After the Brocante on Friday, Maddie and I headed to Montreux, also known as the Swiss Riviera. It is the home of the famed Chateau of Chillon, a statue of Freddie Mercury, and as we were to find out, a collection of straw statues themed to the Disney film, Madagascar. It's actually a gloriously beautiful town which we were able to see in a variety of weather conditions, all one day.
(Above) We took the train, as usual. Montreux is South-East of Lausanne along Lake Leman.
(Above & Below) It was rainy and gray as we arrived which is probably what inspired us to have lunch at the White Horse Pub, a cosy if not touristy pub near the water front.
(Above & Below) As we waited for the weather to improve, Maddie made a phone call and I danced with a pack of Madagascar Lions.
(Above & Below) The next few photos are from the Chateau of Chillon. It dates back at least to the 1100's and has been added onto extensively since then. This was one of the more exciting tours as you can basically just wander around the whole fortress with very few limitations.
(Above) Oh look, a me-sized door!
(Above) You may remember Chillon (SHE-on) from the poem by Lord Byron, The Prisoner of Chillon. Byron wrote the poem in 1816 during a prolonged stay in the area. It's based on the true story of a Genevois monk named Francois de Bonivard who was imprisoned there in the 1530's for political reasons. Read my tribute post to the poem HERE.
(Above) The slit pictured above was intended for defensive purposes. According to the sign nearby, its shape lends itself to the well-known term, loophole.
(Above & Below) As we left, it was beginning to rain again and a thick mist was hanging low over the castle, which you can see above. We decided to walk back to the downtown area despite the weather but luckily, it began to get warmer and the sun came out.
(Above) Oh my gosh - it's Freddie Mercury! He lived in Montreux for many years before his death.
(Above) Another famous spot, the Gardens of Fairmont le Montreux Palace. It features statues of celebrities who have stayed in Montreux.
(Above) We headed to the high part of the city...
(Above)...to see St. Vincent's Church which is dedicated to the patron saint of wine-growing. Yes, that is a vineyard directly next to it.* * *
And then we headed home as it got dark.
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