Vevey, the chief town of the Canton of Valais, lies on Lake Geneva at the mouth of the river Veveyse and is dominated on the north by Mont Pèlerin (1,084 m/3,557ft) and the Plèiades (1,364 m/4,475ft). Every 25 years the "Fête des Vignerons", a unique vintners' festival is held here (last in 1999),
which includes many folklore events.
Vevey lies on the Simplon railroad line and is a highway junction (N9 /E2 and N12 /E4).
In Roman times, Vevey (Viviscus) was the most important port on Lake Geneva. The town received its municipal charter about 1200 and, during the Middle Ages it rose to prosperity as a trading station on the road from Burgundy to Piedmont. It began to develop into a major tourist attraction in the 19th C.
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