Montreux Suisse Circa 1960

This vibrant original travel poster from the 1960s captures the sun-drenched leisure of Montreux, the iconic Swiss Riviera town nestled between the Alps and the shores of Lake Geneva. Designed as part of the Swiss National Tourist Office’s postwar promotional campaigns, it reflects a time when tourism was booming, and Switzerland positioned itself as a destination of health, beauty, and modern glamour.

At the heart of the composition is a striking color photograph — a lively panoramic view of Montreux’s lakeside pool, with bathers and sunseekers spread across tiled decks shaded by parasols and palm trees. The scene is framed by the tranquil blue waters of Lake Geneva, a historic paddle steamer gliding through its surface, and the majestic snow-capped Alps beyond. It’s a striking juxtaposition of summer pleasure against a backdrop of eternal ice.

The typography is simple and bold: Montreux is written in bright, cursive yellow — energetic, fresh, and informal — evoking a handwritten note or a postcard from paradise. Beneath, the name appears in three languages — French, English, and German — underscoring the cosmopolitan and multilingual appeal of the destination.

This poster is not only a celebration of Montreux’s natural grandeur and modern amenities, but also a powerful expression of mid-century optimism. It speaks to a time when international travel was a marker of sophistication, and when Montreux, with its famous jazz festival, Belle Époque hotels, and lakeside promenades, offered a glamorous gateway to the alpine dream.

Today, this piece remains a rare and desirable collectible — a snapshot of 1960s European resort culture and a masterclass in photographic poster design. Whether as décor or historical document, it embodies the timeless allure of Swiss leisure at its finest.

Tourism - Photography - Switzerland

Lake Geneva

Printed by Klausfelder in Vevey

Good condition, slight creases