Freddie Mercury

The life-size bronze statue of Freddie Mercury has stood on the Place du Marché along the Lake Geneva promenade since 1996, making it one of Europe's most visited rock music memorials. Czech sculptor Irena Sedlecká portrayed Mercury in his signature stage stance — one fist raised to the sky. The tribute is rooted in a genuine personal connection: Mercury spent extended periods in Montreux during the final years of his life, recording several Queen albums at the nearby Mountain Studios and finding the town's lakeside calm a respite from the spotlight. Those studios are today a Queen-dedicated museum, anchoring a broader Mercury trail through the town. In the evening, the statue is lit against a backdrop of the Alps and the still waters of Lac Léman.