Vevey

Charlie Chaplin settled at the Manoir de Ban above Vevey at the end of 1952, 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.

History

A pile-dwelling settlement stood here in the 2nd millennium BC, the Romans knew the town as Viviscus, and in the Middle Ages it was a stop on the Via Francigena. Nestlé was founded in Vevey in 1867, the Cailler chocolate factory had opened in 1819, and Daniel Peter developed milk chocolate here in 1875 (Wikipedia, Vevey).

What you'll find

• 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.

Things to know

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.

Key facts