Chillon Castle

Chillon Castle is a medieval fortress built on a rocky islet on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva near Montreux. The castle’s masonry and surviving rooms date mainly from the 12th century onward and it is one of Switzerland’s best-preserved medieval fortifications.

The complex includes a fortified keep, vaulted halls, a chapel and a network of courtyards and ramparts that hug the rock island at water level. Interiors and defensive structures are accessible to visitors and display medieval architectural features and exhibits on the castle’s history.

The site was developed and expanded by regional rulers in the medieval period, notably by the Counts of Savoy, and later served military and administrative roles; it underwent restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries to preserve the fabric and open interiors to the public.

Chillon sits on a narrow rocky promontory at the edge of Lake Geneva, immediately adjacent to the lakeside road and rail corridor, and a short distance from the town of Montreux. The castle is commonly visited on day trips from nearby lakeside towns.

• Visitor access: Opened to the public as a historic site with interior rooms and battlements accessible on a guided or self-guided route, it is commonly visited from Montreux and Lausanne.

What to See #

• Keep and inner rooms: The central keep and inner rooms on a rocky islet, including reception halls, vaulted chambers and a chapel that illustrate medieval defensive and residential architecture.
• Outer defences: Curtain walls, ramparts and courtyards that enclose the castle complex and connect the main buildings to the lake shore.
• Chapel: A small castle chapel with preserved medieval decoration and vaulted stonework, located within the main complex.