Merck opened its Biotech Development Center in Corsier-sur-Vevey Pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA (Merck) opened its Biotech Development Center in Corsier-sur-Vevey for research and manufacturing of novel medicines aimed at addressing unmet medical needs The construction of the facility began in January 2020 The project involved an investment of €250m ($275.5m) Around 250 employees are currently engaged in the research and development (R&D) activities in the facility The facility is situated near the company’s existing biotech commercial manufacturing centre in Corsier-sur-Vevey It is an integral part of a campus in the centre of western Switzerland a hub for various innovation and life science business centres Merck’s state-of-the-art facility covers an expansive area of approximately 16,000m² (172,222ft²) It is used to produce and develop active ingredients required for clinical trials The development space features two platforms within a flexible lab setup The centre features cutting-edge digital and technological solutions for continuous manufacturing and laboratory automation while advanced AI and robotics streamline workflows The laboratory spaces are equipped with mobile equipment to facilitate seamless integration across various sections The facility introduced water for injection (WFI) production via a membrane process It also features level 2 (L2) laboratories and touchscreens for intelligent management systems Various augmented reality solutions are deployed allowing digital project models to be overlaid with the physical environment to enhance the facility’s capabilities The building features various strategic areas designed for meetings among departments It has communal spaces such as bleachers and a cafe-restaurant for meetings or work-related activities Atriums are available to visually connect across all levels The development approach focused on designing flexible offices that adapt to various activities promoting mobility and giving users control over the space It provides employees with diverse workspaces and decision-making power over office layout while also incorporating collaborative spaces within the flexlab zones Sustainable features such as efficient energy management and recycling systems are installed at the centre The facility is accredited with the Minergie label a Swiss standard that assesses the energy efficiency of buildings the building has achieved certification for Building Information Modelling (BIM) at level 4 the building adheres to the Swiss thermal regulation framework and features an on-site photovoltaic production plant installed over an area of 500m² The facility is fitted with Merck’s solar shading products eyrise® for dynamic liquid crystal windows to optimise the quality of natural light and minimise energy expenditure has been installed for instantaneous solar shading on the facade has been utilised for transparent privacy glazing within the interior spaces The design is intended to allow ample natural light to enter the building Merck operates in nine locations across Switzerland from where it carries out business activities in the healthcare life sciences and performance materials sectors The company has six manufacturing sites in the country dedicated to its healthcare and life science businesses The company’s Aubonne and Corsier-sur-Vevey manufacturing sites are engaged in manufacturing biotech medicines. Operations at the Aubonne facility include the production of drug substances in the field of fertility Merck’s Corsier-sur-Vevey facility is involved in drug substance process development and manufacturing of drug substances to treat oncology Schaffhausen and Altdorf facilities specialise in the manufacture and development of pharmaceutical raw materials drug delivery compounds and active pharmaceutical ingredients in the life sciences field served as the main contractor of the facility whereas Myah was tasked with the main interior fit-out contractor job Metal construction company SOTTAS was responsible for the facade work of the facility BG Ingenieurs conseils and Amstein + Walthert Oxy Ingenierie and Ipem were involved in the various construction works of the facility and Tecta 73 were some of the other contractors involved in the project Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network The award grants the winner with a value ranging from a minimum of CHF10,000 (co-publishing) to a maximum of CHF20,000 (exclusive publisher) to produce a unique photography book The Images Vevey Book Award is a grant that supports the creation of a book project which showcases an optimal and original balance between publication format and photographic content It provides a financial contribution that aims to encourage artists to take risks and to innovate in order for them to develop a suitable sophisticated publication format for their photography project This is also when the Grand Prix Images Vevey is presented alongside a CHF40,000 prize that enables one artist to develop a new photography project over the course of a year and present it at the following Biennale Images Vevey The competition is open to professional artists and photographers as well as those in training who are currently working on a book project with no age limitations or regional restrictions and with complete freedom of choice over subject and genre.Applicants must submit 10 pictures of the photographic series images of the book project (example: page spreads of the layout a statement of intent written in English (600 characters maximum) and a general text presenting the project in detail Participants are allowed to submit one project for the Grand Prix Images Vevey while simultaneously applying for the Images Vevey Book Award as long as they comply with the respective regulations Only one project per participant is allowed and will be selected for realization The book must be produced in consultation with Images Vevey as publisher or co-publisher Images Vevey serves as an ecosystem dedicated to supporting various forms of artistic creation through four core activities: L’Appartement – Espace Images Vevey a permanent gallery for contemporary photography; the Grand Prix Images Vevey one of Europe’s most long-standing grants for photography projects; the Éditions Images Vevey publishing house; and Images Vevey has proposed site-specific outdoor and indoor photographic installations in Vevey: on its streets and facades has set itself apart from other festivals with its original concept offering a singular apprehension of the visual arts by mixing outdoor and indoor projects It is also unique for embracing all forms of display images by Tamara Janes & Natalia Funariu are transformed into curtains for an educational project dedicated to young audiences the permanent exhibition space of the Images Vevey Foundation and those by Marion Zivera are transformed into banners the photographs are displayed on building facades printed on tarpaulins measuring over 3000 square feet Candida Höfer and Daido Moriyama’s images can be seen on street corners as can Paul Graham’s “Sightless” series in a garden whose human-sized prints recreate the hustle and bustle of the Times Square crowds where they were captured over 20 years ago the peaceful town of Vevey transforms itself into a visual arts mecca that impresses… But the Biennale is much more than a playful apprehension of the visual arts and its big names It also features many new discoveries by contemporary artists And under the heading “(dis)connected between past and future” a panorama of the variety of contemporary artistic practices takes shape The festival also offers a critical exploration of our times.  Swiss artist Romain Mader draws our attention to the power of algorithms he followed the recommendations of algorithms suggesting clothes on his computer T-shirts and other footwear online that appeared on his screen then improvised as a model in front of the lens inspired by the TikTok videos and those of the models on the online sales sites presenting the clothes,” he explains Behind the humor and ridiculousness of certain garments Romain Mader makes us aware of the influence that algorithms insidiously exert on our way of consuming.  just like Jack Latham’s series on click farms on the other side of the world Their actions aim to influence algorithms to influence our political opinions or make us popular The British artist investigated this topic by infiltrating these clandestine “workshops” in Asia the installation combines documentary footage shot in Vietnam and Hong Kong showing what goes on behind the scenes of the race for followers and likes with the full-scale layout of these places where dozens of cell phones are plugged in to validate the clicks made by human beings.  Oliver Frank Chanarin focuses on the robots in the warehouses of e-commerce sites His installation “A Perfect Sentence” combines traditional photographic work – silver portraits taken during a road trip in post-Brexit England – with the industrial aesthetics of factories altering the exhibition’s scenography in front of the viewers “I play on the contrast between human fragility and the heaviness and mechanical aspect of robots,” explains Oliver Frank Chanarin Living in the 21st century also means living in the age of artificial intelligence which has been gaining ground in the world of images and provoking much debate over the past two years Of the 50 projects at this year’s Biennale at least six are based on text-based image generators considering that there’s nothing more intrinsically human personal and intimate than the social use of photography isn’t photography the famous “it has been” theorized by Roland Barthes in his book Camera lucida Maisie Cousins (UK) and Maria Mavropoulou (Greece) have each achieved the unthinkable: inventing souvenir photos Taking up the codes of souvenir photography the former prints his images in polaroid format the latter in a format close to 10 x 15 cm (standard family album print) As for Maria Mavropoulou’s large-format works (to be seen outdoors) they highlight the imperfections of AI-generated images None of these artists seeks to lure the viewer rather they invite us to reflect on this evolution in size: these images are not the fruit of the vision of the human eye – and therefore of lived experience – but the result of calculations and probabilities.  “(dis)connected between past and future”, 9th Images Vevey Biennial of Visual Arts The catalog is published by Images Vevey Editions Read More: Open-eyed: The Festival Images Vevey Don’t miss the latest photographic news, subscribe to Blind’s newsletter. You’re getting blind.Don’t miss the best of visual arts Subscribe for $7 per month or $84 $70 per year Boasting trippy trees and fluorescent fungi the Swiss biennale returns with around 50 photography-based projects centred on the topic (dis)connected Pouting over the heads of passersby in the chocolate box streets of Swiss town Vevey is Daido Moriyama’s Pretty Woman The iconic image by the pioneer of Japanese street photography signals the opening of the eighth cycle of the Images Vevey photo festival bringing a slice of Tokyo cool to this elegant lakeside town Daido Moriyama’s Pretty Woman on the facade of the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes in Vevey For three weeks in September photography transforms the town’s spaces It makes an exhibition space of even the most unlikely areas Indian photographer Gauri Gill’s works are exhibited as part of an outdoor installation Photographs printed on fabric sheets hang from the trees lining the promenade displaying the unsettling self-portraits of Marion Zivera in her exploration of body image using AI Wooden structures that give the feel of a little village to meander through show Gauri Gill’s scenes of a community of traditional Indian mask makers redefining their art in a modern context A forest of fake trees flourishes on a grassy patch in the town square – this intriguing series by the duo Kaya & Blank depicts the trend for disguising mobile phone masts or cellular network antennae as common vegetation across the US Shortly after moving to LA the Turkish German duo stumbled upon an artificial tree disguising a cellular network antenna They have photographed this trend in nearly 1,000 locations across the US The series depicts various fake trees modelled after each region’s natural species luminous mushrooms lure you into an underground bunker the depths are lit up by a dazzling series on fungi by Phyllis Ma The Chinese American artist has had a fascination for mushrooms and an admiration for their versatility since visiting a farm where she discovered they were being cultivated under blue light She uses her own vivid lighting and the inspiration of oriental floral arrangements to stage her sets spotlighting this curious organism that plays a critical role in our ecosystem Chinese American artist Phyllis Ma’s fungi photography is on display during the festival An image from Phyllis Ma’s series Mushrooms and Friends The project emphasises the significance of mushrooms in an increasingly diverse context Each project featured in the festival plays around this year’s theme (dis)connected: between the human and natural world; the past present and future; memory and fact; or the intersection between humanity and technology Romain Mader takes a witty approach towards how we are manipulated by social media algorithms asking the question: “what would happen if we let algorithms dress us?” In a series of self portraits Mader wears items recommended to him by algorithms prompted by his browsing patterns The often ludicrous results poke fun at the marketing tools used to encourage our purchasing habits but he makes a serious point in reminding us to trust our instincts and not the machine The clothes worn for the photos in Romain Mader’s series Get the Look were recommendations from online boutiques influenced by his browsing activity Vevey is also the home to the wonderful Swiss Camera Museum which presents a history of photography dating back over a century It provides an appropriate venue to host a retrospective of the remarkable career of Life Magazine photographer Philippe Halsman His archives and personal belongings have been meticulously arranged and photographed in a striking series of still lifes by Henry Leutwyler Marilyn Monroe is pinned into a skirt belonging to Philippe Halsman’s daughter ahead of a shoot The skirt remains in the collection of artefacts from Halsman’s career A box of Halsman’s chinagraph pencils used for marking photographic prints and negatives This year the Prix du Livre has been granted to Indian photographer Debsuddha for his tender and intimate portrait of the lives of his beloved aunts Gayatri and Swati the sisters created a life of music and poetry in their home in Kolkata away from prying eyes Taking an atmospheric chiaroscuro approach Debsuddha tells the story of their beautiful An image from the series Crossroads by Prix du Livre award winner The project is a portrait of the photographer’s aunts who were born with albinism and live their lives indoors in Kolkata The sisters have lived in seclusion in the 19th-century house where they grew up Fiona Shields attended Images Vevey at their invitation The international photography award Grand Prix Images Vevey offers a CHF40,000 grant and winning projects are then exhibited at the Biennale Images Vevey the following year Open to artists and photographers around the world the grant aims to support original creation and is awarded every two years This CHF40,000 prize enables one artist to develop a new photography project over the course of a year and present it at the following Biennale Images Vevey This is also when the Images Vevey Book Award is presented alongside various other grants representing a total of over CHF100,000 of financial support for creative projects The competition is open to professional artists and photographers as well as those in training It represents a unique support for contemporary creation with complete freedom of choice over subject and genre Applicants must submit 10 images from an ongoing photographic project or description of a work in progress The images are either relate to the project or are representative of the artist’s style If none of the ten pictures relate to the project being submitted entrants should include a brief text explaining their selection submissions must include a statement of intent written in English (600 characters maximum) and a general text presenting the project in detail a jury of art professionals selects the winning project which will be carried out within one year and showcased at the following Festival Images This prize grants the laureate the indivisible sum of CHF40,000 for the development achievement and presentation of a new photography project at the next Biennale Images Vevey in 2026 The total amount will be split between CHF30,000 granted to the laureate in three installments for the development and achievement of a project while CHF10,000 will be managed by Images Vevey for the creation and promotion of the project's exhibition at the biennial Two of Nestlé’s best-selling baby food brands in low- and middle-income countries – Cerelac infant cereals and Nido growing-up milks – contain high levels of added sugar while such Nestlé products have no added sugar in Switzerland The company aggressively promotes these products as healthy and key to supporting young children’s development, in its main markets in Africa But exposure to sweetened foods early in life can create a life-long preference for sugary products increasing the risk of developing obesity and numerous related health issues such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease This is why the World Health Organization bans the addition of sugar to baby food Our investigation sparked a wave of indignation around the world and prompted Indian, Bangladeshi and Nigerian authorities to launch investigations, while calls for a boycott have increased on social networks. In June, Public Eye and IBFAN called on the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs to end these unethical business practices which also damage Switzerland’s reputation Nestlé still hides behind compliance with current regulations The multinational highlights its efforts to gradually reduce sugar in its products as well as the introduction of alternatives with no added sugar in certain markets these half-measures are inadequate and perpetuate a double standard with devastating consequences for public health.  Pictures from Vevey can be downloaded here Oliver Classen, Spokesperson, +41 76 334 42 25, oliver.classen@publiceye.ch Laurent Gaberell, Agriculture and Food Expert, +41 78 204 50 60, laurent.gaberell@publiceye.ch Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Switzerland A colourful celebration marking the end of harvest time and the beginning of winter festivities is a cherished tradition widely celebrated all over Switzerland The picturesque villages of Vevey and Sursee and the regions of Ajoie and Porrentruy are especially famous for their St which offer a blend of historical traditions and modern festivities making it a unique experience for visitors Various restaurants in the region offer special St featuring seasonal dishes that highlight local culinary traditions One of the main attractions of the Martinstag is the Gansabhauet This unique tradition is held annually on November 11 attempt to sever the neck of a dead goose with a blunt saber while blindfolded and dressed in a red cloak and golden mask The event draws around 3,000 spectators to the town square where participants take turns striking the goose and children enjoy various traditional games The Gansabhauet concludes with a lantern parade and festive meals featuring goose dishes The origins of this tradition are thought to date back to the late Middle Ages Martin's Market in Porrentruy is a long-standing tradition held annually in November Visitors can explore stalls brimming with local crafts The festival is an excellent opportunity to see the display of local livestock and taste authentic Swiss dishes such as fondue and saucisse aux choux (a sausage made with fatty pork and cabbage) The market atmosphere is described as intimate and authentic allowing visitors to experience the traditional charm of St it was a gathering where locals sold their goods—a tradition that continues today The 553rd edition of the Foire de la Saint-Martin adopts the theme "Le Poids du Foin," celebrating the inauguration of the Poids du Foin building a symbol of the connection between the city and the countryside spiced honey cakes typically infused with rum) continues to be a staple treat at the fair Saint Martin of Tours was a 4th-century Roman soldier who became a revered Christian bishop known for his acts of compassion and humility One of the most famous stories associated with him is when he cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar Saint Martin is celebrated in many parts of Europe where he is honored as the patron saint of soldiers making it a fitting occasion for traditional fairs Martin Festival in Switzerland is a vibrant celebration that brings together history From the bustling markets of Porrentruy to the traditional feasts in local restaurants the festival offers a rich experience for visitors It is an opportunity to immerse oneself in the authentic charm of Swiss traditions making it a memorable event for all who attend Sursee Vevey Ajoie PorrentruySurseeVevey Ajoie PorrentruyLast updated: September 8, 2024Authors: People interested ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelA Cloud Of Sweetness: Vevey, SwitzerlandByMargie Goldsmith Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 06:00am EDTShareSaveCommentThis article is more than 2 years old.Paddleboat in Vevey on Lac Léman which Americans call Lake Geneva mesmerized by the Swiss Alps on one side and the terraced vineyards of Lavaux on the other Vevey, one of Switzerland’s most charming towns, is in the Canton of Vaud just ten miles from Lausanne and 40 minutes by train from Geneva We spend the morning walking the cobblestone streets of Old Town you can just about touch the buildings on either side We peruse the menus of restaurants ranging from Swiss and Italian to Moroccan we are constantly thinking of chocolate and cheese We walk along Vevey’s Promenade where swans float on the lake and boats pass by We stroll past gum trees and flowers and statues dotting the concrete boardwalk A 24 foot-high stainless steel fork sticks straight up out of the water and I look at the plaque; it’s not by sculptor Claes Oldenburg The fork was designed in 1995 to commemorate the Alimentarian Food Museum’s 10th Anniversary It was also created to reflect the serenity of Lac Léman This 225-square-mile lake is known as Lac Léman to the Swiss On the quay is a bronze statue of Charlie Chaplin who was blacklisted in America and lived in Manoir de Ban in Corsier-sur-Vevey for 25 years His former home has become “Chaplin’s World,” an attraction where visitors discover the Little Tramp through film a 12th Century fortress which appears to float on the surface of the lake Chillon was built on a rocky islet as natural protection and a strategic location to control movement between Europe’s north and south The site has been occupied since the Bronze Age and the castle has been restored in its entirety Deboarding the boat at Castle Chillon in the Canton of Vaud We deboard and walk along the lake to the castle entrance Inside are 46 different rooms including the gatehouse My favorite is the Coat of Arms Hall where lining every wall are the different Coats of Arms of the rulers who lived in the castle from 1536 to 1733 but you can still see many details and notice how the visual design changed slightly with each new sovereign Right now, I’m ready for a massage. My two friends are staying close by and I’m at the Grand Hotel du Lac whose lobby is a warren of cozy nooks with plush armchairs There are two small bars and both an indoor and outdoor restaurant One of many antiques at the Grand Hotel du Lac The elegant hotel was built in 1868 and still retains some of its original fixtures and everywhere are eclectic antiques from French to English to Moroccan but to add ensuites for each accommodation including the Tower Room at the top of the building and the 1,292-square-foot palatial Suite Léman with jaw-dropping views of Lake Léman and the Alps Living area of the Lac Leman suite at Grand Hotel du Lac Relaxation area at the spa at Grand Hotel du Lac I love that you can go down to the spa in just your robe and slippers I am so relaxed that I sleep through most of the treatment though I vaguely remember a facial and my feet being massaged I am in a trance when she gently wakes me and leads me to the relaxation room for a tray of water and a note on which she has drawn a heart and written: It was a great pleasure for me to pamper you I hope to have transported you on a little cloud of sweetness I wish you an excellent end of stay with us and I hope to see you very soon An apres-spa treat at the Grand Hotel du Lac The perfect way to describe not only the hotel Close up of Foie Gras at restaurant of Grand Hotel du Lac Tonight, my friends and I dine in the Grand Hotel du Lac’s one Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Saisons a pianist sings and plays just loud enough to hear I choose foie gras de Canard followed by perch (the signature dish of Vevey) and then a selection of cheeses Selection of cheeses at restaurant of Grand Hotel du Lac The waiter explains each cheese and says to make sure to eat from right to left One of my friends chooses the Coffee Crème brûlée with rasberry Coffee Creme Brulee with strawberry tartare in the restaurant at Grand Hotel du Lac View from a terrace of the Grand Hotel du Lac overlooking Lac Leman Except for us, the pool at Hotel des Trois Couronnes is empty and the water is bathtub warm. After, we go to their room, whose terrace is the size of a large living room with a perfect view of the lake and do yoga in the morning sun, staring out at the glittering lake. I return to my hotel for breakfast, a huge buffet selection of fruits, nuts, cheeses, pastries, breads, smoked salmon, sausages, bacon, eggs (anyway you want them), and coffee. (I chose cappuccino with chocolate sprinkled on top). Regrouped, we head to the town’s main square for our vineyard adventure. Some walk or bike the vineyard trail, but the most fun and relaxing way to go is by the miniature green and white tourist train. Panoramic train stopping along the vineyards of Lavaux. The little train looks as though it’s right out of Disneyland, but it’s the ideal way to see endless panoramic views of the vineyards, the lake, and the mountains beyond. We start out on the streets of Vevey and are soon chugging up the hills and winding around the many terraces. We make plenty of stops including to sample the local white wine, St Saphorin (delicious). When we return to Vevey, we pick up a bottle of the wine and sit on my friends’ gigantic terrace at Hotel des Trois Couronnes, taking in our final view of the Promenade, the lake, and the majestic Alps. It’s hard to believe we’re going back home tomorrow. None of us want to leave this cloud of sweetness. the world’s largest producer of packaged food just rolled out a new protein shot drink that it says will help people looking to lose weight manage their hunger sparked by the popularity of GLP-1 treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy GLP-1 is a gut hormone that regulates blood sugar and reduces appetite and Zepbound all work by mimicking this hormone The investment bank also expects the adoption of these treatments to reach about 31.5 million people in the U.S. consists of high-protein and low-calorie pizzas creating a new opportunity for food companies 05/04/2025 By The spring narcissus bloom in Switzerland’s riviera region a star tourist attraction of the Belle Epoque – the 30 to 40 years before the war in 1914 – was described as the “snow of May” by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms The book is about two lovers who reunite in Switzerland to escape the war The fields of white flowers allude to peace While the flower bloom is not as plentiful as it once was – the effects of farming farm chemicals and urbanisation – it remains a spectacle And the small window where the hillsides turn white with narcissus (often referred to in English as a white daffodil) is approaching once more One of the best places to see these stunning flowers is at Les Pleiades above Vevey. The region takes the flower very seriously. There is an association for the preservation of the narcissus, the Association pour la sauvegarde et la promotion des narcisses de la Riviera The name of this flower comes from the narcissistic youth of Greek mythology, Narkissos This poisonous plant can be used to make medicine for whooping cough, colds It is also sometimes used in medications to treat wounds These photographs were taken in May 2015 at Les Pleiades in the communes of Blonay and St-Légier near Vevey and Montreux, Switzerland. Another option is to catch the rack and pinion train from Blonay to Les Pleiades. From the final stop you can join the circuit shown in the map above and return by train. You will find train information here The flowers appear in late April/early May. Although, this year (2024) they are behind schedule and are largely yet to bloom. The webcam at the highest train stop gives an up to date view Guided tours are organised by the Association Narcisses Riviera For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter Filed Under: Activity guides, Editor's Choice, Environment By subscribing you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy Previous Newsletters Copyright © Le News Sàrl 2014-2022 / Company number: CH-550.1.129.786-5 / VAT number: CHE-193.843.357 TVA By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy Tragic death in Vevey VD: A 16-year-old was trapped and killed by the sliding door of a snack store early on Saturday morning A sliding door has killed a 16-year-old in Vevey VD: As the cantonal police of Vaud confirmed to "24 Heures " The teenager was discovered lifeless in the sliding door of a sandwich store on Avenue Paul-Cérésole at around 4 am A neighbor was woken up by half a dozen emergency vehicles at around 6 a.m As well as a white tent that prevented us from seeing what was going on," the woman told "24 Heures" The cantonal police suspect that the teenager wanted to break into the store Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times the Biennale Images Vevey has become the most significant biennial exhibition of visual arts in Switzerland and an international authority for contemporary photography visitors and media from all over the world together around a unique concept: Whether indoors or outdoors all the artists’ installations are custom-made and enhance the features of the Swiss Riviera The Biennale returns for three weeks with around 50 new projects and expects to welcome more than 60,000 visitors This year’s topic (dis)connected focuses on a contemporary conundrum of when unavoidable nostalgia meets inquisitiveness about an unpredictable future The theme explores one of the major issues of our time – the great divide created by digital technologies between past and present The projects presented aim to create links between a certain nostalgia for the past and curiosity about an uncertain future some fifty national and international photographic projects will be presented playing on the feelings of connection and disconnection between tangible reality and digital fantasy artistic proposals play on the feeling of connection and disconnection between tangible reality and digital fantasy Among the exhibited artists are Farah Al Qasimi the Biennial is thinking big with a very fitting monumental custom-made installation created in collaboration with the photographer Paul Graham for Times Square one of the world’s most famous and vibrant neighbourhoods Images Vevey has gained worldwide recognition for its site-specific installation art and collaborating closely with Switzerland Tourism and Montreux-Riviera Tourism has reserved some of Times Square’s giant billboards for one week from 13 May 2024 Showing photographer Paul Graham’s Sightless series in Times Square highlights one of Images Vevey’s distinctive hallmarks: the perfect match between artwork and its venue The Sightless series of portraits were taken twenty years ago in Times Square – 42nd Street It presents people walking through the city with their eyes momentarily closed long before smartphones monopolised our undivided attention Images Vevey has seized this opportunity to put these passers-by back in their original setting before showcasing them in Vevey’s public spaces during this September’s Biennial This idea is in sync with the subject chosen for the 2024 Images Vevey Visual Arts Biennial as (dis)connected explores the unprecedented gap digital technologies have created between the past The rapid development of artificial intelligence is affecting everyone and all aspects of society Around fifty projects by artists from all over the world create links between nostalgia and inquisitiveness about an unpredictable future The artists’ indoor and outdoor installations throughout Vevey focus on the sensations of connection and disconnection between tangible reality and digital fantasy The three artists featured in this 8th session of contemporary photography exhibitions at L'Appartement - Espace Images Vevey L’Appartement showcases Christopher Anderson’s trilogy of family photographs in Les Chambres and revives our memories of Christmas festivities at home with Jean-Marie Donat’s collection of portraits on display in Le Couloir presents Dark Waters in Le Salon and Le Cinéma evoking the domestic violence pervading the popular culture and landscape of southern USA Christopher Anderson naturally began photographing his family after his son Atlas came into the world in 2008 he continued the fatherly attempt to stop time and not let a single moment of this new life slip away Christopher Anderson had never considered these personal photos as a ‘series’ but his opinion changed when war photographer Tim Hetherington pointed out that “They’re all about the passage of time.” Christopher Anderson began seeing his family pictures in a new light and realised that they may well be his best work Son and Marion were published as three separate books forming a unique and moving intimate family trilogy Advertisements generally encourage us to picture Santa Claus as a cheerful chubby man with a bushy white beard and a smart red suit Collector Jean-Marie Donat scoured flea markets all over Europe to compile this extraordinary collection of photographs from the 1930s to the 1970s in which we see the beloved myth become a nightmare of triviality and awkward clumsiness This witty series seems most likely to confirm our childhood suspicions: Is Santa Claus just an ordinary man focuses on the violence that permeates the territory and popular culture of the USA She contrasts a series of portraits of women with scenery that appears serene but is in fact views of places with sordid names evoking the domestic violence that allegedly took place there in the past Drawing on the musical genre of murder ballads from the 19th and 20th centuries Kristine Potter alludes to the flippant popular glorification of violence towards women that still pervades today’s cultural landscape Kristine Potter has enhanced her Dark Waters series of photographs with a video installation produced with musicians from Nashville USA where she is now based recognised worldwide as the capital of country music These folk guitarists play the murder ballads that are the beating heart of her photographic project: traditional songs that became iconic and that are still being recorded today evoking vivid descriptions of battered and murdered women Kristine Potter invites visitors into Le Cinéma in L’Appartement conveying the darkness of a concert hall in Tennessee to experience a fascinating and very moving musical escapade CRISPR Whisper by Liu Shiyuan at Fotografiska Shanghai A Retrospective at Photo Elysée are among the photography events to visit next month The chosen theme is CLOSER: we live in an era in which it is not possible to imagine any objective detachment between us and reality Observation itself touches and changes things The works on show do not attempt to achieve an impossible neutrality but accept the partiality that comes from looking closely They make intimacy their strength: in interpersonal relationships as much as in that with the territory the international photography festival curated and organized by PhMuseum returns to Bologna at DumBO's Spazio Bianco and other venues around the city The wide festival program offers guided tours with artists workshops with Walter Costa and Atelier Tatanka the Photobook Hub is a space entirely dedicated to independent photobooks bringing together a selection of international and Italian publishers who will be presenting their titles with book launches and talks being part of the main program Among the publishers are Départ Pour L'Image Discover the full program on PhMuseum Days' website The Biennale returns for three weeks with this year’s topic (dis)connected creating links between a certain nostalgia for the past and curiosity about an uncertain future Find out more about the festival's program on their website Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center and the Estonian Union of Photography Artists artists working with the medium of photography and project spaces a platform for collaboration galleries and project spaces can introduce and sell the selected works to a diverse audience and grow their network of professional contacts The program includes meetings with artists the fair will feature special events for (prospective) art collectors curators and professionals working in the field of photography and curated tours arranged during the fair days.  Discover more on their website Once every other year the little city of Landskrona in Skåne is transformed into a teeming metropolis of photography making it become a part of the city environment This year's exhibited artists include Shiraz Bayjoo the Photobook Days have been a natural and important part of Landskrona Fotofestival since 2014 The event includes three days with a focus on photobooks a fair with Swedish and international publishers Landskrona Foto & Breadfield Dummy Award international guest lecturers and publishers who present and talk about their work and more The festival includes also portfolio reviews with experts such as Pierre Bessard visitors have the opportunity to be photographed using the wet plate technique by photographer Hans Jonsson and get a unique portrait of themselves to take home Visit Landskrona Foto Festival's website to discover more Liu Shiyuan's artistic practice reveals a profound exploration and interrogation of the intricate interplay between images and narratives CRISPR Whisper brings the five series artworks from the artist’s earlier creation to the latest works Within the multi-layered chaotic arena she constructs we are invited not only to re-examine how images shape perceptions and implicit biases but also to delve into the multifaceted meanings and latent attributes of these images in contemporary society Discover more on Fotografiska's website BredaPhoto Festival returns with this year's theme Journeys meant as a metaphor for life-changing development Whether it is a psychological quest for one’s own identity or an physical journey in search of freedom it is these and other stories that fill out the eleventh edition of the festival Among the featured artists are Rosângela Rennó the exhibition program includes international photographers and artists as well as ten young talents participating in the BredaPhoto International Talent Programme from documentary photography to interdisciplinary installations and video works activities in the fields of performing arts heritage and film will take place around the theme of Journeys Find out more about the festival's program on their website produced by the Instituto Moreira Salles (Sao Paulo will be making a stopover in Switzerland after showing in Berlin and London. It traces Moriyama’s artistic path his contribution to the Provoke generation and the radical proposition summarised by the photobook Farewell Photography Daido Moriyama definitively altered our perception of photography He used his camera to document his immediate surroundings and to visually explore post-war society in Japan But he also challenged the very nature of photography itself.  His incomparable visual language is as highly acclaimed as his numerous publications Visit Photo Elysée's website to find out more Unseen Amsterdam 2024 / Amsterdam Unseen is an art fair dedicated to the latest developments in contemporary photography Amongst its 65 exhibitors are established international photography and contemporary art galleries as well as young up and coming initiatives Fotobokfestival Oslo 2024 / Oslo Established by Forbundet Frie Fotografer (FFF) in 2009 and curated by Marte Aas and Line Bøhmer Løkken Fotobokfestival Oslo is an annual event that aims to explore the photo book as an artistic medium and phenomenon It aims to delve into its subversive potential and speculate on its place in the future Biennale Photo Mulhouse 2024 / Mulhouse Under the artistic direction of Anne Immelé and guest curators the 6th edition of the MBP will take place with opening days and encounters on June 8 in Thann and September 13 the Biennale is inviting contemporary photographers to offer their vision of a world that has become impossible to live in for certain species and to explore possible and dreamed worlds for the future the program takes a poetic approach to the world in the age of the Anthropocene Filter Photo Festival 2024 / Chicago United States / 18 September - 21 September Taking place at the Columbia College Chicago Student Center exhibitions will be hosted at Filter Space gallery in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood 16/11/2024 By The Ukraine Centre is organising a series of concerts by ManSound a successful and well-known Ukrainian vocal group The performance is a fund raiser for the Centre and the concerts will be held in early December in Lausanne ManSound (Ukrainian “МенСаунд”) is a vocal sextet The group has taken part to more than 50 jazz festivals and performed three times at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in the United States The All American Entertainment Awards nominated ManSound as best vocal group in 2001 In 2002 ManSound won the First Prize at the international competition for a cappella groups Vokal Total In 2004 the Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA) awarded the famous jazz standard arranged by Vladimir Mikhnovetsky Best Vocal Performance in the world in the style of jazz Tickets to the concerts can be purchased at ticketcorner by clicking here Their music can be found on Spotify under the name ManSound The concerts are on the 6th (Vevey/Montreux) 7th (Geneva) and 8th (Geneva/Lausanne) of December 2024 For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter Filed Under: Non classé Vevey is located near Switzerland’s famed Lavaux vineyard terraces The charming Swiss town of Vevey knows how to host a party When it comes to celebrating the noble grape, forget France, Italy, or Spain, it’s the Swiss that really know how to throw a party one of the world’s largest—if most infrequent—wine festivals Founded in 1797 the festival was initiated by the Confrérie des Vignerons the winegrowers’ festival has evolved from a one-day feast into an all-out extravaganza with tastings Thousands of people gather during the 1977 Fête des Vignerons a Cirque du Soleil artistic director—that could rival an Olympic opening ceremony the Fêtes Des Vignerons is a lavish affair steeped in Swiss winemaking and culinary culture—an opportunity to experience a once-in-a-generation festival The historic Grand Hôtel du Lac is in the heart of the festivities ShareSaveLifestyleTravel5 Reasons Wine And Food Lovers Need To Visit Vevey, Switzerland, NowBySandra MacGregor Sandra MacGregor is a North American writer focusing on luxury travelJul 25 07:10am EDTShareSaveThis article is more than 5 years old.Vevey on Lake Geneva gourmet food and the chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event It’s not just that the town is presently hosting one of the most remarkable wine festivals in the world historic hotels and some of the most Instagramable vineyards on the planet Here are five reasons you need to visit Vevey Actors perform during the general rehearsal of the Fete des Vignerons Actors perform during the general rehearsal of the Fete des Vignerons Throughout the town there will be wine sampling Vevey has even erected a temporary 20,000-person arena to showcase all the event’s special live performances (some of which were orchestrated by Daniele Finzi Pasca an artistic director for the Cirque du Soleil) Nearly one million people are expected to visit Vevey (a town of just over 19,000 inhabitants) to attend the Fête des Vignerons Come experience the party for yourself—or be patient and wait another twenty years Surprised to hear that Swiss wine is worthy of such a once-in-a-generation celebration Oenophiles have long appreciated Switzerland’s dry and fruity chasselas (the country’s most popular white wine) and luscious pinot noirs The reason Swiss wine is not more well known internationally is that only about 2% of it ever gets exported because the Swiss drink most of it (and who can blame them) An aerial view shows the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lavaux with its terraced vineyards above Lake .. overlooking Lake Geneva with the French Alps in the distance it’s the stunning vineyards themselves that are a major draw Blanketing the hills just minutes outside of Vevey the vineyards are incredible terraced fields of grapevines that have existed since the Middle Ages Thanks to the wine region’s incomparable beauty you don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to fall in love with Lavaux Clearly UNESCO agrees; the respected organization named Lavaux Vineyards a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007 an institute dedicated to food and nutrition Chillon castle on the banks of Lake Geneva located across from the famous fork statue from which it gets its name features French-Swiss food served up as innovative tapas dishes The restaurant also has a lovely patio just steps away from the lake one of Switzerland’s most respected sommeliers you’re sure to enjoy an incredible wine pairing with any meal Think of Grand Hotel du Lac as a microcosm of Vevey Combining the best of the old with the new 19th century mansion is among the most luxurious and picturesque properties in the city the enviable location puts guests right at the heart of Vevey just minutes—sometimes even just steps—away from the promenade excellent restaurants and the charming old city View from the balcony at Grand Hotel Du Lac The restaurant’s flavorful menu is matched by an extensive wine list that highlights Switzerland’s best standouts Even if you can’t afford to splurge for an overnight stay it’s worth grabbing a glass of wine on the hotel’s elegant lakeside terrace which offers some of the most breathtaking views in all of Vevey ShareSaveLifestyleDiningFrom Lord Byron To Freddie Mercury, Vevey And Montreux Have Lured The World's Great RomanticsByJohn Mariani The Castle of Chillon was the subject of Byron's famous poem Vevey is a small Swiss city in Vaud at the foot of Mount Pèlerin so one can easily walk around in a couple of hours on a leisurely stroll along the Lake Leman waterfront winding streets with storefronts holding bakeries The   sheer calm of Vevey makes up a good deal of its charm In Lake Leman a sculpture of a giant stainless steel fork evoke's Switzerland varied culinary style with great cultural history behind it—here it was that Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote his tremendously popular romantic novel Julie or the New Heloise (1761)—and it is in close proximity to Vaud’s wine country The local bus and train system makes Vevey a good city in which to stay put so as to venture out to other places in the Vaud environs Every 20 years or so Vevey holds its wine festival for a month-long series of parades Vevey will hold its three-week-long Fêtes des Vignerons an event that occurs every 20 years or so and dates back to 1797 (I’ll be writing more about this in my article on Swiss wines.) founded the Alimentarium on Quai Perdonnet which examines the history and complexity of food worldwide through virtual and sensory exhibitions including a Body Section in which you can wander through the brain and other body parts concerned with the consumption of food Chaplin's World pays homage to the master filmmaker with a museum and maintenance of his mansion.. which anyone with only the vaguest idea of the movie master can appreciate along with the requisite film clips and historic narratives the museum has adapted the best ideas from decades of Walt Disney amusement parks and Madame Tussauds wax museums to provide impeccably life-like replicas of Chaplin and his co-stars There are tableaus taken from his destitute childhood in the London slums as well as the sets for his most beloved movies You learn how much of a perfectionist he was with some scenes requiring hundreds of takes and what an important composer of film music he was There are lots of tricks of the eye as well you have the pleasure of actually visiting the 35-acre estate called Manoir de Ban where Chaplin retired to with his family in 1953 at a time when his political and personal life came under fire during the McCarthy Era Declaring himself  “a citizen of the world,” Chaplin lived out his life in Lausanne knowing he was still beloved by a world he had given so much joy to “I hope that the entertainment I give has some lasting effect on people,” he once said “I hope they see the beauty that I myself am seeking I am trying to express a beauty that embraces not only physical characteristics and scenes but the true fundamental emotions of humanity The Fairmont Palace Hotel in Montreux has hosted royalty and artists for more than a century a resort city that has acquired all the encrustations that international popularity has brought Montreux was part of the Vevey District until 2006 when it became the independent Riviera-Pays-d’Enhaut In the 20th century Montreux became a draw for artists all staying there when the city was much less trammeled and much more of an Alpine retreat Today nearly half the city’s population is composed of foreign nationals whose houses and condos have peppered the hills in recent years After the establishment of the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1967 the city became a draw for scores of rock musicians who recorded their albums at Mountain Studios;  some The British group Deep Purple wrote the song “Smoke on the Water” after the city’s Casino burned down in 1971 who liked and worked with his band Queen in Montreux But by far the rock-and-roll connection above all others is to Freddie Mercury and Queen (It is now a charity museum called “Queen: The Studio Experience.”) Mercury had a second home in Montreux  and as with the statue of Rocky Balboa in Philadelphia a visit to the statue of the late singer in the town square has become a requisite tourist site   “He appreciated the kindness and the discretion of the townspeople and Montreux became a haven for him.” A walk along the lake is one of Montreux’s principal charms though the sidewalk along the Grand Rue is now lined with shops of varying taste and price The one stop one must make is to visit the great and historic Fairmont Le Montreux Palace Hotel which opened in 1906 and became the haunt of European royalty and society During World War I the hotel was used as a shelter for wounded Allied soldiers but by the 1920s it had again become one of the most luxurious caravansaries In World War II it was again used as a hospital Deep renovations were made in 1994 and consistently since with a Winter Garden opened over the Grand Hall in 2001 award-winning restaurants and bars were added in the first decade of the present century with a multi-million-dollar renovation ending in 2014 (I shall be writing about where to stay and eat in Vevey and Montreux soon.) Not far from Montreux is the remarkably restored 12th century Castle of Chillon whose fame rests wholly on the 1816 poem by Lord Byron about Francois Bonnivard By then the Castle had already become the property of the Canton of Vaud but it is one of the best castle visits I have made in Europe during which one sees the underground room where Bonnivard was shackled The Castle is easily reached on foot (about 45 minutes from Montreux) which is always the case anywhere on the beautiful Lake Leman The report on the implementation of the Convention, due by States Parties every 6 years, includes a section on the elements inscribed on the Representative List. Read more on periodic reports Switzerland Inscribed in 2016 (11.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Switzerland there is a tradition that recognizes the community’s winegrowers involving not only those in the industry but also members of the public and local artists The Winegrowers’ Festival now features 15 events over three weeks and 5,000 contributors Every festival is based on the recreation of a traditional theme as well as prizes awarded to the best winegrowers music performances and songs sung such as the Ranz des Vaches (Alpine cow-herder’s song) and processions to the neighbouring town of La Tour-de-Peilz as well as grotesques (wooden figurines on sticks) Taking place five times every hundred years The Winegrowers’ Festival involves mainly volunteers who spend several years preparing for it Transmission occurs within families and by the not-for-profit association the Vevey Brotherhood of Winegrowers which coordinates the festival and whose members include winegrowers and the general public helps to maintain the area’s artistic life and provides a sense of cultural continuity while facilitating the know-how of master winegrowers Password forgotten? ShareSaveLifestyleTravelGreat Hotels: Grand Hotel du Lac, Vevey, SwitzerlandByEverett Potter This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Grand Hotel du Lac an 1868 dowager set along the shores of Lake Geneva in the quiet Swiss city of Vevey Across the lake are the snowcapped Dents du Midi the most noteworthy peaks in this part of the French Alps sailboats tack and forth between Switzerland and France you can see the lights of Evian in the distance You can imagine exiled royals encamped for months in this hotel back in the days when royals did such things it was the setting for Anita Brookner’s novel When my wife and I stayed here two decades ago The current owners closed the property in 2005 and spent a couple of years restoring it the hotel had undergone a radical refurbishment a makeover that rightfully restored the "grand" to its name and the staff exudes the quiet calm of people who know what they are doing The look is courtesy of Pierre Yves-Rochon the decorator who did the interiors of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and earned the property membership in Relais & Chateaux It is a grand hotel reborn and 10 years since my last visit and elegant in a way that doesn’t call attention to itself wallpaper and linens are of the finest quality You want to touch everything because every surface has been upgraded to a fine standard They took advantage of the fact that the hotel had great bones with high ceilings and French doors onto balconies overlooking the lake The designer managed to mix modern touches with classical references The lakeside view of Lake Geneva and the French Alps is so compelling that a water view room is a must Burgener Switzerland Care & Spa; two restaurants: the Michelin Star-rated fine dining Les Saisons and the more casual La Veranda; and a bar Set on Lake Geneva with a jaw-dropping view of the French Alps Vevey is one of those places that are usually overlooked as visitors rush somewhere else ( in this case There is a great Saturday morning farmers market and flea market on the Place du Marche next to the lake cheese mongers and a gaggle of children lining up for a turn on the 19th century merry-go-round "charming," describes the town well LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: The view from the hotel is hypnotic, but step outside and you’re on the lakeside promenade. A 15 minute stroll, which goes past the statue of Charlie Chaplin (he spent his final years in the hills above here, in a home that is now the extraordinary new museum, Chaplin’s World ) The Fête des Vignerons is held approximately once every 20 years or so in Vevey Produced and performed by the city residents and surrounding vineyard communities along the shores of Lake Geneva it’s a remarkable spectacle as well as a social event that brings together a literal cast of thousands featuring local amateur actors The next Fête des Vignerons is planned for July 26 to August 11 THE DETAILS: Grand Hotel du Lac The Musée Jenisch in Vevey VD is launching the Félix Vallotton Year 2025 to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of the artist from Lausanne The exhibition is simply entitled "Un hommage" It places Vallotton in dialog with contemporary art works by Félix Vallotton (1865-1925) are juxtaposed with works by contemporary artists such as Caroline Bachmann Nicolas Party and Françoise Pétrovitch Some of these contemporary works were created especially for this exhibition "aligning themselves or standing out" The exhibition is organized according to themes that are also characteristic of Vallotton's work: Childhood The Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) has carte blanche for the last theme The students of the art school have developed a program of printed images that will find their place in and around the museum The tribute to Vallotton at the Musée Jenisch is the first in a whole series of exhibitions publications and events that will be held throughout Switzerland throughout the year Vallotton will be honored in a major retrospective at the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne; and he will be on display at the Kunst Museum Winterthur and the Museo Castello San Materno in Ascona The artist has made a name for himself as a painter he became known above all for his woodcuts with stark black and white contrasts he was inspired by Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet He died at the age of 60 following a cancer operation near Paris The Musée Jenisch is showing works from its own collection as well as loans from the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève and a private collection Un hommage" can be seen from January 29 to May 25 Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Vineyards in the famous Lavaux aera by lake Geneva in Switzerland If ever there was a town to make you want to crack open a bottle of something special reclining smugly on Lake Geneva’s northern shores with views rippling across glass-blue water to the snow-capped Alps beyond One glance and you’ll quickly suss out Vevey’s raison d'être: the terraced vineyards that tear up the surrounding slopes give you the first clue (wine you guessed it) and the giant fork sculpture protruding from the lake alludes to the other (food In 2019, Vevey’s pull is greater than ever as the seductive Swiss town gears up to host the Fête des Vignerons the huge winegrowers’ festival that takes place just once every 20 years Winegrowers (and lovers) come from afar to this mammoth three-week festival taking place from 18 July to 11 August in 2019 this is one of the biggest and oldest festivals of its kind in the world and it seems everyone is in on the act: from musicians to marching bands Locals are also welcome to join in the revelry as extras the festival harks back to the 17th century when the Confrérie des Vignerons winegrowers’ association rounded out their assembly with a bit of a do: a parade down to the lake But in the 18th century it grew swiftly from those humbler origins with the first big bash held in 1797 to honour the region’s best vintners and their wines and in 2016 the festival was added to Unesco’s list of intangible cultural heritage as a ‘living tradition’ with themed parades and performances that nod to the seasons and wine-growing traditions Each day is given over to a different canton’s pastoral traditions Performances centre on the main stage of the elliptical auditorium on Place du Marché It’s a stage as big as an Olympic swimming pool That’s not to mention the wine – get yourself over to the pop-up restaurants and open-door cellars for a rare chance to sample some of the region’s finest Pinot reds and Chasselas whites If you can’t get festival tickets or you just fancy discovering the region under your own steam at any time of year, the surrounding World Heritage–listed Lavaux vineyards are like heaven on earth to oenophiles. These are the steepest vineyards in the world, terraced over 40 levels and staggering up the hills that rise dramatically above Lake Geneva with the dreamy lake-and-mountain views you might expect That’s because the hand-picked wines are so select special and small-batch that the Swiss keep most of them to themselves and very few bottles ever reach export Before hitting the caveaux (wine cellars) for a petite dégustation (tasting) you’ll want to brush up on local history and wine knowledge The wine-loving Romans planted the first grapes in the region but it was Benedictine and Cistercian monks in the 11th century who got down to the serious business of slashing down woodlands in order to plant grapes to slate their thirst for wine It’s said that these grapes – some of the finest in Switzerland – are blessed by three suns: the one in the sky the one on the lake and the one radiating heat from the dry-stone walls the main one you’ll want to look out for is Chasselas a very old variety that produces white wines that are crisp and flinty Pinot noir and Salvagnin) make up just 20% of production All that tasting might make you hungry, and food-wise you’ve struck gold in the rustic auberges here. You could make for Auberge de la Gare, where season-driven cooking (try the local perch) is paired with Lavaux wines and served on a vine-clad terrace overlooking the lake, or for a brasserie-style ambience, give Auberge de Lavaux in Lutry a shot for its attractive terrace carefully picked wines and deliciously grilled steaks and seafood Vevey has plenty of excellent down-to-earth options, too. One of the hottest tables at the moment is Tandem, a stripped-back, retro-cool space taking you through from gourmet brunch to cocktail. The chef takes pride in local sourcing (both ingredients and wines). For more traditional offerings, there’s snug, family-run bistro Le Mazot (good fondue and steaks). If there’s still space for a little fromage to go with that wine, or if you’d rather skip mains and go straight for cheese, get yourself across to Châtel-St-Denis, 13km northeast of Vevey, for legendary fondue moitié-moitié (made from a combination of Gruyére and Vacherin Fribourgeois cheeses). The two places worthy of note are family-run, ultra-traditional Café Tivoli and more chilled, cafeteria-style La Crémerie, with its adjacent laiterie (dairy). https://shop.lonelyplanet.com/products/switzerland-travel-guide-9 The projects selected for the Grand Prix Images Vevey 2021/2022 are exhibited at the ongoing edition of Images Vevey, which can be visited until September 25. Each work is cleverly displayed by adopting installation solutions designed specifically for the message behind the project, creating a constant dialogue within the space and pathway in which they are placed. Let's discover the award-winning artists featured: Lebohang Kganye's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimGrand Prix Images VeveyLebohang Kganye with Staging Memories Carmen Winant's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimImages Vevey Book AwardCarmen Winant with Arrangements Alba Zari's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimImages Vevey Special Jury PrizeAlba Zari with Occult Stefanie Moshammer's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimImages Vevey Light Broncolor Honourable MentionStefanie Moshammer with Each Poison, A Pillow Juan Brenner's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimImages Vevey Documentary Honourable MentionJuan Brenner with Marvelous Phenomena Paola Jiménez Quispe's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimImages Vevey Book Award Special Jury PrizePaola Jiménez Quispe with Rules for Fighting (Reglas para pelear) Alexander Rosenkrantz's exhibition view, Festival Images Vevey 2022, Fondation Vevey Ville d'ImagesEmilien ItimNestlé GrantAlexander Rosenkranz with Gibellina Model Studies Impressions from the photography festival Images Vevey Stepping out from the train station, you are greeted by the towering facade of the Duomo di Milano in all its splendour. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d hopped on the wrong train because this is actually Vevey in Switzerland a biennial festival and celebration of photography and visual arts almost full-scale reproduction of the German artist Thomas Struth’s photograph of the grand gothic cathedral To reproduce it at such scale – four of his images are exhibited in this way – is hugely ambitious Taking risks has become a signature of the festival which is the brainchild of director Stefano Stoll His vision promotes a dialogue between the work shown and the fabric of the town and its landscape sees a monumental version of his Disneyland mountain at Anaheim placed in direct confrontation with the splendour of the Alps across Lake Geneva The festival features a series of portraits of French female prisoners by Bettina Rheims which challenges notions of femininity and judgment is thought-provokingly displayed in the church of Sainte-Claire A metal framework supporting each portrait echoes the brutal aesthetics of a prison incongruously nestling into the elegant arches of the church A selection from the series Détenues by Bettina Rheims Détenues by Bettina Rheims at Images Vevey 2022 Each series has been chosen to fit this year’s theme of Together – La Vie Ensemble – which explores environment A statement on technology is brought by Ryoji Ikeda a leading electronic composer and visual artist from Japan His installation test pattern (no 14) is a disturbing immersive experience blasting your senses with flashing black and white binary patterns and static electronic sound in the Théâtre de l’Oriental-Vevey Walking back out into the soothing scenery of the pretty town you can’t help but feel Ikeda is making the point that something unnerving is happening in parallel he is particularly sensitive to the interests and concerns of the community and their environment He is particularly proud of his sensitive renovation of the abandoned apartments above the train station that used to be home to station workers Here he has invested in creating a cultural space while preserving the sense of a domestic setting where work that resonates with notions of “home” can be exhibited a series of its rooms are occupied by Dutch photographer Bertien Van Manen’s Give Me Your Image Van Manen sofa-surfed her way across Europe between 2002 and 2005 Noticing cherished photographs of loved ones displayed in their homes she chose to photograph each one in their immediate domestic surroundings creating exquisite little altars of memorial from Give Me Your Image by Bertien van Manen the town’s old forge has been preserved in its original architectural state but it provides a fitting juxtaposition for Alexander Rosenkranz’s images of the postmodern marvel that is Gibellina in Italy which was rebuilt after being devastated by an earthquake in 1968 The purpose was to question and explore the reconstruction of a city that has become an artistic urban model The resulting series shows an unconventional approach to architectural photography displayed to great effect in the traditional courtyard of the forge Gibellina Model Studies 01 Untitled and 05 Untitled by Alexander Rosenkranz Alexander Rosenkranz’s Gibellina Model Studies series on display at the town’s old forge Stories about the complexities of human relationships appear throughout the exhibition From Siân Davey’s intimate study of her daughters to Diana Markosian’s epic mutimedia dramatisation of her mother’s biography the aim is to engage and unite us with shared themes of joy From Sian Davey’s Martha & Alice series The town’s care home for the elderly appropriately overlooks the grassy spot hosting Deanna Dikeman’s tender series Leaving and Waving Dikeman took pictures of her parents waving goodbye as she left their home a simple reflection of the passing of time that is incredibly moving In a circular display that flows along with the chronology of each gesture the story unfolds – no spoilers here – to gently remind us of the festival’s theme and to cherish those we love Leaving and Waving by Deanna Dikeman at Images Vevey 2022 the small Swiss village of Vevey puts on a party so epic that it takes 10 years to plan and costs 100m Swiss francs Sublimely located on Lake Geneva’s north-eastern shore overlooking the Alps the small Swiss town of Vevey is surrounded by terraced vineyards and turquoise water hundreds of thousands of people descend on this tranquil 19,000-person town on the Swiss Riviera as it transforms into a bacchanalian world Known as the Fête des Vignerons (“The Winegrowers’ Festival”), this Unesco-designated celebration dates to 1797 and only takes place once a generation Locals don elaborate costumes and open underground wine vaults for late-night revelry while chirpy flautists and drummers march down cobblestone streets and a grandiose open-air theatrical production takes over the market square sing and drink – all for the sake of promoting a tradition that many don’t associate with Switzerland: winemaking It’s said that locals celebrate with such fervour that it takes at least 10 years to recover This summer’s extravaganza – which took place from 18 July to 11 August – was only the 12th edition of what some call the world’s largest wine event It cost 100m Swiss francs (£78.25m) to organise and attracted a million people whose 830 hectares of terraced vineyards and winemaking families have been producing some of the world’s best Chasselas since the Middle Ages the best winegrowers (vignerons-tacherons) are awarded grapevine-inspired crowns for their work in the vineyards (not necessarily for the wines they produce) in a lavish coronation ceremony held in a specially built arena that’s redesigned and rebuilt for each Fête This year’s arena could hold 20,000 spectators – a seat for every Vevey resident experts appointed by the Confrérie meticulously evaluate 270 hectares of vineyards surrounding Vevey between Pully and Villeneuve as well as vineyards from Yvorne to Lavey in the Rhône Valley three times a year The experts grade the tidiness of winemakers’ vineyards and the health of their grapes The group established the Fête in 1797 to encourage winegrowers to take better care of their vines “It’s better than the Olympics because I’m king for the next 20 years,” Jean-Daniel Berthet, a winegrower at Luc Massy Vins reportedly told his boss after his coronation in 2019 that pulsates through Vevey’s viticultural roots the results are top-secret until names are announced on stage by the head of the Confrérie allowing the public to greet the prize-winners and Confrérie members and marvel at the sumptuously costumed performers outdoor concerts and open-air theatrical show It only happens once every 25 yearsAnna MuckermanThe event features a ticketed show and many colourful parades (Credit: Anna Muckerman)“When we wear costumes we [Swiss] become different people,” said Liliane Pahud who participated in this year’s Fête as a burlesque dancer The highlight of the 2019 Fête was creative director Daniele Finzi Pasca’s 2.5-hour open-air show that poetically interpreted a year in the life of a vineyard worker drumming ants and dancing wine-themed playing cards The production featured 5,500 volunteer actors from the region Original music was created by three different composers over four years and the show featured more than 6,000 individually hand-sewn costumes it was performed 20 times during the festival’s 25-day period you see things differently,” explained Finzi Pasca staging Olympic ceremonies and Cirque du Soleil shows until the Fête des Vignerons brought him back to his native Switzerland He and his team spent much time observing the winegrower’s way of life finding inspiration in ordinary objects; for example the yellow plastic baskets for harvesting grapes were incorporated into the opening and closing harvest scenes as drums The 2019 Fête kicked off on 18 July with a kaleidoscopic 6,000-person parade This marching tradition dates back to the inaugural Fête of 1797 which began with a 700-person parade in Vevey’s market square The 2019 Fete had more parades than ever before thanks to two brand-new additions: 13 parades representing the Swiss Confederation’s cantons and a hypnotically illuminated parade each night “For the first time we’re selling tickets online,” explained François Margot when ticket sales launched in September 2018 “Now the whole world can come.” In prior years to attend since tickets could only be purchased in person this year’s Fête was easily the biggest ever this year’s spectacle used cutting-edge technology open-air arena built in Vevey’s market square featured five stages and the world’s largest LED screen to give all attendees an immersive theatre experience This year’s attendees also had the chance to see the show at night and drew 375,000 people to its 20 performances – with many attending multiple times “Each performance was a different experience” said Sabine Liebherr a Vevey resident who saw the 2019 show five times: at night this year’s festival was much more inclusive than ever before Each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons were invited to show off their heritage by hosting outdoor performances food tastings and wines on designated days more women – including female winegrowers – took centre stage The Cent-Suisses (Hundred Swiss) was a historical all-male Swiss Guard unit who were mercenaries for the kings of France from 1471-1830 and were once tasked with protecting the Confrérie and its vineyards from looters the folk troupe has participated in the Fête des Vignerons’ processions marching before the Confrérie and its winegrowers To mark the 200th anniversary of their participation in the Fête des Vignerons – and to make a little dig at tradition – Finzi Pasca created the Cent Pour Cent (Hundred Percent): a theatrical troupe made up of 100 women and 100 men wearing a more playful and feminine version of the group’s red-and-white uniforms they carried long light sticks symbolising peace In addition, for the first time in the festival’s 222-year history, a female winegrower was crowned queen: Corinne Buttet, who works for Vignes de Vevey and Obrist SA vineyards Women also joined men in representing the Confrérie des Vignerons in the Fête’s parades and shows there was a female among the Confrérie’s seven wine experts who conduct the inspections of the vineyards wars and famine in Europe between the first two Fêtes des Vignerons (held in 1797 and 1819) set the generational tempo and precedence that the event should only take place when there is reason to celebrate – and when the Confrérie could afford it But it is precisely this generational element that makes the Fête so unique “My 93-year old father came to watch the parade He’s from Vevey and has seen four Fête des Vignerons.” Pahud said It’s probably his last one and he’s comfortable with this I came and was mesmerised by the positive energy of this Fête,” said Gabriel Tétuz “Do you feel the warmth here?” asked Antoine Bovard, a bronze-winning recipient in this year’s Fête and a 15th-generation winegrower, as he placed his hand on a stone wall in his namesake vineyard, Domaine Antoine Bovard The concept of the three suns is how Lavaux’s winegrowers explain the unique conditions that are much more conducive to growing grapes than elsewhere in Switzerland Winegrowers set the stones that form their vineyards’ walls facing south the heat that has baked them during the day then provides the vines with heat throughout the night is the reflection of the rays off Lake Geneva reflecting the Sun’s rays back to the terraced vineyards to keep the grapes from freezing in the winter and spring The Choeur des Armaillis de la Gruyères (“The Choir of Gruyères Cheesemakers”) from the canton of Fribourg has been a popular fixture at the Fête since 1819 They represent the pastoral region between Vevey and Gruyères lakeside winemaking and the French and German languages meet When the alphorns sound in the show and the first words of Le Ranz des Vaches an ancient melody sung by Swiss herdsmen to call cattle lyoba!” a reference to the region’s pastoral roots – there isn’t a dry eye among the Swiss the hymn was forbidden for Swiss mercenaries to sing as it was believed the nostalgia and homesickness this song could conjure would drive them to leave battle.) then people on the opposite side took over as if herdsmen were calling out from different valleys or mountaintops More than 50 caveaux (wine-tasting cellars) opened for the 2019 Fête transforming the town of Vevey from quiet to carnivalesque these cellars were only reserved for the Fête’s actors volunteers and organisers and were located in underground chambers with vaulted ceilings But for this year’s event many also popped-up in commercial storefronts like former real-estate offices and even a music school to accommodate the larger crowds where costumed revellers stay drinking local wines and dancing with new and old friends to loud tunes until the wee hours This merrymaking is rather remarkable for a place like Switzerland most of the caveaux and their debaucheries disappear stays in the caveau,” said one Cent-Suisse no-one from Vevey or the nearby towns could believe the Fête was finally finishing “I don’t want to think about it,” said Pahud Finzi Pasca implored the crowd not to wait another 20 years to dance and cued the musicians to play the finale again and be sure to mark your calendar for the next Fête des Vignerons which will take place sometime between 2039 and 2044 Why We Celebrate is a BBC Travel series that revels in how a festival or event is intertwined with a place’s culture Rome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. 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For just two weeks each spring, a rare violet artichoke is harvested by hand on Venice's northern islands – and locals go to great lengths to keep it authentic. As Radiohead and the RSC launch an innovative reinterpretation of Hamlet, a visit to the play's setting in Denmark brings a new dimension to the tragedy. Behind the creation of the festival's most iconic and outrageous costumes – from wardrobe malfunctions to insider tips and viral sensations. For three days every year, Thailand transforms into a wet and wild party. But this ancient festival is far more than just a raucous good time. A British Royal Navy officer named Robert Wauchope is credited with creating the time ball, an ingenious Victorian-era contraption that inspired New York’s New Year’s Eve ball drop. To marvel about the earliest years of Hollywood cinema is to also admire the work of Charlie Chaplin the iconic figure overcame a childhood of poverty and hardship by finding comfort in the arts Chaplin worked as a stage actor and comedian and he built popular personas — such as the Tramp —and enlivened silent movies with the clever entwinement of comedy and tragedy I’ll admit that all the above, save for a basic, black-and-white knowledge of Chaplin’s slapstick-style humor, was news to me — a ’90s-born, first-generation Asian American whose parents didn’t care much for old films. And so, as I stepped through the front doors of Chaplin’s World in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland my levels of excitement and expectation were quite low which opened in April 2016 after 15 years of development Chaplin’s World is set in the 1840 Manoir de Ban the former Chaplin estate where the actor and filmmaker lived for 25 years after he was forced to leave the U.S Outfitted with high-tech technology and the immeasurable creativity of architect Philippe Meylan and museographer Yves Durand the delightful museum brings to life all the magic of Chaplin and his beloved work It showcases film montages; presents exceptionally lifelike wax figures (startled I often had to take a closer look); and invites visitors to partake in Chaplin’s humorous and emotional storylines via interactive movie sets there’s an astonishing attention to detail that duly merits admiration and respect I couldn’t help but indulge in the merrymaking around me as Chaplin fans lost themselves in the immersive exhibits The museum encompasses three sections: The Studio which takes notes from Hollywood-style studios visitors take their turn in the limelight on fantastic sets that emulate scenes in Chaplin’s films The Manoir enables exploration of the neoclassical-style building where Chaplin and his wife (Don’t miss a chance to pose with Chaplin’s dear friends including Albert Einstein and Sophia Loren where visitors can enjoy fresh air and admire clear year-round views of Lake Geneva and the Alps The DetailsChaplin’s Worldwww.chaplinsworld.com Copyright © 2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000 2015 7:18 PM EDTAmerican photographer Christian Patterson has won the 2015-2016 Vevey International Photography Award The New York-based photographer received the Swiss grant of CHF 40,000 (around $42,000) to realize his project Gong Co about a closed Chinese grocery store in the Mississippi Delta whose shelves remained stocked with decades-old products “[The store] had become an unintentional museum or something like a time capsule,” Patterson tells TIME “I try to seek out a subject matter that has multiple layers to explore and leads me to ideas not only for photographs but for documents objects and installations as well,” he says “When these various visual and physical threads are woven together an ‘other’ world can be entered through the work and that is what inspires and excites me right now.” The photographer will have a year to realize the project which will be previewed at the next Festival Images in the fall of 2016 in Vevey including actual products and objects from the shuttered shop the self-taught photographer is most known for his book Redheaded Peckerwood which won the Rencontres d’Arles Author Book Award in 2012 we have all been waiting to see what his next project is and it’s really exciting that [Gong Co] is going to land here in Vevey,” says Kira Pollack director of photography and visual enterprise at TIME Patterson was chosen from among 600 projects “We saw an incredible range of work and a lot of different types of photography,” says Pollack development director of the Luma Foundation in Arles director of Jeu de Paume gallery in Paris and Ramón Reverté editor-in-chief of RM publishers in Mexico The Swiss town’s wine festival is as revered as it is rare but from a Chaplin museum to boat tours and chocolate heaven On 18 July, the peaceful town of Vevey, on the shores of Lake Geneva near Montreux, transforms into party central as it hosts one of the world’s biggest (and rarest) wine festivals. The Fête des Vignerons – which was granted Unesco intangible cultural heritage status in 2016 – was founded in 1797 to honour the wine-makers of the Lavaux wine region one of Switzerland’s premier wine appellations Performers during a rehearsal for Fête des Vignerons. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty ImagesToday, the Fête des Vignerons (18 July-11 August) is a celebration that is only held every 20 years Its centrepiece is 20 live shows in a specially built 20,000-seat arena but there are also daily parades A million visitors are expected to attend the event While this grape gala puts Vevey in the spotlight that will raise spirits without (necessarily) raising blood-alcohol levels – and here is our pick of 10 of them … as well as the huge silver fork sculpture rising out of the lake Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips This article was amended on 23 July 2019 to remove an incorrect reference to a Marilyn Monroe waxwork at Chaplin’s World. this art space will host around fifteen artist projects and exhibitions per year It will provide a link between two editions of the Images Vevey biennial and will help to keep the "Vevey ville d'images" label alive throughout the year This new space for contemporary photography is located in the main hall of the Vevey railway station in the former railwaymen's apartments It is from this historical background that it takes its name of "L'Appartement - Espace Images Vevey" The particularity of L'Appartement is that each of its rooms is assigned to a particular exhibition format By preserving the original aspect of the building and transforming its primary function Images Vevey aims to offer a visitor experience that reflects the surprising and convivial image of its biennial event Nicolas Polli (Switzerland)When Strawberries Will Grow on Trees During three months of confinement in the spring of 2020 Nicolas Polli went through a period of profound solitude and uncertainty He then drew on his artistic resources to stage this fragility that he had never felt so strongly he frantically began to compose still life and images from everyday objects His imagination challenges his doubts and desires His own body also becomes the object of new attention: vulnerable Sensitivity is mixed with sensuality when Polli addresses short poems to an unknown his series When Strawberries Will Grow on Trees I Will Kiss U paints a sincere and delicate portrait of a universal loneliness.\ How many stories can be created by a seemingly insignificant photograph presented to different members of the same family and their relatives By compiling fragments of vernacular images Marie Noury conducts a videographic investigation where words expressions and gestures interact around this mysterious photograph taken from her family archive Nous voir ensemble questions with tenderness the power of the photographic image Peter Puklus (Hungary)The Hero Mother – How to Build a Houseedition Witty Books / Images Vevey In this 2017/2018 Images Vevey Grand Prix winning series Peter Puklus deconstructs the dynamics of pre-established female and male roles: motherhood as a presumed heroic activity and the father's assumed duty to build and protect the home Premiered internationally at the 2018 edition of the Images Vevey Festival with an immersive installation the project continues today as an artist's book co-published by Witty Books and Images Vevey By deploying an extraordinary visual and pictorial vocabulary around his own family unit Puklus breaks down the symbols traditionally associated with maternal and paternal figures Nicolas Polli (Switzerland)À table avec Nico When artist Nicolas Polli photographs the disturbing still lifes he creates in his home magic happens: courgettes do the balancing act loaves of bread serve as slippers and cutlery seem to levitate Fifteen jubilant images are brought together in a playful display specially designed to inspire children at the heart of L'Appartement - Espace Images Vevey Learn more on the website of Images Vevey. Vevey and Lavaux and you'll find cosy cafés innovative cocktail bars and a passion for seasonal produce.  Lausanne and Vevey are brimming with memorable cafes as well as vineyards primed for winter wanderings. Photograph by Erik Tham 2023•6 min readOn the northern shores of Lake Geneva lies a slice of Switzerland that’s long been a magnet for stylish travellers Aristocratic tourists — including Lord Byron and Percy Shelley — were attracted to elegant lakefront hotels in Montreux Vevey and Lausanne in the earliest days of European tourism though just minutes apart on the lake-snaking railway these destinations remain distinctly different each with its own range of creative restaurants Embark on a gastronomic winter weekend to enjoy them at their best Start your journey in the bustling town of Montreux. In summer, it’s home to the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival but winter here is undeniably more atmospheric Visit in December to soak up the festive charm of the Christmas market Sip mulled wine as you stroll past some 170 stalls of artisan crafts and local produce Next, head along the lake to the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace the hotel is one of the area’s finest examples of Swiss belle époque architecture and has welcomed Jazz Festival greats such as Miles Davis Its popular themed Sunday brunch is accompanied by live pianists and sweeping views over Lake Geneva Funky Claude’s Bar — named after the hero of Deep Purple’s Montreux-set song Smoke on the Water — offers ample opportunity to spot visiting musicians including the Chuck Berry and Like A Virgin The cosy interiors and varied menus at Vevey's Brew Society make for a welcome mid-morning break. Photograph by Charly DerouetVisit the vineyards of Vevey to sample local wines while enjoying picture-perfect views over Lake Geneva. Photograph by Charly DerouetVevey & LavauxA short journey west of Montreux will see you reach Vevey where majestic hotels flank the lakeside promenade it’s the streets between them that are most worth exploring: they’re home to small characterful spots with a reverence for contemporary culture superfood bowls and plant-based burgers are firm favourites This cosy inn promises ‘a regional bistronomic experience between vineyards and lake.’ Consider returning in summer when it’s easy to wander from one family-run vineyard to the next There's nowhere better to soak up Lausanne's thriving café culture than the striking Café de Grancy.Photograph by Charly DerouetThe markets of Lausanne offer everything from fruit and vegetables to academic books and antique ornaments.Photograph by Charly DerouetLausanneCatch the train further west around the lake and you’ll reach Lausanne writers and free-thinkers for centuries; Voltaire Charles Dickens and TS Eliot all found inspiration here the city’s innovative and intellectual spirit is kept alive by students at the EPFL research institute Cafe culture reigns supreme in Lausanne. One local favourite is Cafe de Grancy: a classic student hangout that occupies the ground floor of a lavish 19th-century apartment building slouchy sofas and an extensive coffee and hot chocolate menu A short walk through the pretty city centre will see you reach Deli Social a more radical addition to Lausanne’s cafe scene magazine shop and workspace is run by Royal College of Art alumni Emily Groves and Rhys Williams The streets and public spaces of Vevey are transformed biannually for its Festival Images Sixty-one bodies of work by photographers and artists from 19 countries are on display until 30 September. Each illustrates or explores the theme: Extravaganza – Out of the Ordinary The festival is enlivened by the inventive staging of its exhibits Works of both established and emerging photographers are displayed in an astonishing variety of unconventional venues and locations even the waters of Lake Geneva serve to showcase the pictures Photography studios Gugala’s project exploring Warsaw’s portrait businesses is installed adjacent to Vevey’s sole remaining such theatricality helps encourage a broad public engagement with the work which he insists must be readily comprehensible he hopes that the use of locations around the town will add layers of meaning to the pictures Thus placing a photograph of an airborne whale high above viewers’ heads or photographs of the pages of Frank Sinatra’s phonebook on the inside of a phonebooth or pictures of detention cells behind the bars of a former prison on the facade of the Hotel des Trois Couronnes displayed on a phone booth; Copying Claudia I would also like to be - A work on jealousy exhibited on a facade in the Place de la Gare Arnold Odermattdocumented the daily life of his colleagues in the Swiss police force for more than 40 years His work is positioned – not without irony – alongside the busy main thoroughfare through Vevey While waiting at the lights motorists can take a moment to enjoy the work of a one-time chief of transport police Jun Ahn’s dizzying self-portraits on skyscrapers and window ledges show the artist pushing herself to a literal limit Ahn says: “Some media described me as a fearless artist I really have a fear and this is about that fear and how the photography medium subverts the context of the fear.” Her work is installed in the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes where she appears poised on a window ledge A self-portrait displayed before an open window Mongrelism - Greco Notorious South Island RIP Jono Rotman’s unnerving portraits are of members of New Zealand’s Mongrel Mob an infamous gang of predominantly Maori bikers Over a 10-year period Rotman established a relationship with them marked by trust and confidence guarantee their marginal status in New Zealand In Vevey their pictures are on show in the bustling Grande Place Castore’s work focuses on an elderly lady and her brother it emerged that they had once enjoyed a wealthy upbringing Castore juxtaposes his portraiture with earlier pictures from Ewa’s own collection They are displayed in an appropriately neglected former hardware shop tireless champion of vernacular photography is exhibiting some 2,000 album covers inside Église Sainte-Claire The sleeves all feature photographs of large choirs or bands A cacophonous multilayered choral soundtrack adds an other-worldy element Angélique StehliPink Cells installed behind bars in the town’s former prison Angélique Stehli’s arresting photographs of pink detention cells are themselves behind the bars of a former prison According to certain psychological opinion the colour pink has a calming effect on those it surrounds thus explaining its popularity in some Swiss detention centres ShareSaveLifestyleTravelSwitzerland’s Landmark Summer Celebration: The Fête des Vignerons in VeveyByEverett Potter Everett Potter is a New York-based writer who covers travelFollow AuthorJul 23 01:42pm EDTShareSaveThis article is more than 5 years old.The traditional vintner's hat worn by a performer at the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey One of the happiest places in the world at this moment must be the small city of Vevey along the northern shore of Lake Geneva in the Swiss Canton of Vaud this city of less than 18,000 people is hosting the Fête des Vignerons a vibrant and colorful pageant that will be performed 20 times in a purpose-built stadium along the lakeshore it’s an extraordinary social and cultural event that this year has more than 5,500 actors and dancers — most of them highly enthusiastic amateurs — performing before the 20,000 spectators who attend each performance Inside the stadium at the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey The Fete des Vignerons has been produced and performed once a generation – roughly every 20 years – since 1797 by the residents of Vevey and the surrounding vineyard communities along the shores of Lake Geneva I attended the last Fête des Vignerons in 1999 so I was thrilled to be back for the opening night last week of the 2019 celebration In a world where happy places seem rare enough these days this folkloric spectacle shines a light on a Swiss community beaming with pride and tradition a spectacle that was recently named to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage Performers getting ready for the premier of the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey The theme of this year’s show is a year in the life of the vineyards with a crowning of winegrowers rewarded by the Confrérie des Vignerons even if the rest of the world is only vaguely aware of Swiss wine given that the Swiss consume something like 85% of what they produce Between Vevey and Lausanne are the terraced vineyards of the Lavaux region that slope down to the shores of Lake Geneva 11th century Benedictine and Cistercian monks Today the rolling hillsides are so spectacularly beautiful and significant that they are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site The performance this year touched on director Daniele Finzi Pasca’s previous work with Cirque du Soleil (he wrote and directed Corteo) and the Olympics (he did the closing ceremonies for the Turin XX Winter Olympic Games in 2006) as well as his award-winning contributions to opera like a Cirque du Soleil performance with feel-good Disneyesque moments surrealist touches that would not be out of place in a Fellini movie and even echoes of Monty Python (an army of soldiers “wear” the toy horses they ride on) A sea of traditional vintner's hat at the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey paraded in with elaborate floral headdress wearing brass bells that cut through the music and high wire dancers suspended above the main stadium floor especially the traditional Swiss song Ranz de Vaches (the cow herder’s song) left many of the 20,000 spectators teary eyed What is especially powerful are those 5,500 singers and actors (including hundreds of children) exceptionally well-rehearsed (in some cases they started rehearsals nearly a year ago) and entering the stadium from multiple vantage points amazing costumes and choreography are thrilling to behold A family of performers takes a break outside the stadium of the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey What takes the Fête des Vignerons to another level is the fact that this is very much a hometown production of the Canton of Vaud which lies along the northern shore of Lake Geneva The soldiers and dancers and folks dressed in striking bird and insect costumes can be found at some of the 50 wine caves that are open for the festival as well as cafes and bars and food stands surrounding the stadium dashing out for a quick glass of the local chasselas wine before lining up to reenter the stadium for their next curtain call One of the 50 wine caves open for the Fête des Vignerons in Vevey Speak to the actors – often three generations of a single family — and you learn that this is their second or that they are winemakers who wines are being poured There is a kind of innocent happiness here and part of that is due to the fact that this is so local in a country that treasures its traditions That and the fact that there is no star per se What you get instead is ensemble playing of the highest order where For those who don’t want to wait 20 years to see the next Fête des Vignerons with some tickets and hotel rooms still available Mingle with the happy crowds at the food stalls that overlook the lake drink the local chasselas and rejoice in this country’s remarkable sense of personal pride At a time when divisiveness at home seems the norm it’s truly eye opening to witness thousands of people pulling together for a common cause For more information on the Fête des Vignerons, visit the Lake Geneva Region A trip to Switzerland allowed my granddaughter and me to immerse ourselves in the charms of three villages and enjoy a festive celebration Swiss National Day is similar to Independence Day in the United States the Swiss celebrate the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291 hilly city bordered by Lake Geneva and the Alps Our host and excellent tour guide was my son a professor and geneticist who lives in Lausanne RELATED: Au naturel at Breitenbush Hot Springs, Oregon Our excursion began with a road trip that took us through the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces situated above Lake Geneva and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site This beautiful area is popular with wine lovers referred to as one of the "Pearls of the Swiss Riviera." One could easily stroll an entire day on Vevey's promenade where multitudes of flowers dazzled with vibrant reds yellows and purples and fascinating metal and stone sculptures rose up at the water's edge Tantalizing aromas led us to booths along the promenade where cheeses meats and crepes were waiting to be tasted and watched uniformed soldiers marching in time to the band while horns and drums played Picture one of the most charming places imaginable surrounded with snow-capped mountains goats with jangling bells munching grass on hillsides a castle and cobblestone streets and you have an accurate picture of the quaint medieval town of Gruyères RELATED: A month in the Place de la Bastille, Paris The patio of a traditional Swiss restaurant was a perfect vantage point to eat and watch the National Day festivities small boiled potatoes and little sour pickles into our bubbling crock we rejoined the crowds on the cobblestone street We cheered a flag thrower in native dress as he twirled and tossed a Swiss flag high into the air in time with the alphorn music We urged on a cheese maker wielding a long wooden paddle as he stirred a bubbling cauldron We petted the prized milk-producing goats as they nuzzled anyone who would greet them we joined throngs of people on the lakefront A party boat filled with revelers anchored nearby; their lively music thumped across the water friends and tourists gathered near the shore and ate drank and chatted as the day wound to a close with fireworks bursting over the water A jam-packed day and evening spent in three municipalities left us with unforgettable impressions of Switzerland TELL US WHERE YOU'VE BEEN: To contribute to Your Travels high-resolution JPEG attachment photo and a description or essay of up to 400 words to traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com We are unable to acknowledge individual submissions but we will contact you when your item is scheduled to be published Vevey and the vineyards of Lavaux makes for an unforgettable festive break for food lovers Get your weekly dose of armchair travelling