The city of Vevey in Switzerland is located right on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is quite tiny, but the clean air and inspiring landscapes have made it one of the most popular resorts in Europe. Since the 19th century, the city was visited by aristocrats, monarchs, cultural figures; monuments to some of its guests can be seen today on local streets and squares.

Vevey in Switzerland: photos and general information

The city lies within the French-speaking canton of Vaud between Lausanne and Montreux. A settlement in this place existed in antiquity, but nothing outstanding was noticed about it. Today, much more attention is focused on the city, because it is one of the resorts of the Swiss Riviera.

Vevey is located in the northeast of the largest lake in the Alps. This is a unique place where you can see high snow-capped mountains on one side and palm trees, completely unusual for Switzerland, on the other. Alpine ridges protect the city from the penetration of cold winds, creating a special, almost subtropical, microclimate. That is why magnolia, bay trees, cypresses and other vegetation that is usually found in more southern regions grow here.

Vevey in Switzerland is a quiet and neat town that attracts attention with its picturesque landscapes and a certain provincial regularity. The low hills around it are occupied by terraced vineyards. Higher up, more serious mountains begin, which can be climbed along hiking trails.

Artists, composers and writers often came here to relax or work on their works. Nikolai Karamzin, Vasily Zhukovsky, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Victor Hugo, Ernest Hemingway visited the city. Nikolai Gogol worked here on Dead Souls. Today in Vevey a monument is dedicated to him, as well as to the famous comedian Charlie Chaplin and the Romanian poet

What to see in Vevey?

The city is cozy and very compact; in just a day you can explore all its main attractions. In Switzerland, Vevey is especially famous for its large Marchés Folkloriques market, which opens on Saturdays and Tuesdays. In addition to regular goods, craft products are sold here, artisan master classes are held, and folk groups perform.

In the center of the square is the Grenet Tower. In the past it served as a granary, and now it houses a tourist center. The streets of the old town with all kinds of cafes, restaurants and shops radiate from the square. On one of them is the Church of St. Barbara, erected in the North Russian style by Count Shuvalov in the 19th century.

Other notable buildings in the city include the Notre-Dame Catholic Church, the Swiss Reformed Church of St. Martin from 1530, the City Hall, and the Hôtel des Trois-Couronnes, built in 1842.

Near Vevey there is Mount Pelerin; you can climb to one of its terraces by cable car. It delivers only up to a height of 800 meters, but even from here the city opens up in all its beauty. Higher up there is a TV tower and another observation deck, but you need to climb to it on foot.

Winemaking

Wine is a must-try in Switzerland, and Vevey is the perfect place for tasting. Here they grow the Gamay variety, capricious and weather-demanding Pinot Noir, as well as the white Chasselas variety. Together with Lausanne, the city belongs to one of the largest wine-growing regions of the country - Lavaux. It covers 805 hectares with rows several tens of kilometers long. You can try local products at annual fairs and festivals held in summer and autumn.

The Romans were already involved in growing grapes on these lands. The tradition was continued by the Benedictine monks who lived here in the 11th century. They equipped the slopes of the sunny hills with terraces with stone walls and comfortable paths along the rows. The successful combination of natural landscapes and human activity is today under the protection of UNESCO.

Four or five times a century, the city hosts a grand wine festival, which attracts tens of thousands of people. Like the terraces, it is part of the World Heritage Site. It was last held in 1999, and the next celebration is scheduled for 2019.

Nestlé office and museum

The transnational corporation Nestlé is present in a dozen countries around the world and includes dozens of large companies. And it all started in the city of Vevey in Switzerland. In 1867, pharmacist Henri Nestlé founded a small company and began developing a nutritious dry formula for feeding infants. Just a few years later, the product was in demand in most European countries. Currently, the brand, founded by a humble pharmacist, is known throughout the world and produces everything from condensed milk and cocoa to broths and animal feed.

Nestlé's head office is still located in Vevey. Next to it is the Food Museum, which opened in 1985. Here they talk about the first steps of Henri Nestlé's company and his revolutionary invention, show films about proper nutrition and, in general, talk about food culture. On the city embankment you can see a large fork stuck into the lake. The museum erected it in honor of its anniversary.

Charlie Chaplin

One of the most famous visitors to the city of Vevey in Switzerland is Charlie Chaplin. His monument is located right next to Lake Geneva, opposite the giant Nestlé fork. The monument depicts the comedian with a bowler hat and cane in the famous image of a tramp.

The comedian arrived in Vevey in 1952, when he was accused of collaborating with the Communists in the USA and Great Britain. Due to a series of incriminating films, his relationship with the FBI and the American government was strained. And one day, after a trip to Europe, he was simply not given an entry visa to the United States. Together with his family, the comedian settled in the commune of Corcet-sur-Vevey not far from the city and lived there until his death. Chaplin's grave is located in the Cimetière de Corsier cemetery, and his son still lives in his father's house.

Vevey is a small town on the Swiss Riviera, located between Lausanne and Montreux. If Montreux is considered the most important resort here, then Vevey is perhaps its “lite version”.

In the sense that Veve is smaller, more compact, not as luxurious, but at the same time very pleasant. If you are traveling along the Swiss Riviera, then you should not neglect Vevey - it is not for nothing that Russian classics loved it, like Montreux (Karamzin, Zhukovsky, Vyazemsky, Gogol, Dostoevsky and many others), and the genius of silent cinema - Charlie Chaplin - generally spent This resort is the sunset of your life.

It was in Vevey that the Nestlé company was born - in 1867, pharmacist Henri Nestlé invented milk powder for artificial feeding of children. “Henri Nestlé's milk flour” was patented, however, after a few years, Mr. Nestlé sold his share in the company to business partners. However, even this was enough to perpetuate the name of the Swiss pharmacist of German origin.

The headquarters of this Swiss giant is located in Vevey, where the Alimentarium Food Museum, founded by the company, is also located. In the process is the creation of a Museum in Vevey dedicated to Charlie Chaplin, who died in this place of the Swiss Riviera and is buried in Montreux.

So what to do in Vevey? Naturally, take a walk along its well-groomed beautiful embankment, look at the famous “fork” in the lake and the monument to Charlie Chaplin (a life-size statue), and look at the Russian Church of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara (Eglise Sainte-Barbara). This temple abroad was built at the expense of Count Pyotr Shuvalov in memory of his daughter, Varvara, who died during childbirth. The church was built in Vevey according to the design of the famous court architect Ippolite Monighetti and consecrated in 1878. In 2005, this church was restored and houses several ancient icons.

Vevey and the village of Mont Pelerin, located above, are connected by a funicular. During its 20-minute ride up the hill, you can see local vineyards and a picturesque panorama of the surrounding area - Vevey, the Chardonnay wine region, the lake and the mountains. It is better to check the operating schedule of the funicular and how to get to it at the Vevey tourist office.

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In the old town of Vevey

Vevey Switzerland photo

Monument to N.V. Gogol, who worked on his works in Vevey

A giant 8-meter stainless steel fork (designed by Swiss sculptor Jean-Pierre Zaugg) is installed in the lake opposite the Nestlé Food Museum. This original modern work gradually became a recognizable symbol of Vevey himself.

It was first installed as a temporary exhibit for the Museum's 10th anniversary in 1995, for a period of one year. Then the fork was removed from sight for a long time, but in 2008, after collecting signatures and an all-encompassing public discussion, the fork was allowed to remain in the lake forever.

Monument to Charlie Chaplin, in his natural size.

The Vevey Alimentarium food museum offers visitors a mixture of food production and the history of Nestlé. There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to various aspects of nutrition, as well as temporary exhibitions, master classes, etc., which are constantly held. By 2016 - the year of the 150th anniversary of the Nestlé company - the museum will be completely transformed, so for part of 2015 it will be closed to visitors.

The cozy town of Vevey is located. It belongs to the Swiss Riviera, a strip of coastal resorts east of Lausanne. The city has long been famous as a first-class and at the same time democratic lake resort where you can relax pleasantly. The mild climate, picturesque landscapes and many attractions make a holiday in the city of Vevey ideal.

Many people are attracted to the Vevey resort because many famous people have visited here. Karamzin and Zhukovsky, Byron and Gogol, Vyazemsky and Sienkevich, Hugo and Chaplin visited Vevey at different times, which inspired them to create their masterpieces. And the pharmacist Henri Nestlé, the founder of the famous Swiss chocolate factory, was himself from Vevey. Nowadays, the city is often visited by monarchs of Great Britain, Belgium, and Spain.

Weather in Vevey

On the narrow edge along the lake, a subtropical climate has formed: the high ones reliably protect this area from piercing northern winds, and the proximity of the reservoir makes the climatic conditions even milder. The average annual temperature here is about +12.5°C: in winter it does not fall below +2°C, and in summer it is within +20-23°C. Such conditions contribute to a comfortable holiday in Vevey at any time of the year. The maximum influx of tourists here is observed from the end of April to the beginning of October.

Attractions and entertainment in the city

The huge eight-meter monument to the fork is one of the central “tourist” places in Vevey. It was installed by the local food museum - Musée de l`Alimentarium, owned by the same Nestle company. The tour of the museum is very informative. It can be visited together with the complex, Musée du Vieux-Vevey (historical and winemaking museum). It is interesting to look at the monument to Charlie Chaplin in Vevey, which is located in the park named after him.

Among the architectural must-sees, we note the Villa Le Lac, the building of the former city granary (“house with columns”).

In the autumn-summer period, every Saturday in the central square of the city a colorful Folklore Market is held, where local winegrowers will treat you to amazingly tasty local wine. And being in Vevey in August, you can become a spectator of the unusual International Festival of Street Artists.

The climb to Mount Mont Pelerin, which is connected to Vevey by a funicular, will also be interesting. From the height there is a wonderful view and a beautiful panorama of the lake and the Alpine mountains. In addition, at the Vevey tourist office you can book a guided tour of the city, a three-hour walk along the promenade (“Chemin Fleuri”, which means “blooming path”), or a so-called poetry walk. The latter involves purchasing a brochure that will take you through the shops of the writers and philosophers associated with these places. There you can listen to excerpts from their works by simply pressing a button on the bench.

Hotels and restaurants in the resort of Vevey

Since Vevey is considered an international resort, where tourists from many countries come, the local restaurants serve dishes from different cuisines of the world. The most popular are the Ze Fork restaurant (French cuisine), Les 3 Sifflets (), Restaurant Denis Martin (modern), Ichioshi Sushi Bar & Take Away (Japanese), Noix de Coco (Chinese), and, of course, Café de la Clef , where Jean-Jacques Rousseau also dined.

As for hotels, you can stay in Vevey in one of the following: Des Trois Couronnes, Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva (5 stars), Astra Hotel, Grand Hotel du Lac (4 stars), De Famile, Le Leman Hotel, Les Negociants Hotel Restaurant (3 stars). They are considered the most worthy and have a good ratio of price and quality of services provided.

How to get to the city?

Unfortunately for many, today there are no direct flights to Vevey. The shortest route to the resort lies through Lausanne, where you need to make a transfer. The train departs from the central station hourly at 04 and 32 minutes. First you need to take the train Zurich - Lausanne, and then change to Lausanne - Vevey. The total travel time is 2:26.

Vevey's main train station is located very close to the lake. The street Rue de Lausanne departs from it, which will lead you to the central square of the city - Place du Marche. To get to the old town, where Vevey's historical sites are located, head east from the square.

You can also get to Vevey by water - along Lake Geneva on a small boat that plies along the entire coast. Within the city of Vevey there are three piers: in the city center - Vevey-Marche, in the east - Vevey-la-Tour and in the west - Veveu-Plan.

Vevey is a resort town on the Swiss Riviera, located on Lake Geneva. Two seemingly incompatible factors are happily intertwined here: mountains with cold peaks and a mild, almost subtropical climate. The contradiction is only apparent, because it is the snow-capped majestic stone mountains that protect the lake from cold air flows. Therefore, palm trees growing on the embankment feel quite good in an alpine environment. The population of the city is only 20 thousand people. Excellent ecology, silence and at the same time developed diverse infrastructure determined the fate of Vevey as a city not only as a resort, but also attractive for business. There are many offices of famous European companies here, and they carefully choose their locations. For example, the largest confectionery company Nestlé has its headquarters here, and even opened a rather original food museum in Vevey.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to Vevey. Flight to Geneva, from there by direct train, or with a transfer in Lausanne. The difference is small, the journey duration is 50-80 minutes. If you are traveling through Zurich, then you need to change trains in Bern or Biele.

If you don’t like to fly and are used to starting your vacation with the sound of wheels, you can get to Bern by train with a transfer in Germany - either in Berlin or Mannheim. From there, take the local train to Vevey. For motorists, the road from both Zurich (209 km) and Geneva (90 km) will be a pleasure: the quality of Swiss roads is as excellent as watches and cheese.

Search for flights to Geneva (the nearest airport to Vevey)

Cuisine and restaurants

As you know, Switzerland is a country, although small, but extremely diverse in its ethnic composition and cultural and everyday traditions. Since Vevey is located in the French part of Switzerland, French cuisine and, above all, cheese dishes predominate here. However, the world-famous fondue and raclette, also made from melted cheese, are typically Swiss dishes. You can find both polenta and saffron risotto, although not in every establishment, unlike Italian Switzerland.

The side dishes used by the Swiss for cheese dishes are very interesting. These are pickled cucumbers and mostarda - fruits soaked in mustard and vinegar. As for meat dishes, the traditional Zurich-style chopped veal with Rosti potatoes is good.

While on the Riviera, of course, you can’t go past the fish dishes. Particularly noteworthy is the perch fillet, fried in oil, served with lemon wedges and potatoes or fried almonds.

For dessert, gourmets recommend the Zuger Kirschtort cake, made from puff pastry with butter cream. And special words about Swiss wines. They are amazingly good, no worse than Italian and French, but they are consumed mainly within the country, and only a hundredth of the winemakers' production is exported. This means that you have a chance to try these amazing wines only while you are here. And the best time for this is autumn, when wine fairs are held in Vevey every Saturday, where wine costs much less than usual, and some farmers will pour it for you for free, if only you appreciate their work.

Vevey Hotels

There are no more than ten options for accommodation in Vevey - mostly five- and three-star hotels. Prices, as elsewhere in Switzerland, are rather high, but the service is at an unsurpassed high level. Among the best hotels are the “five” Le Mirador Kempinski and Grand Du Lac.

3 things to do in Vevey

1. Take a walk along the picturesque embankment under the shade of palm trees and surrounded by distant mountains.
2. Visit Charlie Chaplin's estate on the outskirts of the city.
3. Explore one of the country's two Orthodox churches.

Entertainment and attractions in Vevey

When entering the city from Lausanne, you will see a high-tech building - this is precisely the headquarters of the favorite company of sweet tooths and coffee lovers, Nestlé. Even if you are not one of them, a slight bow and a glance from the window will be enough; the building does not represent any special value. But it’s really worth visiting the food museum created by Nestlé, especially when the “flowers of life” are present in the company, they are also children. This is an interactive museum where pressing the button you like allows you to inhale the aroma of your favorite dish. You can also watch movies, put on a computerized show, or put on a diorama.

Vevey - favorite city of celebrities

The peace and quiet of the city attracted serious representatives of the creative elite here, in contrast to Vevey's famous neighbor - frivolous, bohemian Montreux. The titans of Russian culture - Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky - visited and lived here for long periods of time. The most famous writer of Russian emigration, Vladimir Nabokov, spent 16 years here, the great Victor Hugo paid tribute to Vevey, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau declared his love for this city. The saddest comedian in the world, the brilliant Charlie Chaplin, spent the last 25 years of his life in a small village on the outskirts of Vevey. Here there is a Chaplin square and a monument to him in the image of a little tramp - the same one who once conquered the whole world. Our compatriots are not forgotten either; in the park near the embankment there is a monument to Gogol, and on the house where Dostoevsky and his wife lived during his work on “The Idiot” there is a memorial plaque.

Church of St. Barbara

This is one of two Orthodox churches in Switzerland, built by Count Shuvalov, and is currently operational.

Museums

The Museum of Old Vevey, located in a 15th century castle, is what we call a local history museum; the entire history of the city is reflected here, and the exhibits of the Wine Fraternity are of particular interest. On the ground floor there is a restaurant offering, as usual in such places, authentic interiors and cuisine typical of the French part of Switzerland.

The Clock Museum contains more than 2,000 clocks from different cities, towns and times, there is also a Museum of Photography, and a Museum of Games in the 13th century castle of Tour de Peil.

Chillon

If you like to travel, then you will be interested in the stunning Chillon Castle, which, however, is located closer to Montreux, but not far from Vevey. It is located on an island, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and is one of the oldest visited castles in Europe. It was he who was sung by the famous Byron in his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”.

In the western part of the country. The resort is recognized as the center of Lavaux, a region with world-famous vineyards. From here it’s a stone’s throw to the notorious and. Every Saturday in autumn in the center of Vevey there is a wine tasting and even a Festival dedicated to the “drink of the gods”.

The first mention of the city dates back to the thirteenth century: a monk from Alsace, who created a map of Roman roads, designated Vevey as a stop on the road between Rome and Britain. According to scientists, the history of the settlement dates back thousands of years. The natural beauty of these places was appreciated by the Romans, and soon by the barbarian tribes.

During the Middle Ages, an important trade route between Piedmont and Burgundy ran through the Swiss city. But Vevey became a popular holiday destination much later - in the eleventh century, when nobility and aristocracy from all over Europe flocked here.

Such famous personalities as Dostoevsky, Vyazemsky, Nabokov, Tchaikovsky, Charlie Chaplin and Sienkevich managed to visit the resort. Vevey was liked by famous fans of the Swiss Riviera: Hugo, James, Kokoschka. By the way, Charlie Chaplin spent 25 years of his life here, until his death in 1977. He did not live in Vevey itself, but a little higher - in the village of Corsier. Therefore, a park on the shore of the lake was named in honor of Charlie Chaplin, in the center of which a monument was erected to the comedian.

Interesting: in the nineteenth century, Count Shuvalov sponsored the construction of the Orthodox Church of St. Barbara in Vevey; The religious building, erected in 1878, is a tribute to the memory of the count’s wife, who died during childbirth.

What to see and do in Vevey? Sights of Vevey.

According to Voltaire, The book of nature serves as an inexhaustible source of knowledge for people. And Vevey is a shining example of the authenticity of these words. Therefore, feel free to come to the fabulous Swiss town to enrich your worldview, knowledge and emotions...