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In Montreux the bear doesn’t tap-dance, here it walks quietly. The town is small and well laid out, but the good kind. The one you immediately give your heart to. Here you can relax and let go, enjoy every second without rushing around and sightseeing stress. Here, French charm and Swiss coziness mingle to create a piece of earth that could just as easily be in heaven. Elvira Abasova, a native Russian who has called Montreux her home for 15 years, knows this too. Little pollution, little noise and few problems are the reasons why she won’t be moving away any time soon. This month, Elvira takes us on a journey through Montreux.
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Living
If you want to live like a princess (without the pea, of course), stay at the 4-star Hotel Majestic. Here you can enjoy the spectacular view of the lake and the mountains – simply magical. The Rouvenaz, also located directly on the lake, feels really comfortable, very cozy and beautifully furnished and with a feel-good guarantee.
Grand Hôtel Suisse-Majestic, Avenue des Alpes 45, 1820 Montreux, suisse-majestic.com
La Rouvenaz – Montreux, Rue du Marché 1, 1820 Montreux, rouvenaz.ch
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Food
In the Tango restaurant, the chef welcomes you personally. Try the specialty: the Argentinian rib-eye steak, which melts on the tongue like ice cream in the sun. Oriental cuisine is the hobbyhorse of Le Palais Oriental – the “Royal Couscous” is definitely worth the trip to Montreux! If you like sweets, be sure to stop by the Gelateria Bellamia. Here you’ll find the best ice cream in town – a sin!
Tango, Avenue de Chillon 70, 1820 Territet, facebook.com/pages/Tango-Restaurante-Grill-Argentin
Le Palais Oriental, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 6, 1820 Montreux, palaisoriental.ch
Gelateria Bellamia, Rue du Marché 1, 1820 Montreux, rouvenaz.ch
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Shopping
You don’t go to Montreux for luxury shopping. Geneva will do as well. But the small stores, the ones with heart, you can always find them here. Like Le Majordome , for example, where you can choose and produce your own shoe, from the sole to the heel to the lacing. The Attitude boutique has a wide range of cool clothes and accessories from well-known and lesser-known labels. Also worth a detour: Laurent Marthaler’s Art Gallery, where die-hard art connoisseurs as well as people who simply love beautiful things will find what they are looking for. Design objects, furniture, technology gadgets and fun knick-knacks spread over 500 square meters can be admired and purchased at LadyLake.
Le Majordome, Grand Rue 70, 1820 Montreux, lemajordome.ch Attitude Boutique, Grand Rue 83, 1820 Montreux, attitude-boutiques.com
Laurent Marthaler’s Art Gallery, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Av. Claude-Nobs, 1820 Montreux, laurentmarthaler.com
LadyLake, Grand Rue 96, 1820 Montreux, ladylake.ch
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Party
In Montreux, people traditionally celebrate on Friday evening. Then you sit down in Funky Claude’s Bar, drink a cocktail from the menu, which is even mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records, and sway to the live music. And the later the evening, the further out onto the dance floor the journey goes.
Funky Claude’s Bar, Avenue Claude Nobs 2, 1820 Montreux, fairmont.com
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Quarters
Switzerland is small and so is Montreux. That’s why we don’t talk about neighborhoods here, but about the Promenade or the Place du Marché, which are worth visiting for a moment of reflection.
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Must do
During the Montreux Jazz Festival, the French-speaking city is transformed into a hellfire. International bands and singers gather here in a small space, and tickets are often sold out months in advance. But there are also many open-air concerts planned during these days – and they’re free!
Montreux Jazz Festivals, Avenue Claude Nobs 5, 1820 Montreux, montreuxjazz.com
Events
Fête Multiculturelle, 19. to 21.6.
From Portugal to Greece and Africa, numerous countries present themselves throughout the city – in the form of cultural spectacles and culinary delights.
fetemulticulturelle.ch
Montreux Jazz Festival, 3. to 18.7.
Music galore throughout the city! Come, listen, enjoy.
montreuxjazz.com
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Elvira Abasova is a fashion blogger and student. loves sunny mornings and colorful mini bags. hates people who see themselves as victims.