Retirement Repose Along The Lake Riviera

Charlie Chaplin called this town his retirement home for the remaining twenty-five years of his life and it is commemorated with a number of statues to that affect. It enjoys that same lazy coastline lifestyle that its sister Clarens to the east enjoys. There are definitely less crowds here than you will find in Montreux. It is also considered the headquarters of Nestlé and where chocolate was first created for the mass market.

Flowers Along The Quai – Vevey, Switzerland

Getting There

A three mile walk northwest of the town of Clarens is the town of Vevey, Switzerland where you can relax and enjoy a slightly different view of the lake. On a beautiful morning this would be the way to go, with the exception of about a mile where the path turns inward and you must walk more along the road than the lake. However, one can also take a bus, train or ferry to reach this town.

Quai de Clarens – Leaving Our Hotel – Clarens, Switzerland

Lake Leman – CGN Lake Ferry – Clarens, Switzerland

Lake Leman – Ilse de Salagnon Harbor – Clarens, Switzerland

Lake Leman – Looking Toward Vevey – Clarens, Switzerland

For our return we took the CGN Ferry back to Clarens. While I would normally say it was a relaxing trip back, we had our grandson with us who was overdue for a nap, so we enjoyed a terrible-two meltdown instead!

CGN Ferry – Tickets For Two – Vevey, Switzerland

CGN Ferry – Vevey-Marché Stop – Vevey, Switzerland

Vevey The Town

The old town is a one or two block wide stretch along the lake’s coastline. Though there are still a few old Roman bridges that span the small creek that cuts through the town, there seems to be no evidence of the old fortifications that used to protect it.

City Hall – Municipal Building – Vevey, Switzerland

Nicolas Gogol Monument – Vevey, Switzerland

In the central part of town, the Saint Jean clock tower stands sentinel and offers a fountain as refreshment below it.

Saint Jean Clock Tower and Fountain – Vevey, Switzerland

One of many fountains – Vevey, Switzerland

Vevey Vieille Ville Fountain – Vevey, Switzerland

Dana Window Shopping – Vevey, Switzerland

There are numerous shops here and on the right day, the central square or Place du Marché, holds a marketplace where a whole host of goods are sold. Therefore you may not be able to rely on this as a parking lot and if driving look elsewhere.

The Jardin Doret or park, has public amenities, as well as a nice playground for small children who need to take a rest from all of the adult walking we like to do on vacation; so for some, a must stop.