00:00Hello and welcome to Travel Smarts, your weekly guide to the best in travel from
00:05the Independents.
00:15In this episode we're in Montreux, soaking up the vibe of this beautiful
00:20town as it hosts the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival.
00:26Montreux is on the Swiss side of Lake Geneva, with Riviera-chic streets
00:31surrounded by majestic mountain vistas. Flower-lined promenades, artist sculptures
00:37and Belle Ăpoque-style buildings combine to create a region that feels truly magical.
00:42Its mild and temperate climate make it the perfect destination to visit all year round.
00:47And the climate is one of the key factors that make Montreux a very special place
00:52for producing what many call the nectar of gods.
00:56I'm in the wine region of Lavaux and I'm about to talk to someone who can tell me
01:00all about the gorgeous local wines that they produce here.
01:06October is when local wineries swing open their cellar doors,
01:10encouraging visitors to sample wine produced from the nearby UNESCO-worthy Lavaux Terraces.
01:16I'm heading to meet the manager of the region's Discovery Centre for Wine
01:20to find out more about Montreux's world-class winemaking.
01:24We are, I think, the main place in Lavaux for wine. We have eight regions in Lavaux
01:30and you have the eight different soils of these eight regions. So if you want,
01:38I can bring you eight times the same grape but you will have eight different wines.
01:44One grape can bring you eight different tastes.
01:50But it's during summer where Montreux transforms, hosting two weeks of music.
02:05In its 68-year history, Montreux has hosted iconic performances by artists including Nina Simone,
02:12Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Prince and David Bowie.
02:17And recently it's seen Adele, Dua Lipa and Kendrick Lamar.
02:22It really is like no other music festival.
02:28On the festival site stands the Montreux Casino, which has its own place in rock history.
02:35In 1971, Frank Zappa was playing a gig at the Montreux Casino when a flare was set
02:41off by a member of the crowd at the wooden roof which instantly caught fire.
02:45As the blaze spread, Montreux Jazz Festival organiser Claude Nobbs joined firefighters
02:51in evacuating concertgoers while band members of Deep Purple, who happened to also be in town,
02:57watched on with the rest of those present.
03:00The sight of the smoke billowing out across Lake Geneva gave Deep Purple a song title
03:05and it wasn't long before Smoke on the Water became an instant rock classic.
03:16Another place steeped in the musicality of Montreux is the Grand Fairmont Hotel.
03:24And during the Montreux Jazz Festival, its ballrooms and spaces become rehearsal rooms
03:30for the visiting musical acts, meaning it's the place to stay and immerse yourself in the music
03:36scene. To help you make the most of your visit, the festival's CEO gives you his insider tips
03:42on how to best enjoy this stunning town.
03:46So when you're landing in Geneva Airport and you're coming to Montreux, it's only a 45-hour
03:52drive or train to come here and you will be crossing one of the most beautiful parts of
03:57the region which are the vineyards and then you have a lot of also amazing museums like the
04:02Chaplin Museum. You have the headquarter of Nestlé which is very famous with the first
04:08milk chocolate. You have the Castle of Chillon which is one of the most popular buildings
04:13in the region and of course you have the lake. If you're not coming in summer,
04:17for example, and coming in winter, this winter that was amazing, you could just go skiing in
04:22the morning and going playing golf in the afternoon. That's crazy. I'm in love with
04:28this region but if you want to come here, just take time.
04:39Nestled in the picturesque hills overlooking Lake Geneva is Claude Nobbes' Chalet,
04:44a gem that offers an intimate glimpse into the festival's history and its founder.
04:51This charming traditional Swiss chalet is not just a residence,
04:55but a living museum of music history. The chalet is a treasure trove of music memorabilia gifted
05:01by some of the greatest names in music, including Freddie Mercury's piano on which he composed and
05:07performed Bohemian Rhapsody. The chalet is occasionally open to the public for special
05:13tours, an unforgettable experience for music lovers wanting to immerse themselves in the magic
05:19of the festival. We'll be back next week for another episode of Travel Smart Weekly,
05:26which you can watch online on the Independent's mobile app and on your smart TV. And for all the
05:32latest travel news, reviews and advice, be sure to check out independent.co.uk
05:37forward slash travel and listen to Simon Calder's daily travel podcast.
05:49Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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