Local Expert Tours

Vevey is a town on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, in the canton of Vaud, about twenty minutes by train from Lausanne and a short distance from Montreux. It is a small place with a large reputation. It is home to the headquarters of Nestlé, one of the world's biggest food companies, which was founded here in the 1860s, and it is the setting of the Fête des Vignerons, a festival of wine growers held about once in a generation. It is also where Charlie Chaplin spent the last decades of his life, and the combination of food, wine, film and lakeside views gives the town an unusual range of stories to tell. Guided walking tours with local guides are a good way to bring these stories out.

A typical walking tour starts at or near the main square, the Grande Place, a broad open space by the lake that is used for markets, events and ceremonies. From there guides lead visitors along the lakefront promenade, where one of the town's curiosities stands in the water: a huge fork, planted in the lake as a reminder of the Alimentarium, the food museum founded by Nestlé. The quay is lined with plane trees and cafés, and in the water, swans and ducks gather. A statue of Chaplin, in the pose of his tramp character, stands near the shore, and photographs with it are a tradition. The old town behind the quay has narrow streets, small squares and old houses, with the church of Saint-Martin on a hill above, from which there is a view over the town and the lake toward the Alps of Savoy.

The tours explain the town's history and character. Vevey grew up as a market town and a port, where wine, grain and other goods from the surrounding region were traded. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it became a centre for foreign visitors, who came to enjoy the mild climate and the views, and writers and artists, including Russians and English, stayed here. Industry followed, with chocolate and food companies establishing themselves, and the town grew prosperous. A good guide will connect these threads, showing how the landscape, the vineyards of nearby Lavaux and the commercial history fit together.

Chaplin is an important theme. The comedian and filmmaker moved to Switzerland in 1952 and lived with his family at the Manoir de Ban, a house in the nearby village of Corsier-sur-Vevey, until his death in 1977. The house is now a museum, called Chaplin's World, with sets, costumes and films, and some tours include a stop or give advice on visiting. Guides also point out other places connected with his life in the area.

Tour formats, dates, languages and prices vary, and some tours run on fixed schedules while others are arranged on request, so check the Vevey tourist office or the operator's website before you go. Tours usually take around two hours and are on foot, with some gentle slopes and cobbles, so wear comfortable shoes. They suit first-time visitors, history and film enthusiasts and anyone who wants to understand a place beyond what is visible on the surface. Combine the walk with a visit to the market, which takes place on certain mornings, or a lunch by the lake.