The Local Switzerland

Ten truly excellent reasons to visit Switzerland in 2019

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 16:44:00 +0100

From wonderful wine festivals to views to die for, here are ten amazing reasons to include Switzerland on your 2019 to-do list right now.

Nick Cave and Johnny Depp among headliners at 2018 Montreux Jazz Festival

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:47:17 +0200

Australian alternative rocker Nick Cave, Hollywood star Johnny Depp and punk legend Iggy Pop will be among the headliners at this year's Montreux Jazz Festival, organisers announced on Tuesday.

Elton John to play Montreux Jazz Festival as part of farewell tour

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 11:04:50 +0100

Pop legend Elton John is to include the Montreux Jazz Festival in the venues he plays during his farewell tour that starts this September.

Montreux throws hat in Olympic rings

Fri, 21 Oct 2016 14:00:55 +0200

Montreux is to put itself forward as the host city for the 2026 winter Olympics as part of a potential bid by the cantons of Valais and Vaud.

Joy as jazz giants return to Swiss town of Montreux

Sat, 02 Jul 2016 12:52:34 +0200

As saxophone supremo Charles Lloyd pushes out a cascade of soaring notes, jazz aficionados in Montreux sway in rapture.

Green Party councillor fined for not clearing up rubbish

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:21:09 +0100

A politician for Switzerland’s Green Party has learned the hard way that no good comes from harming the environment.

Montreux murder-suicide probed after deaths

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:16:38 +0100

Police in the canton of Vaud are investigating the deaths of a 26-year-old woman and her 25-year-old boyfriend in a Montreux apartment, where they lived, following an apparent domestic dispute.

Five reasons to visit Montreux — jazz aside

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:30:59 +0100

Montreux is famed for its summer jazz festival but expat resident Marianne Burkhardt says there are five great reasons to visit this Swiss town with its spectacular lake-meets-mountain scenery — in the winter.

Sun brings Montreux festivalgoers out in force

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 11:21:29 +0200

There were no dark clouds over Montreux’s annual Jazz Festival this year, which was played out under sunny skies in front of appreciative lakeside audiences.

Vaud police seek armed post office robber

Thu, 07 May 2015 12:05:27 +0200

Police are seeking witnesses after a lone gunman robbed the post office at the Montreux train station in the canton of Vaud on Wednesday.

Police track Montreux jewellery shop robbers

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:36:00 +0100

Vaud cantonal police on Thursday sought help from the public in tracking down three men suspected of armed robbery at a jewellery shop in Montreux.

Montreux Jazz Festival debuts live streaming

Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:04:00 +0200

Selected gigs by bands including Morcheeba and London Grammar will be live streamed over the internet from the Montreux Jazz Festival, which starts today.

Bitter words mark Syria peace talks opening

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 14:03:00 +0100

World powers urged Syria's warring sides to seize a "historic" opportunity as they gathered in Montreux in the canton of Vaud on Wednesday for a peace conference that kicked off with bitter exchanges.

Syrian envoys say Assad regime 'untouchable'

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:57:00 +0100

The future role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is a "red line" for the government delegation in peace talks, the foreign minister said Tuesday on the eve of their opening.

Six-year-old boy killed by Montreux school bus

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 00:11:00 +0200

An investigation is under way into the death on Thursday of a six-year-old boy who was run over by a school bus in the Lake Geneva town of Montreux after he disembarked from the vehicle.

Networking record set at Montreux media festival

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:17:00 +0200

The Festival of Media Global in Montreux has set a new world record for the most business cards collected in 24 hours.

Fire harms theatre used by Austrian empress

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:39:00 +0200

A fire has damaged a 19th century building housing the historic Alcazar theatre in Montreux for the second time in 30 years.

Swiss driver shot dead after high-speed chase

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:56:00 +0200

Police in Montreux shot dead a 45-year-old man in the early hours of Thursday morning after he stepped out of his car at a road block armed with a hunting rifle following a high-speed chase.

UNESCO digs Montreux jazz archive

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:54:00 +0200

Thousands of hours of jazz, blues and rock from the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival dating back 45 years could be awarded UNESCO protected status, organizers said on Tuesday.

Cell your soul: staying young at a Swiss jetset clinic

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:05:00 +0200

Whether you're a Russian oligarch's wife wanting to lose weight for your wedding or the leader of the world's Catholics looking for a little pick-me-up, there's a little place in Montreux that could be just what you need.