Fairmont Le Montreux Palace

Built in 1906, Le Montreux Palace is situated on the shores of Switzerland's Lake Geneva, overlooking the Alps. This opulent 19-century hotel has hosted Russian tsars, Sarah Bernhardt, Richard Strauss (who was inspired to compose his most famous waltzes here), and more recently, Sophia Loren, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson and Vladimir Nabokov. Famous for its Art Nouveau architecture - detailed frescos, stained glass windows, and chandeliers gracing the interior - this historic hotel is one of the best in the world.