French Language Immersion Tour – Switzerland

Montreux, on Lake Geneva, is famous as the home of many writers, including Rousseau and Nabokov. It was near here that Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley spent several nights, and where Mary wrote Frankenstein. Montreux was also a haven for Catherine Barkley and Lt. Frederic Henry in Ernest Hemingway's classic, A Farewell to Arms.

Our home for the next six evenings will be with our homestay families in Montreux, where breakfast and dinner will be provided daily.

We will enjoy a tour of the town and the lakeside that locals refer to as the “Swiss Riviera.” This is one of the most beautiful walks you can take along the lake, stretching from Villeneuve all the way towards Vevey.

This morning, we will begin our French Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.

Visit one of Switzerland's most picturesque castles. Perched on an island close to the shore of Lake Geneva, the castle was originally built to control the road from Burgundy to the Great Saint Bernard Pass but from the mid 12th century it acted as a summer home to the Counts of Savoy.

Continue with our language classes this morning.

View the Place de la Palud featuring the Hôtel de Ville (town hall), which has a 17th century Renaissance facade and today is the headquarters of the Communal Council. Also on the square is the Fountain of Justice, dating from 1726. We continue up the Escaliers du Marché, a covered flight of medieval stairs on one side of the square, to the Cathedral of Lausanne.

Continue with our language classes this morning.

Discover the secrets around the origins and manufacturing of our chocolate. Along with some unforgettable memories, you will be able to take your very own chocolate home with you.

Explore one of the most famous castles in Switzerland and a Swiss heritage site of national significance. Gruyères Castle has stood proudly atop a verdant hill in the heart of Switzerland since the 13th century.

Continue with our language classes this morning

We take a Walking Tour along the Left Bank of the old quarter. View the Jet d’ Eau, Geneva’s trademark. This beautiful fountain throws water 460 feet into the air and is visible for miles. Continue to the Jardin Anglais, where we will view the world famous Flower Clock, which is made of carefully landscaped beds of flowers, and its keeps perfect time.

We will dine this evening in a local restaurant.

This morning, we will participate in our final French Language Class

The rest of the day will be free to discover Montreux and spend more time with your host families.

This evening we will enjoy a dinner with our homestay families to bring closure to our experience

Enjoy a tour of Old Town. We will stop to view the Clock Tower, where we will view the world's oldest and biggest Horological Pupper Show. Mechanical bears, jesters, and emperors put on an animated performance, which has been staged since 1530.

We will begin by viewing the Lion Monument which was created in 1820 in honor of the Swiss Guards who lost their lives in 1792 during the French Revolution. Next we will view the impressive Jesuitenkirche which was the first large baroque church built in Switzerland. The baroque style architecture is quite ostentatious but is supposed to represent the power and glory of the Catholic tradition. Lastly, we will bask in the beauty found in the historical heart of Lucerne as we stroll through the picturesque medieval Weinmarkt square and the Kornmarkt square which contains the Town Hall and beautifully painted Pfistern guildhall.

This evening we will dine at a local restaurant.

Enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surrounding and pristine area

The rest of the day will be free time for shopping and exploration in Lucerne.

This evening we will dine at a local restaurant.