On the Place du Marché, beside Lake Geneva, the Freddie Mercury statue is one of Montreux’s landmarks.
Unveiled in 1996, this bronze monument honours the Queen singer and his special connection with the town.
With his fist raised to the sky and one hand holding his microphone stand, Freddie seems to be greeting his audience once again. This silhouette recalls the energy of his concerts and his command of the stage. Before him, the lake and mountains form a setting very different from a stadium: a town where he came to work and find a measure of tranquillity.
Whether you admire Queen or are simply passing through the Vaud Riviera, the statue makes a rewarding stop when exploring Montreux on foot. You can pause for a few moments, look at the tributes left at its feet, then continue along the lakeside promenade. To understand what this monument reveals about the singer’s life, Freddie Tours guided tours build on this first encounter with stories, photos and anecdotes about his stays in Montreux.
More than a landmark in travel photos, the statue is a shared place of remembrance. Visitors from many countries gather here to honour Freddie Mercury, share a memory or discover why the singer’s name remains such a presence in Montreux.
Flowers, letters, drawings and other expressions of affection are regularly left at the foot of the monument. These gestures give it a living dimension: each visit may reveal a different tribute, a message in another language or a moment of quiet reflection. The site is as much a part of local residents’ daily walks as it is a destination for those who travel here especially for Freddie.
At certain times, particularly around the singer’s birthday, this connection becomes a collective experience. Freddie Days in Montreux brings people together through his music and that of Queen, near the statue and the Marché Couvert. The monument thus remains a meeting point between the artist’s story, the town and the generations who continue to discover his songs.
Where is the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux?
The statue stands on Montreux’s Place du Marché, beside Lake Geneva and very close to the Marché Couvert.
Set along the lakeside, it forms part of a promenade where you can enjoy the scenery while exploring the town centre. It is a useful landmark for starting a visit devoted to Freddie Mercury.
From Montreux railway station, head down to the lakeside, then follow the promenade towards the Place du Marché. You can make the journey on foot, gradually discovering the waterfront along the way. To choose your exact route from your accommodation or a transport stop, use the map below. The statue is a public outdoor monument: no entry ticket is needed to see it.
A work by sculptor Irena Sedlecká
The monument was created by Irena Sedlecká, a Czech-born sculptor who settled in the United Kingdom and was known for her portrait work. Standing three metres tall, this bronze work gives Freddie Mercury a monumental presence while retaining an instantly recognisable stance.
The pose evokes the singer in full performance: his stance firmly grounded, his arm raised, the microphone stand an extension of his stage persona. The bronze does not reproduce the colours of his costumes, it is the movement, the silhouette and the expression of confidence that bring the artist to mind. Take time to look at the work from several sides: the gesture looks different depending on whether you stand facing the lake or on the town side.
The unveiling on 25 November 1996
The statue was unveiled on 25 November 1996, five years after Freddie Mercury’s death. Those attending the ceremony included his parents, his sister, Brian May and Montserrat Caballé. The presence of people close to him and figures from his musical life gave this tribute both a public and a personal significance.
The choice of Montreux reflects a connection with the town that went far beyond an occasional visit. By placing the monument on the lakeside, the tribute became part of a landscape Freddie knew and appreciated. Since its unveiling, the statue has become a meeting place for Queen admirers and a source of curiosity for those discovering this story.
Why is Freddie Mercury associated with Montreux?
Freddie Mercury and Queen worked in Montreux at Mountain Studios, inside the Casino de Montreux. The band recorded here over several stays, and the singer made some of his final vocal recordings here. This musical activity partly explains his continuing place in the town’s memory.
But Montreux also represents a different pace of life: the shores of Lake Geneva, the scenery and the chance to step away from the bustle of the big stages. The statue invites visitors to bring these two sides together: the artist the world knew and the man who found a more peaceful setting here.
The Freddie Mercury and Montreux page explores these connections in more depth. To discover the place where this musical history unfolded, you can also visit Queen - The Studio Experience, the exhibition housed in the former studios. Visiting both the statue and the studio helps explain why Montreux holds a special place in Queen’s story.
What is the connection with the Made in Heaven album cover?
The sculpted silhouette of Freddie Mercury is also associated with the cover of Made in Heaven, the Queen album released in November 1995. The record was completed after the singer’s death, drawing in part on the recordings he had left behind. The Lake Geneva setting and the figure facing the landscape strengthened the association between this album and Montreux.
The chronology does, however, need a little explanation: the album was released before the unveiling of the lakeside monument in November 1996. The cover therefore does not show the statue already installed at its current public location. Keeping these two dates in mind helps distinguish the album image from the history of the memorial.
Planning your visit: free access and practical advice
You can see the statue freely from the public promenade, with no reservation needed to access the monument itself. It stands outdoors, so dress for the weather and the time you plan to spend by the lake. A short stop is enough to see the work, but you can also include it in a longer walk around Montreux.
Keep the path around the statue clear, respect the tributes left at its feet and avoid climbing on the monument for a photo.
For a first visit, leave a little time after your stop: the lakeside, the Marché Couvert and the places connected with Freddie are best discovered without rushing. If you would like to take a guided tour, choose your route and an available date in advance. Freddie Tours departures can be booked online: check the available time slots to plan your day.
Photographing the statue beside Lake Geneva
The statue takes on a new look with every season. Morning and sunset light reflects on Lake Geneva and outlines Freddie’s silhouette against the mountains. Even when you return to the same spot, the scene changes with the sky, colours and reflections.
In winter, snow-covered peaks form a spectacular backdrop. In spring and summer, the flower-filled lakeside promenades add colour, in autumn, the light and the hues of the landscape create a different atmosphere. Every season offers a beautiful image of Montreux to take home.
Discover more with a Freddie Tour
The statue is a starting point, but it cannot tell the whole story of Freddie Mercury’s stays in Montreux on its own. A guided tour puts the places into context, connects memories with the scenery and helps explain the relationship between Queen, the studios and the town.
The Freddie Tours in Montreux offer two routes: the one-hour Freddie Tour covering the main sights, or the 2h30 Freddie Tour Extended for a longer visit. A guide accompanies the walk, with a multimedia audioguide in six languages. Photos, videos and anecdotes add another dimension to places you might otherwise pass without knowing their history.
You can choose to discover the statue independently, complement your walk with the Queen - The Studio Experience exhibition, or book a guided route according to the time you have available. The most important thing is to take time to see Montreux differently, through the traces Freddie Mercury left behind.
The Montreux statue and the memory of We Will Rock You in London
Freddie Mercury’s raised fist is also part of the visual history of the musical We Will Rock You. Inspired by Irena Sedlecká’s work, another large statue of the singer was installed above London’s Dominion Theatre. The musical played there from 2002 to 2014. The London figure was removed at the end of that period, it should not be confused with the bronze monument on Montreux’s lakeside.
This connection illustrates the power of a silhouette that has become recognisable far beyond the concert stage. In Montreux, however, it takes on a particular meaning: a tribute set in a town that mattered in Freddie Mercury’s life and work, facing a landscape with which his story remains intertwined.
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