The Montreux Jazz Festival is what you probably know this lakeside town for. However, Montreux also has a deep history and relationship with Freddie Mercury.
Although he initially hated the town when he arrived, it grew on him over time. Once he was diagnosed with AIDS and his need for peace and quiet increased, the idea of settling in Montreux came to the fore.
Freddie moved to Montreux in 1987 and the band followed him there too. They found a place to create a studio and recorded a total of seven albums in this town including their final masterpiece “Made in Heaven.”.
The town was somewhat of a refuge from the unrelenting Freddie Mercury fans. The Swiss do not bother celebrities as much as in other countries so they could live somewhat normal lives while they were here. Freddie could be seen around town eating and drinking and had a lovely place right on the lakeside as well.
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Freddie Mercury Statue
In 1996, Freddie Mercury’s bronze statue was erected on the lakeside promenade of Montreux. Given Freddie’s larger-than-life presence in the town, and the history of Queen and their recordings here, it is certainly no surprise.
The statue of Freddie Mercury is certainly large, at 3 meters, and can be found at the market square in Montreux. You can get a great shot of the statue and the distant mountains and Lake Geneva behind.
The Studio Experience (Museum)
The studio where Queen recorded their albums was called Montreux Mountain Studios and it was located at Casino Barrière Montreux. They used the studio from 1978 onwards and owned it between 1979 and 1993. Today it houses a museum of sorts called the Studio Experience, which was opened on December 2, 2013.
Inside is a range of Queen memorabilia including handwritten song lyrics, many of the band’s outfits, musical instruments, and tape boxes as well as the original studio where the band recorded. The studio is more or less exactly as it was when they recorded, the only thing updated is the mixing station which has been recreated from the original
You will find the Studio Experience just along the shoreline from the statue of Freddie Mercury.
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Address Rue du Théâtre 9, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland (Google Maps)
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 9 pm
Ticket Prices: Free
Where did Freddie Mercury live in Montreux?
Freddie Mercury lived in the Duck House in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is located at Rue du Lac 165, and can be found here.
Freddie Mercury loved living at the Duck house as it was a real refuge for him and offered fantastic views and privacy. The house is currently rentable online on Interhome.
Why does Switzerland have a statue of Freddie Mercury?
In 1996 the city of Montreux decided to create a statue of Freddie Mercury on the shores of Lake Geneva to commemorate the significant time he spent there.
What did Freddie Mercury say about Montreux?
Freddie Mercury famously said “If you want peace of mind, come to Montreux!”.
Why did Queen record in Montreux?
Queen first came to Montreux after their European Tour “New of the World” so they could record their next album in peace. Although Freddie Mercury was not a fan of the location at the time, mostly because it was too quiet, he came to love it later in his life. Queen went on to spend significant time here recording seven albums in total.
