Castle · Montreux, Vaud

Château de Chillon

Medieval castle on a rock in Lake Léman, in Veytaux, residence of the Counts of Savoy and later of the Bernese bailiffs, with painted rooms, a chapel and the dungeon that inspired Lord Byron.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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About Château de Chillon

Château de Chillon stands on a rock in the lake, in Veytaux, between Montreux and Villeneuve. The name Castrum Quilonis appears in documents from 1195, and the main tower began to be built in the 11th century. From the mid-12th century the castle served as a summer residence for the Counts of Savoy, who extended it in 1248 and 1266.

In 1536 an army from Bern captured the castle and freed the prisoners. Chillon became the residence of the Bernese bailiff until 1798. The complex comprises 25 buildings around three courtyards, as well as underground passages opened in the rock.

The visit covers dozens of rooms. The chapel has paintings commissioned in 1314. The camera domini, the count’s chamber, preserves murals made between 1341 and 1343, featuring an animal garden and a St George above the fireplace. The Hall of Coats of Arms has a painted frieze from the Bernese period.

In the underground dungeons François Bonivard, a monk and historian from Geneva, was imprisoned for six years in the 1530s. The story inspired Lord Byron, who visited the castle and in 1816 wrote the poem The Prisoner of Chillon; tradition says he carved his name on one of the columns. Jean-Jacques Rousseau also set a scene near Chillon in the novel Julie, ou la Nouvelle Héloïse.

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Before you go

Practical information

Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.

How much time to set aside

One to two hours.

Best time

Right at opening time or late in the afternoon, outside the busiest hours of the European summer. The view of the castle from the waterfront is lovely at the end of the day.

How to get there

On foot via the lakeside promenade, the walk from Montreux takes about 40 minutes. Veytaux-Chillon station is around five minutes on foot, and buses run from Montreux and Vevey. CGN boats stop at the castle quay.