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Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
Montreux, Switzerland · Fairmont · High Luxury
Eugène Jost's Belle Époque Montreux Palace opened March 19, 1906 on Lake Geneva after an 18-month build for Alexandre Emery and Ami Chessex. On July 20, 1936 diplomats signed the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits in the Salle des Fêtes. Vladimir Nabokov lived here for his last seventeen years; Richard Strauss composed his Four Last Songs while in residence. Listed as a Swiss cultural property of national importance, it remains a Montreux Jazz Festival address.
- 235 rooms
- Opened 1906
- Architect: Eugène Jost
About Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
- During both world wars the hotel served as a hospital sheltering wounded French and British Allied soldiers.
- A 1911 sports Pavillon gave daytime guests a tea room, skating rink, shooting range, and lawn tennis.
- The Bilderberg Meeting convened here in May 2019.
- Peter Ustinov filmed Lady L sequences on site; Luc Besson's Kiss of the Dragon also used the interiors.
- Emery and Chessex bought the Hotel du Cygne (1837) in 1881 and founded Le Montreux Palace & Cygne in 1895 before the Palace wing opened.
History
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace opened in 1906 on the shores of Lake Geneva in the Swiss Riviera. The Belle Époque palace is one of the finest examples of grand European hotel architecture, featuring ornate golden domes visible across the lake. Frédéric Chopin's great-grand nephew, Vladimir Horowitz, and countless other classical musicians performed in the hotel's concert rooms, reflecting Montreux's deep musical heritage and the nearby Montreux Jazz Festival. The hotel was taken over by Fairmont in 2006 following its acquisition of FRHI.
The setting
10 km from Rochers de Naye mountains.
Restaurants and bars
- Funky Claude's Bar — Bar
- Montreux Jazz Café — Café
- La Terrasse du Petit Palais — Restaurant
Experiences
- Fairmont Spa — 2,000 sqm retreat with indoor and outdoor pools, luxurious treatments and lake views.
- Funky Claude's Bar live music — Live concerts and DJ sets every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the iconic Funky Claude's Bar.
- Montreux Jazz Festival — In early July the festival offers world-class acts, jam sessions and DJ sets in Montreux and at the hotel.
- Chillon Castle and Lavaux vineyards — Easy access to Chillon Castle, Lavaux vineyards and more, as stated in the hotel's experiences text.
- Bike rental — Electric bikes at CHF 40.- for a half day or CHF 70.- for a full day; bikes and scooters free for local trips.
- Boutiques — Ground-floor boutiques near reception, including La Griffe Ausoni, Tourbillon, Guillaume Bichet chocolaterie and Swaine London.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
- Kids club
- EV charging
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
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