AMA Burgundy & Provence: Geneva / Montreux

Geneva City Tour & Chillon Castle

Today was a long day - nine hours from start to finish - but it was a very good day. And you may be surprised to hear this, but you KNOW it was a good day when I tell you that it was never much warmer than the upper 50's and drizzled rain nearly all day. But nobody minded, and we enjoyed everything we did today, especially our visit to the 750-year old Chillon Castle, the most popular tourist spot in all of Switzerland! We gathered in the lobby at 8:30am and walked a very short distance to the bus depot where we split into two groups for our adventure. We began the day with a bus tour of the new city, which was highlighted by passing by so many of the international headquarters of several world organizations - like the International Red Cross. We had one photo stop where we saw the headquarters of the United Nations right across the street from the "Broken Chair Monument" - which is to protest international land mines. We then traveled about 20 minutes to the other side of Lake Geneva and began a walking tour of the Olde Towne of Geneva which was founded in Roman times. About 40 minutes after walking around and going inside the the St. Peter's Cathedral (which isn't a cathedral any longer because for the last several centuries it's a Protestant house of worship). Back on the bus for about an hour, including more than half of the drive alongside the panoramic Lake Geneva with the clouds hanging over the French Alps. We arrived in Montreux, a quaint, small town on the lake where we were free to visit any of the nearby restaurants. An hour later we made the short drive to Chillon Castle which was constructed over 750 years ago right on top of a rocky precipice on the lake. With only a narrow passage separating it from the French Alps on the other side it was an ideal location for the powerful Savoy family. Once we were finished with the more than hour-long tour of the castle we had the long journey back to Geneva and immediately went out to dinner with our pals Steve & Mary (whom we'd met in Iceland). Another big day tomorrow when we venture for the first time into France! Here are the photos from today's adventure.....

The International Red Cross / The United Nations HQ

Russian Orthodox Church / Museum of Arts & History

The "Broken Chair Monument" - note broken leg (to symbolize what land mines do)

Medieval City Gate Into Olde Towne Geneva

Streets of Olde Geneva

St. Peter's Cathedral - exterior

The massive - but stark - interior of the cathedral

The much more elaborately decorated chapel of the cathedral

Waterfront view for lunch - some of the most unique, and delicious French Onion Soup we've ever had!

The Chillon Castle

Approaching the entrance bridge to the castle

We explored all over the castle - up into the towers, all through the residence and through the fortifications.....a typical interior passage

The castle dungeon :O

A supply gate in the dungeon....so?? The castle was only attacked once, and the residing Savoy family were forced to flee. Using hidden passages they made their way to the dungeon and out this gate onto waiting small boats so that when the attackers broke into the castle - it was empty!