Off the Beaten Path - Lausanne Travel Guide

The most amazing spectacle at the Lac Leman – Lake Geneva is the magnificent Chateau de Chillon. The castle is among the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. Occupying the whole islet in the like, it looks like rising from the water – stunning and almost surreal!

Here are a few facts about the history of the castle taken from the leaflet-guide: "In its current state, the Castle of Chillon is the result of several centuries of constant building, adaptations, renovations and restorations. The small rocky island on which the castle is built, acted both as natural protection and a strategic location to control the movement between the north and south of Europe. The history of the castle was marked by three important periods: the Savoy era (12th century to 1536), the Bernese era (1536 – 1798) and the Vaudois era (1798 until today). Excavations carried out from the end of the 19th century, particularly those by the cantonal archeologist Albert Naef (1862 – 1936), indicate that the site of Chillon has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The oldest written mention of the castle dates from 1150 and establishes that the House of Savoy already controlled the fortress and hence the path along the lake shore. The Swiss, more specifically the Bernese, conquered the Vaud region and occupied Chillon in 1536. For more than 260 years the castle was used as a fortress, arsenal and prison. The Bernese left Chillon in 1798 at the time of the Vaud revolution. The castle became the property of the Canton of Vaud when it was founded in 1803. The restoration of the historical monument began at the end of the 19th century and continues today."

It is very easy to spend hours wandering all over the castle. Among the most interesting parts of the castle are huge Coat-of-Arms Hall with the designs painted in the 13th and the 16th century, and Aula Magna overlooking at the lake, Chapel of the dukes of Savoy with the partially preserved 14th century decoration, toilets… But the most breathtaking is underground prison, so called Bonivard Prison for its famous prisoner who inspired Lord Byron to wrote the poem The Prisoner Of Chillon.

Leaflet-guides and audio-guides propose systematic tour and short but very useful information. The best time to enter the castle and to avoid crowds is early in the morning, just after the opening.

The only direct connection between Lausanne and Chateau de Chillon is by boat. By land the castle can be reached from Montreux by foot or City bus #1. Trains from Lausanne Central Train Station – Gare CFF to Montreux are very frequent.

Off the Beaten Path in Lausanne

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Lausanne Off the Beaten Path

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