Set in a 17th-century winegrower’s house, the Montreux Museum traces the town’s transformation from a rural village into an international tourist resort. Objects, documents and old photographs showcase the region’s heritage.
Regional and local museums
Main highlights
- Ethnographic collection on the daily life of the region’s inhabitants in the 18th and 19th centuries
- Old photographs showing the urban and social evolution of Montreux since the 1860s
- Maison Visinand, a listed residence with vaulted cellars, a spiral staircase and exposed beams
Overview
The Montreux Museum was founded in 1874, making it one of the oldest regional museums in French-speaking Switzerland. Since 1979, it has occupied the Maison Visinand, a 17th-century winegrower’s house in the historic Les Planches district. It is run by a local association.
Spread over three floors, its ethnographic, historical and artistic collections tell the story of Montreux’s transformation. This farming and winegrowing community became a renowned health resort in the 19th century, attracting aristocrats and celebrities, before evolving into a cultural and tourist destination known worldwide.
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Things to See and Do
The first level depicts rural life in the 18th and 19th centuries : household utensils, farming and winemaking tools, and reconstructed interiors. These objects evoke winegrowing, livestock farming, crafts and fishing on Lake Geneva.
One floor is devoted to the rise of tourism from the second half of the 19th century, with engravings, Belle Époque posters and items from the grand hotels. A section presents famous figures associated with Montreux, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Freddie Mercury, including Vladimir Nabokov, Igor Stravinsky and Lord Byron, through documents and personal belongings.
The museum also holds a collection of old photographs documenting the town’s development. It hosts themed exhibitions on local heritage and offers tailored tours and workshops for schools.
Practical Information
Getting there : a 10-minute walk from Montreux SBB station, bus 201 or 204 (Les Planches or Collège stops), paid parking at the nearby Marché couvert.
Visit duration : about 1.5 hours for the permanent collections, longer if a temporary exhibition is on.
Visitors : individuals, groups (guided tours on request) and school classes. Narrow staircases make the museum only partially wheelchair accessible.
Visitor Tips
Volunteers with in-depth knowledge of local history are often on hand. Ask them your questions : they share anecdotes you won’t find on the information panels. If you’re interested in photography, set aside time for the photographic archives. Afterwards, the Les Planches district around the museum is perfect for a stroll through its narrow lanes.
Nearby Attractions
- Chillon Castle is a medieval fortress with well-preserved architecture, set on the shores of Lake Geneva.
- The Rochers de Naye, at 2,042 m, offer views over Lake Geneva and the Alps and can be reached by cogwheel train.
- The Chauderon Gorge, above Les Planches, can be explored along a shaded trail punctuated by steps.
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