Vevey
A lake town where Chaplin spent his last twenty-five years, with a giant fork standing in the water off the quay.
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Charlie Chaplin left the United States in 1952 during the McCarthy period, was refused a re-entry permit, and settled at the Manoir de Ban above Vevey, where he lived until his death in 1977 - the house is now Chaplin's World, a museum combining the preserved rooms with studio-style sets. In the town, the Alimentarium, the food museum founded by Nestle, whose headquarters are here, stands on the quay, and an eight-metre steel fork planted in the lake in front of it began as a temporary anniversary piece in 1995 and stayed after a public campaign. The market square is one of the largest in Europe, and the Lavaux vineyard terraces begin at the eastern edge of town.
What you actually see
- Chaplin's house - the Manoir de Ban, where he lived from 1952 to 1977.
- The fork in the lake - eight metres of steel, kept after a public campaign.
- The Alimentarium - Nestle's food museum on the quay.
- A very large market square - among the biggest in Europe.
When to go
April to October. Two days.
Honest expectations
Chaplin's World is a paid attraction on the hill above town, needing a bus or taxi, and mixes museum with staged sets. The town is quiet and older in character than Montreux. Museums close on Mondays.
Nearby
The Lavaux terraces start east; Montreux and Chillon are along the shore.
What to pack for Vevey
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.