and a nice aquarium called Aquatis Aquarium Vivarium. Some options if the weather is less favourable.

Geneva is down the road, it's where you may have landed if you flew, could be worth a look on your way back to the airport?

You will be kept more than busy over the few days you spend here and if you are anything like me, you will be leaving with the question of “when can I return?”