Tips for the Montreaux Jazz Festival?
 

My husband and I will be staying in Chateau d'Oex during the time of the Montreaux Jazz Festival and we hope to make a day trip to Lake Geneva during the week. Thinking about seeing Vevey, Chillon Castle, and perhaps vineyards.

We would also like to get a taste of the Montreaux Jazz Festival while we are there, perhaps one of the concerts in the park. Unfortunately, I just sat down with the program today to find that Stevie Wonder is playing the day I was hoping to come, and it is completely sold out!

We will possibly bring bicycles for transportation - unless that will be more of a hindrance than a help.

If anyone can give tips for navigating the concerts in the park (what to avoid, what to bring, how early to arrive, etc) or any other suggestions for our day on Lake Geneva I would really appreciate it!

You can start by calling it Lac Leman.

And Montreux.

Hi lynnaian,

Well, I went to boarding school in Montreux in 1968 and have visited there about 20 times since 1996, and I still call it Lake Geneva. Never had any problems there -- unless you speak French fluently and will be speaking French with the folks there, saying "Lake Geneva" is just fine.

But, yes, for your internet searches, using the correct spelling will help a lot.

I'll say that taking bicycles will be a huge hindrance. I've never visited during the jazz fest (well, actually, we were there for the fest in 1968, but I'm not counting that one), but I have visited in the summertime, and the lakeside promenade is PACKED; it's elbow-to-elbow. You may have trouble walking down the lakeside promenade much less cycling down it.

I'll also suggest that you walk from Montreux to Chillon (about 45 minutes) down that flowered lakeside promenade -- it's one of the very best things about Montreux, imo. You'll be looking at the lake and some greenery and the town of Villeneuve in the distance. It should take you about 2h to tour Chillon, more if you want to linger and have some ice cream and soak up the ambiance and views.

Then take bus #201 from the Chillon stop all the way to Vevey. Have lunch in Vevey and explore the tangled streets of its old town right next to the lake.

Then take the train to the Lavaux for a walk. If you want a short walk, take the train to Chexbres and walk down to Rivaz or St Saphorin, about 30 minutes (there's a lovely inn in Rivaz called the Auberge du Rivaz). If you want a longer walk, take the train to Lutry and walk back to Epesses, Cully, or Rivaz (between 1h30 to 2h). If you do the long walk, you may find yourself in Rivaz in time to have dinner at the Auberge. You can see this all clearly if you use google maps.

Then take the ferry back to Montreux (schedules at www.cgn.ch) and the train back to Chateau d'Oex.

BTW, I spent two weeks in Chateau d'Oex once and loved it!

Have fun as you plan!

s

Thanks swandav2000 for your kind and very helpful response! That sounds like a great day. I really appreciate all of the detail and sounds like two feet instead of two wheels is the way to go.