Right, day eight! What an absolute belter of a day it’s been.
Our morning started high up in the hills over 1,000 meters above sea level. As we made our way down to 300 meters, our ears popped, the only real clue we had dropped so far, so quickly! We joined a magnificent elevated motorway that swept high above the shoreline, offering panoramic views across the whole of Lake Geneva.
High Culture & Rock Royalty in Montreux
We arrived in Montreux on the far banks of Lake Geneva. Parking can be tricky, but luck was on our side and we managed to score three hours of free parking in a blue-zone bay.
We took the dogs straight down to the main promenade, hands down the best, most beautiful promenade we’ve ever walked along. The town exudes pure opulence and luxury, yet feels completely warm and welcoming at the same time.
Walking past the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival venue, we made our way to the famous Freddie Mercury statue on the water's edge. Steven is a huge fan, and the statue is an absolute belter!
After some photos, we sat down for lunch, Caesar salads, chips, and drinks. Being Switzerland, lunch set us back 70 Swiss Francs, but enjoying it right by the water made it worth every penny. To top it off, the dogs had a lovely swim in Lake Geneva (catching the attention of everyone passing by, as usual), and we grabbed some Crème Brûlée and Caramelised Pecan ice creams for the walk back.
The Great Gruyère Cheese Debate
Before leaving England, we set a rule: try a local delicacy from every region we visit. Passing through the region, we picked up authentic local Gruyère cheese and garlic sausage for tea.
However, my Northern husband Steven took one bite of the Gruyère and declared he prefers Lancashire! In his words: "You can't beat Cheddar, Lancashire, or Primula for that matter!" (He also thought the local sausage was far too fiddly because of the skin). Still, washed down with a cold beer and sangria, we’re glad we gave it a go!
Toasting Brakes on the Jaun Pass
After a quick discussion on where to head next, we bypassed the main motorways and followed a scenic mountain route suggested by ChatGPT: the Jaun Pass (Passo del Jaun).
What a drive! The views coming down the pass were unbelievable. It was 31°C, yet right in front of us was a massive, glistening glacier that we couldn't take our eyes off. We even had a weird mountain shower where rain fell while the skies in front were bright and clear!
Pro Driving Tip: Keep your vehicle in low gear coming down mountain passes to avoid using your brakes too much! Our front wheels were black and our brakes were thoroughly toasted by the time we reached the bottom!
Settling in Kandersteg
We’ve parked up for the night in the stunning village of Kandersteg. We scored a great parking spot for 30 Swiss Francs (great value for Switzerland!) that keeps us covered through tomorrow afternoon.
Tomorrow on Day 9, we’re taking the ski gondola up to a lake at the top of the mountain, continuing across the Swiss Alps, and Steven might finally treat himself to a Swiss Army Knife!
Montreux • Lake Geneva • Freddie Mercury Statue • Swiss Road Trip • Jaun Pass • Gruyere Cheese • Kandersteg • Campervan Europe • Dog-Friendly Travel • Swiss Alps Driving
#SwissRoadTrip #VisitSwitzerland #Montreux #LakeGeneva #FreddieMercury #JaunPass #Kandersteg#VanLifeEurope #TravelWithDogs #AlpineDrive #SwissAlps #RoadTripEurope
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