MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET IN SWITZERLAND BY LAKE GENEVA IS MAGICAL! TAKE YOUR FAMILY THERE NEXT DECEMBER 2014! MAGIC IS GUARANTEED! TH

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

SWISS CHRISTMAS MARKETS RULE!

The world famous Christmas market in Montreux best exemplifies Yuletide in Switzerland!

Christmas markets are a mostly Germanic and eastern European tradition and even the traditional Christmas tree was not a Dickensian invention but introduced into England by Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. The German prince hankered for his childhood Christmas tree decorated by him and brother Prince Ernst and recreated one for his children in England.

In 1848 The London Illustrated News published pictures of the Royal Family in Windsor Castle next to their gaily decorated tree. The aristocracy and middle classes were enamoured and quickly emulated this new fangled custom. This was followed by the novel notion of gift giving to children and exchanging presents between adults.

A mere 2 hours train ride from German-speaking Zurich is French-speaking Montreux, home to another celebrated Christmas market. Located in the great outdoors by Lake Geneva (or Lake Leman or Lake Lausanne depending on who you ask!), Montreux Tourist Office will have you know the region enjoys a mild, Mediterranean type micro-climate that allows palm trees to grow, hence their moniker Swiss Riviera.

Micro or maxi-climate, I failed to tell the difference and wore the same fur coat as I did in Zurich. Montreux’s Christmas market lines the bank of Lake Geneva (Geneva is an hour by train) and opens at 11 am till 8 pm which is the same as Zurich.

The setting is more romantic since the shimmery waters form a picturesque, postcard perfect backdrop.

“Since tourism started over a century ago, Montreux was viewed as a summer resort and winter was very quiet. So we decided to do something about it,” said Yves Cornaro, director of Montreux Noel which oversees the Christmas market. “We visited the Christmas markets in Austria and Germany and saw how successful they were so we created our own. That was 19 years ago and now we have around 150 illuminated chalets by lakeside and also lining the main road. Several restaurants, cafes and an indoor market are built only for the market.”

Sixty percent of all goods are locally made or produced in Switzerland, like sweets, chocolates, cheeses, handicrafts, clothes, accessories and glassworks. “Asian tourists may find a few stalls selling things from their part of the world but to us locals, these are exotic goods so there is a good mix.”

Those with time should take the train to visit Santa Claus House inside a grotto perched atop the 2,024 metre atop Rochers de Naye with a panoramic view of Montreux. The kids will love telling Santa what they want for Christmas and pose for photos.

On the way down, visit the Christmas Village (not to be confused with market!) at Caux filled with traditional buildings inside the forest and glade.

Swiss Christmas marts are ideal and idyllic getaways!

 SWISS CHRISTMAS MARKETS START ON 25 NOVEMBER AND ENDS ON CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY!

 THESE LOOK LIKE LOUSY, RUSTY, UNWANTED AND UNLOVED OLD PADLOCKS TO BE THROWN AWAY...BUT THESE ARE CHOCOLATES! AMAZING! I ALMOST FAINTED FROM SURPRISE!  IMAGINE EATING THESE PADLOCKS IN PUBLIC AND IN FRONT OF YOUR FAMILY! 

 THESE RUSTY PLIERS ARE ALSO MADE ENTIRE OF 100% CHOCOLATE! PRETEND YOU ARE TRYING TO UNSCREW SOMETHING AND FAIL SO YOU THROW A TANTRUM AND ANNOUNCE TO YOUR FAMILY YOU WILL EAT THE PLIER INSTEAD IN ANGER! AND THEN DO SO AS YOUR PARENTS PASS OUT!

 THESE ARE THE CHOCOLATE MAKERS! THEY MAKE CHOCOLATES THAT RESEMBLE REAL STUFF!

 THE DIRECTOR OF MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET---YVES CORNARO

 MULLED WINE IS THE ANSWER

 INSIDE A CAFE WARM AND COSY

 LIKE THE CEILING

 HERE IS HOW THE NATIVES KEEP WARM

 COSY

 PURPOSE BUILT CHALET

 HAWKER STALL SWISS STYLE

 NICE

 MY GUIDE AND YVES CORNARO PLUS SANTA CLAUS!

 KEE HUA CHEE IS ALL WARM, TOASTY AND FURRY WITH YVES CORNARO, FOUNDER OF MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET SOME 19 YEARS AGO!

 BLING THINGS

 WARM DRINKS

 CHOCS A BLOCK!

 MERRY XMAS 2014!

 YVES CORNARO

 CHOCS GALORE

 YUMMY

 WHICH TO BUY

 BUY ALL

 SANTA CLAUS

 WHITE SANTA

 TOO DELICIOUS

 TEMPTING!

 SWEET HEAVEN

 EDIBLES ALL

 EYE CANDIES

 SMURFS CAME AVISITING

 RESIN WOODLAND CREATURES

 CUTE

 FUNKY DECOR

 LOOKS LIKE WULU

 THESE ARE HAND CARVED WOODEN CONTAINERS

 CARVED IN SWITZERLAND

 PRECIOUS SOUVENIR

 HAND BLOWN GLASS

 GORGEOUS

 SWISS TOP GLASS BLOWER SHOWS HOW IT IS DONE

 FIRE IS NEEDED

 SO IS SKILL

 CAREFUL

 I WOULD NOT DARE DO THIS

 PLAYING WITH FIRE

 WOW

 FANCY

 DEXTERITY!

 FLAMING TALENT

 HERE WE GO AGAIN

 TAKING SHAPE

 ALMOST THERE

 KEE HUA CHEE AND GLASS BLOWER

 HE GAVE ME THE GLASS

 KEEPING WARM

 CUTE

 CANDLES

 CANDLES

 NICE

 COOL

 RM 25 EACH

 I LOVE THESE BOOKMARKS!

 BRILLIANT

 BOOKMARKS TO MARK YOUR LIFE

 THEY LOOK LIKE TREASURES!

 SUPER COOL BOOK MARKS!

 HE MAKES THEM HIMSELF!

 ALL HIS HANDIWORK

 DRAGON AND BUDDHA FOR THE CHINESE

 BUDDHISTS LOVE THESE BOOK MARKS

 BUY THEM BY THE DOZEN AND DECORATE YOUR BOOKS!

 PERFECT FOR YOUR LIBRARY

 I BOUGHT 20!

 I HAD DINNER HERE

 THE TRADITIONAL WAY TO COOK CHESTNUTS!

 WINE HOLDERS CAN YOU BELIEVE?

 SO COOL

 WINE LOVERS DROOL!

 FANCY WINE HOLDERS

 HAVE CAR WILL HOLD WINE

 FOR GOLFERS

 FOR GARDENERS

 NOT EXPENSIVE

 COOL

 VINTAGE CAR FOR VINTAGE WINE

 TOUCH THEM

 PUT EACH IN A MICRO WAVE OVEN AND THEY KEEP YOU WARM FOR 3 HOURS!

 FREDDIE MERCURY DIED HERE IN HIS BELOVED MONTREUX

 WE LOVE YOU FREDDIE

 LIFESIZED FOR SOMEONE LARGER THAN LIFE

 FREDDIE IS IT!

 NICE LIGHTS

 LIGHTS FLOAT WITH SWAN

 BACK TO FREDDIE MERCURY

 SEE THE FLOWERS THAT CONTINUE TO PILE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH

 IN EVERLASTING MEMORY

 I LOVE THE FERRIS WHEEL

 HOT PHONE BOX

 IN HONOUR OF FOUNDER OF MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

 THAT'S THE FOUNDER OF MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

 NICE TREE

 BIG WHEEL KEEPS TURNING

 INDOOR MARKET

 SWISS MEN CAN BE VERY VERY TALL...

 HI THERE

 SANTARINAS DANCED FOR ME

 KEE HUA CHEE ALMOST HAD A HEAT STROKE

 BLUE SANTA

 INDOOR MARKET

 ST BERNARD

 SAINT KEE AND SAINT BERNARD

 2 SAINTS

 YULETIDE MOOD

 STARRY STARRY NIGHT

 CHESTNUTS BEING ROASTSED

 A RESTAURANT NOT A SPACE SHIP

 INSIDE MY RESTAURANT SERVINGF SWISS FONDUE

 DARLING DOGGIE

 I ATE 2 BOWLS OF THIS DELICIOUS  SOUP!

 ALL 3 SO ADORABLE

 EVERYONE LOVES A DOG

MERINGUE!