Seeking celebrities

Right next to the Villeneuve landing stage stands an imposing bust of Mahatma Gandhi in memory of the visit he made to his friend Romain Rolland, Nobel Literature laureate and Villeneuve resident, during a trip in 1931.

Take the train, bus or your own two feet to Territet and stop for a few moments in the Parc des Roses, at the center of which is a marble statue. It was put up in tribute to the many visits by Empress Elisabeth of Wittelsbach (1854–1898), known to the world as Sissi.

Your journey continues toward Montreux to commune with Freddie Mercury. For a total immersion experience, why not book a guided “Freddie Tour”? It’s a fantastic way to gain a better understanding of the singer’s relationship with the town.

Stop off to refuel at the Montreux Jazz Café, which offers a bistronomic menu, superlative cocktails and a decor inspired by the big names in music who have made their mark on the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Work off your lunch with a short stroll among the statues of the legendary figures of the Montreux Jazz Festival in the Jardins du Palace gardens. A bit further down, on the quayside, another statue – composer Igor Stravinsky this time – stands, baton raised, beside the auditorium that bears his name.

You continue on foot or by train, bus or boat to La Tour-de-Peilz, where the painter Gustave Courbet lived between 1873 and 1877. A trail linking the town and the lake traces the main chapters in his life, his work and his ties to his adopted homeland.

Your final stop is in Vevey, an opportunity for a lakeside selfie with the statue of Charlie Chaplin. From the station, bus 212 will take you to Chaplin’s World, an opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the life and work of one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century.