| Name: | Chillon Castle |
| Construction started: | 11th century |
| Commissioned by: | unknown |
| Major expansion: | 13th century |
| Commissioned by: | Peter II of Savoy |
| Architectural style: | Romanesque and Gothic |
| Building materials: | natural stone, wood and brick |
| Visitor numbers: | approx. 400,000 visitors per year |
Chillon Castle: Medieval Fortress on Lake Geneva
Location: Chillon Castle stands on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva near Montreux, in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It was built on a small rocky island just off the lakeshore. Its dramatic setting between the water and the steep Alpine slopes shapes the castle’s distinctive appearance and has made it a landmark of the region.
Significance: Chillon Castle is one of Switzerland’s best-known and most visited historic attractions and a landmark of the Montreux Riviera. More than 400,000 people visit the castle each year.
Early History: Archaeological finds show that the rocky island of Chillon was already inhabited during the Bronze Age. During the Middle Ages, a fortified complex gradually developed there, including an early chapel, defensive walls and additional buildings. The keep at the centre of today’s castle was probably built in the 11th century and is the oldest part of the complex still visible today. Chillon Castle was first mentioned in written records in 1150. By then, it was already owned by the Counts of Savoy.
Savoy Period: Under the Savoys, Chillon developed into an important fortress, residence and administrative centre. Its position on a major route between northern and southern Europe allowed the Savoys to control traffic along Lake Geneva and collect tolls from travellers and merchants. In the 13th century, Peter II of Savoy had the castle extensively enlarged and transformed into a more comfortable residence. Much of its present appearance dates from this period. As trade increased, part of the customs administration was moved to Villeneuve, which had been founded in 1214. Further expansion and decorative work followed in the 15th century. Even so, Chillon gradually lost importance as the rulers of Savoy increasingly preferred other residences.
The Plague: During the plague epidemic of 1348, Jewish people in the region were falsely accused of poisoning wells and spreading the disease. Around 40 Jewish men, women and children imprisoned at Chillon Castle were taken from their cells and abused. They were then brought to Villeneuve, where they were killed without trial on pyres along the lakeshore. This event is one of the darkest chapters in Chillon’s history and was part of the severe persecution of Jews across Europe during the plague years.
Bernese Period: In 1536, the Bernese conquered the Vaud region and captured Chillon Castle after a three-week siege. The castle then became the administrative centre of the Bailiwick of Vevey and the residence of the Bernese bailiff. At the same time, Chillon remained a fortress and served as an arsenal, prison and accommodation for soldiers. At various times, the complex was also used as a hospital for invalids and even as a shipyard. The Bernese adapted the defences for the use of firearms and increasingly used many of the rooms for practical and military purposes. In 1733, the bailiff moved his residence to Vevey because the remote castle no longer met growing expectations of comfort. Chillon consequently lost even more of its political importance and was later used mainly for storage.
Vaud Period: During the Vaud Revolution, patriots from Vevey and Montreux took control of Chillon Castle on 10 January 1798 after the Bernese garrison offered no resistance. When the canton of Vaud was established in 1803, the castle permanently became its property. At first, Chillon remained a functional building and was used, among other things, as a weapons and ammunition store and as a cantonal prison. At the same time, travellers, writers and artists increasingly discovered the medieval castle as a romantic destination. Lord Byron’s visit in 1816 and his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon” played a major role in making the castle internationally famous.
Restoration: As interest in the castle’s history grew, systematic research and restoration began in the late 19th century. In 1887, an association was founded to preserve the building and establish a museum. A few years later, a scientifically supervised restoration programme began. From 1896, archaeologist Albert Naef carried out extensive excavations and documented walls, floors, courtyards and numerous finds with exceptional care for the time. The restoration work became a milestone in modern heritage conservation in Switzerland and continues in adapted form to this day. Chillon Castle remains the property of the canton of Vaud. Since 2002, the Chillon Castle Foundation has been responsible for its operation, preservation and restoration.
Layout: Chillon Castle combines the features of a heavily fortified stronghold with those of a princely residence. On the mountain side, massive walls, arrow slits and other defensive structures protected the castle. On the lakeside, by contrast, large Gothic windows define the former living quarters of the Savoys. The complex follows the oval shape of the rocky island, which is around 100 metres long and 50 metres wide. A natural moat filled with lake water separates it from the shore and gives Chillon the character of a water castle.
Gothic Lower Levels: The extensive lower levels are particularly impressive, with their 13th-century Gothic vaults that resemble a church more than a medieval castle. Originally, these rooms were mainly used as cellars and storage spaces for wine, food, goods and weapons. Towards the end of the 13th century, part of the lower level was converted into a prison. In several places, the island’s natural rock still projects directly into the rooms, giving them a distinctive atmosphere.
State Rooms: Among the most impressive interiors of Chillon Castle are the Aula Magna, the Castellan’s Hall and the Domus Clericorum on the lakeside of the complex. The Aula Magna was the Savoys’ most important ceremonial hall and is especially notable for its black marble columns, large windows overlooking Lake Geneva, historic ceiling and fireplace. The Castellan’s Hall once served as the dining room of the castle administrator and preserves an exceptional amount of medieval fabric, including its original 13th-century oak columns. The current wall decoration, however, dates only from the restoration carried out in the early 20th century. The Domus Clericorum, or House of the Clerks, was an important administrative centre for the castle and the Chablais region during the Middle Ages. Particularly notable are its wall paintings, reconstructed in the 20th century using surviving traces of 13th-century colour.
Camera Domini: The Camera Domini was the private bedroom of the Counts and later Dukes of Savoy and is one of the most richly decorated rooms in Chillon Castle. Commissioned by Count Aymon of Savoy, the painter Jean de Grandson decorated the walls between 1341 and 1344 with an elaborate programme featuring coats of arms, plants, and both real and fantastical animals. One of the most striking details is the depiction of Saint George fighting the dragon above the fireplace.
Museum: Chillon Castle is now a museum. The permanent visitor route passes through 36 rooms and brings the history and architecture of the complex to life. Around 300 objects are displayed along the route, including archaeological finds, historic furniture, weapons and armour. Many of the exhibits come from the extensive excavations carried out at the castle between 1896 and 1903.
Chapel: Beneath the first castle courtyard are the remains of an earlier chapel dating from the 11th or 12th century, which probably served both the castle and the settlement of Chillon at the time. It was abandoned in the 13th century after a new sacred space, the Saint George Chapel, was created within the castle. This became the private chapel of the Counts and later Dukes of Savoy and was decorated in the early 14th century with important wall and vault paintings depicting biblical scenes. After the Reformation, the Bernese first used the room as a granary and later as a gunpowder store. In the 19th century, it was eventually used as a place of worship for prisoners. Despite these changing uses, parts of the medieval decoration have survived to this day.
Origin of the Name: The name “Chillon” probably comes from an old regional word meaning a flat stone or slab of rock. The name therefore refers directly to the rocky island on which the castle was built.
