Montreux (Switzerland)
The fraternal association between the cities of Wiesbaden and Montreux in Switzerland, which thrives on student exchanges and sporting encounters, was sealed in October 1953.
Worth knowing
When a general assembly of the "Association of European Agriculture" was held in Wiesbaden in September 1952, representatives of the "Council of European Municipalities" also took part. Their aim was to promote friendships between European countries. The Secretary General of the Council conveyed to Wiesbaden the wish of the Swiss city of Montreux to enter into a fraternal association with Wiesbaden. Wiesbaden made contact with Montreux. A delegation headed by Deputy Mayor Kluge and City Councillor Dr. Mix travelled to the fraternity celebration, which took place on 7 October 1953. The focus of this friendship between the two cities is on regular school exchanges, sporting encounters and visits at club level.
Montreux, the third largest city in the canton of Vaud after Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains with a population of around 26,000, is not just a city of music festivals. The "Montreux Jazz Festival" has been held here every year since 1967, as well as the "Montreux Choral Festival" and the "Nuits du Jazz de Chernex".
Tourism is the main focus of Montreux as a business location. The town is also known for its two mountain resorts of Glion and Caux. The main settlement area of Montreux lies along the shores of Lake Geneva. Since the end of the 19th century, the former villages have grown together to form a single urbanized settlement. The town of Montreux consists of a total of 30 districts, villages and hamlets. Thanks to its climate and optimal sunshine, Montreux also enjoys a reputation as a wine town. On the slopes above Clarens and near Chailly and Brent, numerous small vineyards are cultivated. In the higher areas, agriculture, dairy farming and livestock farming predominate. Montreux also has extensive alpine pastures in the foothills of the Alps.
The development of the town can be seen in the imposing hotel complexes along the lakeside promenade. These include the Hôtel des Alpes and the Grand Hôtel, built in 1887, and the Montreux-Palace, which was built in 1905.
From the promenade, visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of Lake Geneva with the Grammont massif and the peaks of the Dents du Midi. The Château Chillon (moated castle), where the "jumelage" between Wiesbaden and Montreux was once sealed, is also well worth a visit. Other attractions worth seeing include the Saint-Vincent parish church and the games museum in the castle of La Tour-de-Peilz. (opens in a new tab)
