A new business has just been launched in the Lake Geneva region offering "back-to-the-roots" adventures and "alternative" experiences for both holidaymakers and local residents, which extend way beyond the traditional routes taken by red tour buses!
Called Chantal & Max, the new “experience agency” offers tailored activities around Lake Geneva, which are hosted by hand-picked, qualified locals, and have been created for special occasions, weekend outings or team-building events that allow you to escape the ordinary.
Describing their new business to knowitall.ch, the founders, Chantal Wäger and Max Desroche, told knowitall.ch, "We take the time that our clients don’t have to find activities that are off the beaten path and that share our three values: social interaction, local interest and experience. In short, our motto is: Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to share, not stuff to show!"
What kind of activities?
From the most basic to the most original, from gourmet to active, from being on the ground to flying up in the air, all of the experiences offered by Chantal & Max have been tested to ensure that clients have a guaranteed souvenir to take home: pictures, stories and unforgettable memories. The cherry on top? You’ll be accompanied by passionate and engaging locals who are looking forward to welcoming you.
Montreux Jazz Festival © 2016 FFJM - Emiliem Itim
From 30 June to 15 July, sensational youths and breakthrough bands of the moment will punctuate the free stages of the Montreux Jazz Festival. More than 250 concerts, DJ sets, and workshops await festivalgoers at 8 venues, from noon to 5am.
Click here to download the full programme of free events!
Look out this year for: Cigarettes After Sex, Daniel Avery, Flavia Coelho, Cosmo Pyke, Nicola Cruz, Hunee, Jessy Lanza, Gaby Moreno, Pandour, The Pirouettes, Polo & Pan, Roméo Elvis, Schlømo, Andy Stott, Junior Tshaka, Warhaus, Whitney, Yellow Teeth...
The free programming also showcases local artists including more than 80 from Switzerland this year. For the 51st edition of the Festival, Lisztomania takes over from the Rock Cave with an eclectic program steeped in discoveries and indie music.
The Festival's free programming also includes lakeside promenades, with colorful neon lights, bars, and food stands. A new 150-meter-long terrace, overhanging the lake, will make it easier to circulate on the lakefront. The total surface area built over the water has grown from 1500 to 2400m2.
The official website of the City of Geneva has updated the English pages of its cultural section with a series of heritage trails that take in local museums and landmarks.
Ideal for both local residents and visiting tourists, the trails are published with printable illustrated maps and audio commentaries, which include special interviews with representatives from the museums. The maps include a wealth of useful information on nearby restaurants, toilets, Wi Fi hotspots and transport, and can be followed on foot or bicycle. There is an audio commentary for each of the main attractions featured on the Cultural Trails, which can be downloaded free of charge via the website or via the iTunes store before you set out on your walk.
At the time of writing there are currently 4 Cultural Trails available on the website, covering separate districts within Geneva. Each of these has its own unique range of attractions ranging from museums and monuments through to public works of art and interesting historical anecdotes! These are:
Trail 1, Nations:
Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – Museum of Swiss People in the World – International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum – Ariana Museum – The League of Nations Museum – History of Science Museum
Trail 2, Tranchées:
Museum of Art and History – Cabinet d’arts graphiques (prints and drawings) – Baur Foundation, the Museum of Far Eastern Art – Natural History Museum
Serena, 2004. © Bob Martin (British, born 1959)
Enter your best photos to win a prize and get your image displayed at The Olympic Museum!
A new series of photographic exhibitions and events has just been launched at The Olympic Museum, exploring sports photography from numerous different angles.
Called “The Art of Sports Photography”, the new program of events runs until 19 November 2017 and includes a special competition in which the public is invited to submit their best photos, showing family, friends and neighbours playing sport in unusual places, in fun, fantastic or acrobatic ways… indeed whatever way you fancy!
Whilst everyone is familiar with the images of sport practiced at official competition venues, not everyone appreciates the many other ways in which sport can be played, in the parks, bedrooms, back yards, beaches, picnic areas, and even bus shelters! So, The Olympic Museum invites you to get creative and think about how you or your friends might like to get more into sport within your neighborhood.
To find out more about the competition, which closes to entries on Tuesday 11 July, visit the official website of the contest here. Prizes range from three different cameras in the Jury competition to headphones, or a watch or book in the Public competition. There will be a prize for the photo with the most likes on Instagram, and another for the most retweeted photo on Twitter!
In addition to the photo competition, The Olympic Museum is also running the following events:
As the hot weather arrives what better place to cool down than the top of a mountain – providing you don’t have to walk up it to get there!
With this in mind, the Société du Téléphérique du Salève has offered our readers the chance to win 2 free return tickets to ascend Geneva’s most famous mountain, Mont Saléve, by cable car! There are five pairs of tickets up for grabs!
Taking you to an altitude of 1100m in less than 5 minutes, the cable car provides you with some of the most stunning views of Geneva that you will ever experience. Once you get to the top, there are numerous opportunities to explore the mountain further, or take part in some of the varied activities which have been set up for families and friends to have fun.
Free minigolf
Throughout the month of June, anyone using the Téléphérique du Salève can take advantage of a free, 9-hole minigolf course when they reach the summit of the station! Equipment can be collected at the small cabin situated at the top after your arrival.
