Mont Pèlerin, Mountain summit at 1080 meters in canton Vaud, Switzerland
Mont Pèlerin is a mountain summit rising above Lake Geneva, composed of sedimentary rock with dense forests covering much of its slopes. The terrain transitions from forested areas to cultivated vineyards lower down, creating distinct landscape zones.
The summit gained international attention in 1947 when it hosted the founding meeting of an organization focused on economic and political thought. This event established it as a notable location in the history of postwar policy discussions.
The slopes host vineyards that belong to the UNESCO-protected Lavaux wine region, shaping the landscape with traditions passed down through generations. Local growers maintain these terraces as part of their daily work and cultural identity.
The Vevey–Chardonne–Mont Pèlerin funicular is a cable railway, not a rack railway, and it links Vevey with the Mont Pèlerin station at 810 metres. The summit itself, at 1,080 metres, lies on the wooded crest above the resort. The line runs from the Lake Geneva shore up through Chardonne, so the climb is steep and the upper station sits below the true top.
The summit's broadcasting tower is named Plein Ciel. The wooded top also holds Rabten Choeling, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and study centre founded there by Geshe Rabten Rinpoche in 1977, which visitors may notice among the trees.
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