B3 ⌂ 21 Ave de Chillon # 10am–5pm daily ¢ 1 Jan and 25 Dec ∑ chillon.ch
This enchanting medieval castle, set on a rocky spur on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva, is one of Switzerland’s most evocative sights and attracts hordes of visitors each year.
t Built on a rocky island, the castle was also defended by thick walls and three semicircular turrets.
Built for the Dukes of Savoy, the castle’s origins probably go back to the 11th century; however, its present appearance dates from the 13th century. In 1536, the castle was captured by the Bernese, and from then until 1798 it was the seat of the region’s Bernese bailiffs. Following the Vaudois Revolution of 1798, the castle became national property and has belonged ever since to the canton of Vaud. Throughout its history the castle was the centre of court life, and it was also used as a prison. Its most famous captive was François Bonivard, imprisoned there from 1530 to 1536. Today, the castle’s many guided tours (by reservation only) are a great way to explore its history.
Experience Western Switzerland
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imprisonment of François Bonivard
Born in 1493, François Bonivard was the prior of St Victor, a monastery just outside Geneva. Following his opposition to the Duke of Savoy’s infringements against the liberties of the city of Geneva, he was held prisoner at Chillon for six long years. Bonivard was finally freed in 1536, when the Bernese attacked and gained control of the castle. He was later immortalized by Lord Byron in the long narrative poem The Prisoner of Chillon, which he wrote in Ouchy while travelling with fellow authors Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley, in 1816.
Did You Know?
The castle’s damp, dark dungeons are cut into the bedrock of the island itself.