L’Escalade is Geneva’s top family-friendly festivals and overshadows other Advent events and Christmas markets in mid-December. NOTE: In 2020 the Escalade in Geneva will not take place in any form! L’Escalade is the top event in Geneva’s festival calendar. L’Escalade is celebrated each year over a weekend in mid-December with parades, demonstrations, music, cannon fire, … [Read more...]
Christmas Markets on Lake Geneva in Switzerland
Montreux, Lausanne, and Geneva have the best Christmas markets (Marché de Noël / Weihnachtsmarkt), decorations, and lights in the Lac Léman region of Switzerland. In 2020 -- most Christmas markets in the Lake Geneva region were canceled. The advent season before Christmas brings some color and holiday cheer to towns in the Lake Geneva region. Many towns will see an … [Read more...]
Visit the Montreux Marché de Noël Christmas Market, Switzerland
The Marché de Noël à Montreux is by far the largest and best Christmas market to visit in the Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) region of Switzerland. Apart from the Weihnachtsmarkt, Santa’s workshop, a Christmas village, and a medieval festival await advent visitors. In 2020 the Montreux Christmas Market is open from November 25 to December 24, 2020. NOTE: In 2020, the Montreux … [Read more...]
Photos of l’Escalade Celebrations in Geneva, Switzerland
L’Escalade is a great celebration in old town Geneva each mid-December with marches, parades, battle reenactments, cultural events, mulled wine, and chocolates. L’Escalade is a Genevan festival held each mid-December to commemorate a famous victory of Geneva over the Dukes of Savoy. On December 12, 1602, the Savoyards attempted to invade the free city of Genève through an … [Read more...]
Photos of the Montreux Christmas Market on Lake Geneva, Switzerland
The photogenic Marché de Noël à Montreux is the largest and best Christmas market to visit in the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland. This beautifully located Weihnachtsmarkt is popular with families and children. The Marché de Noël à Montreux is the best Christmas market to visit in the Lac Léman region of Western Switzerland. This Weihnachtsmarkt is a popular day-trip … [Read more...]
Cycle Around Lake Geneva in Switzerland and France
Biking around Lac Léman is easy on cycling route 46 that guides cyclists around Lake Geneva in Switzerland and France. The route is relatively flat but offers fantastic views of not only the lake but also the Alps and Jura mountains. Cycling route 46 guides cyclists on the 200-km Tour du Léman bike tour around Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in Switzerland and France. The route is … [Read more...]
Wine Tasting in the Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland
Open cellars, or Caves ouvertes, provide excellent opportunities to taste Swiss wines in an informal setting without pressure to buy expensive bottles. The cantons and wine-growing regions of Switzerland have open tasting days throughout the year with individual vineyards often allowing wine tasting on weekends. The larger cantonal and regional open days are mostly in spring … [Read more...]
Visit the Chocolate Festival in Versoix, Genève (Festichoc)
The annual chocolate festival (Festichoc) in Versoix, in the northeastern extremities of Geneva, is a very popular family-friendly event for chocolate lovers. Chocolatiers from Genève, Valais, and nearby communities in the Lac Léman region exhibit and sell top chocolate at the Versoix festival. Admission is free and sampling is mostly allowed. Le Festival du Chocolat … [Read more...]
Visit the Free Morges Tulip Festival on Lake Geneva
The annual Fête de la Tulipe in Morges is one of the most beautiful spring events on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Around 150,000 tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths can be enjoyed blooming in the Parc de l’Indépendence à Morges behind the chateau on the Lac Léman lakefront. Morges, a pretty town on Lake Geneva near Lausanne, annually hosts the Tulip Festival (Fête de la … [Read more...]
Swiss Classic British Car Meeting in Morges
Morges in Switzerland hosts a free but very impressive show day for around 1,500 British classic cars in the parks and on the quays of Lake Geneva. The Swiss Classics British Car Meeting is held annually in October in the castle-town Morges on the shores of Lake Geneva near Lausanne. Owners of British classic cars are invited to park their cars for free in the parks and on … [Read more...]
Visiting the Geneva Motor Show (Genève Auto Salon) in Switzerland
2020 Auto Show Canceled. Visiting the annual Geneva Motor Show (Genève Auto Salon), one of the major events in the Lac Léman region, is easy, as the show is held next to Geneva Airport at the Palexpo exhibition center. The Geneva Motor Show is one of the most important automotive events in the world. It is held annually in the Palexpo show grounds right next to Geneva … [Read more...]
Transportation to the Geneva Auto Show (Genève Auto Salon)
2020 Show Canceled! Getting to the Geneva Auto Show (Genève Auto Salon) is easiest by public transportation. Trains (and planes!) are the best options but buses also stop at the show grounds. Pricey parking is available. The Geneva Auto Show is easily reached on public transportation from any part of Genève, Switzerland, or indeed Europe. The Genève Auto Salon is held in … [Read more...]
New Year’s Eve Boat Cruises on Lake Geneva
Greet the New Year by cruising on Lac Léman from Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, or Montreux from December 31 to January 1. Revelers can welcome the New Year in style by cruising on CGN Lake Geneva passenger boats with special Sylvester dinners, champagne, and music. Special New Year’s Eve cruises depart on Lac Léman from Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey-Marché, Montreux, and Le … [Read more...]
The Montreux Jazz Festival Music Concert Extravaganza on Lac Léman
The Montreux Jazz Festival held each July summer on the banks of Lake Geneva is one of the world’s best-known music festivals. Visitors can enjoy performances ranging from jazz to pop, and rock to salsa – many concerts are free. The Montreux Jazz Festival is an annual highlight on the international musical calendar. For two weeks in early July, the posh Swiss Lac Léman town … [Read more...]
Photos from the Désalpe des Quinquas Parade in Fribourg, Switzerland
The annual La Désalpe des Quinquas Cortège of Fribourg (Freiburg) canton takes place early in September. The photos below are from the Cortège Exceptionnel of September 2011. La Désalpe des Quiquas parade in Fribourg is a large parade that coincides with the désalpe / Almabtrieb when cows return from the Alps at the end of summer to spend winter on lower meadows. Cows … [Read more...]
Children and Family-Friendly Events at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Children are welcome at many events at the annual Montreux Jazz Festival while free child-care facilities are available for parents attending concerts and jazz clubs. Children are generally welcome at the annual Montreux Jazz Festival. Although the headline concerts are very much aimed at adults, children over 6 may attend many performances. Special workshops are held … [Read more...]
Photos of the Free Morges Tulip Festival in Switzerland
Each spring, Morges holds a Tulip Festival (Fête de la Tulipe) in a lovely shady park on the shores of Lake Geneva. Around 150,000 bulbs, including around 300 varieties of tulips, are planted in Morges’ Independence Park to provide one of the best spring photo opportunities in the Lac Léman region of Switzerland. The festival is held each year from mid-April to mid-May but as … [Read more...]
Enjoy Free Concerts at the Cully Jazz Festival
The annual spring-time Cully Jazz festival attracts international artists and Swiss musicians to the small town Cully on the shores of Lake Geneva in the Lavaux region between Lausanne and Montreux. Public transportation – go by train, return by bus – usually is the best way of getting to Cully Jazz concerts. Jazz is very popular in the Lac Léman region with several jazz … [Read more...]
Visit Santa Clause’s Mountaintop Workshop in Montreux, Switzerland
Each December children can visit Father Christmas by cog-wheel mountain train at his Swiss home on Rochers-de-Naye, an Alpine peak towering over Montreux and Lac Léman. NOTE: In 2020, the Montreux Christmas market and all related activities were canceled. Visiting Santa’s house at the top of Rochers-de-Naye is one of main attractions for children to the annual Marché de … [Read more...]
