MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET
Five Holiday Markets and Santa Claus on Lake Geneva
Montreux
through the warm months is best known as the Swiss Riviera, on the
shore of Lake
Geneva (Lac Leman) the city of the Montreux Jazz
Festival, Belle Epoch grand hotels, lakeside shore palm trees at the
foot of the alpine mountains, and lake cruises. At the onset of winter
from Advent at the end of November to Christmas Eve, the lakeshore promenade
and covered market pavilion turn to the delights of the Montreux Christmas
Market – the Noel Montreux, with over 140 decorated chalets of
holiday crafts and treats.
Elsewhere in Switzerland is it the Christkindle who brings presents not
Santa Claus (see Europe's
Christmas Customs), but the Christmas market in
Montreux is actually five in holiday village atmospheres in
one and more than enough Santas to go around.
The Santa Claus Workshop is a children’s world with the opportunity
for making crafts gifts, caramel candy, candle-making. The Lumberjack
Village, hosted by different loal business associations serves hot teas
and pizzas baked in wood-fired ovens under the giant Christmas Tree,
shining its glow of thousands of lights on the city.
Chateau Chillon Medieval Market
A
little down the lake shore, a 5 minute bus or train ride, Switzerland’s
most famous castle, Châteaux Chillon (see Castle on the
Lake) takes on the holiday spirit in a recreation of medieval times with
the Medieval
Market
and
Fairytale
Festival. Open on the weekends from 10am to 5pm, within the great stone
walls of the Château de Chillon, costumed renactors return to the
days of yore, presenting the customs and the daily Château life
of the Middle Ages - Medieval cooking, blacksmith, wool spinning and
candle making, an herbalist shop and heraldry demonstrations are presented
in the company of jugglers, jesters and fire eaters, accompanied by medieval
musicians. Admission for the Medieval Market is 15 CHF fror Adults and
6 CHF for chidren over 6, with a family ticket for 35 CHF. The story
telling show is free, but only in French.
Christmas Village – Caux
In the little town of Caux above Montreux is the Mountain Christmas Village
with games for kids and play areas on an esplanade overlooking the
magnificent panoramic view of Lake Geneva and the Alps, with a giant
nativity scene, a Lapland reindeer park, the village of Elves and Santa’s
Post Office. The Magic Forest provides a mysterious theme walk encountering
mythological characters. Take the train roundtrip to Caux from Montreux
for 20 CHF for Adults incuding entrace admission – 15 CHF for
kids aged 6-16. You get a 7 CHF discount if you get a validation from
Santa’s House in Caux. There’s no car parking in Caux.
Santa's House Rochers de Naye
For
a little higher trip to the winter wonderland, visit the House
of Santa Claus in a mountain grotto atop Rochers de Naye above
Montreux at an altitude of 6,700 feet. Santa’s House
and Office will be open to welcome children and families with
the
Santa Claus train, face-painting
sessions, stories, souvenir photos with Santa from 25 November
and 24 December in 2010. Nearby on the mountainside is a Mongolian
Yurt Village
and well as souvenier shops. The round train ticket on the Golden
Pass/MOB line (see Golden
Pass Scenic Route) from Montreux and entrance
combined is 32 CHF for
adults and 19
CHF for children 6-16. You can even stay overnight in a Yurt and
have a 5 course dinner with Santa Claus, including gifts for
250 CHF for adults
per person (180 CHF in a standard room) and 50 CHF for kids.
Getting to Montreux for the Montreux Noel Christmas Market is best
by train, the market and promenade are steps from the market. Montreux
is
about an hour by train from Geneva and two hours from Zurich. During
the week there is car parking in the city’s
underground parking lots. On weekends, shuttle bus service is provided
from car parks
at the edge of town. Parking for the Christmas Market is free. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Montreux
Noel
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articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel
Europe and WLPV, LLC. and
may not be copied or reprinted without permission. Photos courtest
Montreux Noel.
SEE
ALSO:
GERMANY'S MEDIEVAL WEINACHTSMARKTS
GERMANY'S BEST BIG CHRISTMAS MARKETS
