A lakeside castle and a legendary jazz festival
Montreux sits on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva, sheltered by mountains and mild enough for palm trees along its flower-lined promenade. Its most famous sight is the Château de Chillon, a medieval castle on a rock in the lake that inspired Byron's poem The Prisoner of Chillon. The Montreux Jazz Festival has drawn great musicians since 1967, and a statue of Freddie Mercury stands by the water. Just west, the Lavaux vineyards, terraced down to the lake, are a UNESCO site with lovely walks between wine villages.