Museum Exhibits

The interior of Château de Chillon is a museum in its own right. The castle stands on a rocky islet at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, near Montreux, and its history reaches back over a thousand years, from a Roman-era and early medieval site to a strategic toll fortress controlling the road between the lake and the Alpine passes. Its most important owners were the Counts, later Dukes, of Savoy, who held it from the 12th century and expanded it into the form that survives. In 1536 the Bernese took it from the Savoyards and used it as a bailiff’s seat and arsenal, and in 1798 it became part of the new canton of Vaud.

A visit moves through a labyrinth of rooms, halls, courtyards and towers on several levels, with a route that follows the building’s development. The great halls have vaulted ceilings, wooden beams and large fireplaces, and they show how the Savoyard court lived and received guests. The living quarters of the Counts, with painted rooms and carved furniture, have been reconstructed, and the Chapel of Saint George holds traces of medieval wall paintings. Weapons, tools and furnishings give an impression of daily life in a castle that served at times as a court, an arsenal and a prison.

The dungeons are the most atmospheric part. These vaulted cellars at the water level were used as a prison and as a storeroom, and they are linked to François Bonivard, a Genevan monk and political prisoner who was held here in the 16th century for his opposition to the Duke of Savoy. His story inspired Lord Byron’s poem The Prisoner of Chillon, written in 1816 after Byron visited the castle, and Byron’s name is carved on one of the pillars in the dungeon. Other visitors have left graffiti over the years, and the marks form an informal record of the castle’s fame among travellers of the Romantic period. The poem’s popularity made Chillon one of the best-known castles in Europe in the 19th century.

The castle’s position on the lake shore adds to the experience, since windows and walkways give views over the water and the Alps, and the walls seem to rise directly out of the lake. A separate entry covers the exterior and setting of the castle, so this one concentrates on the rooms and objects. Opening times, prices and special exhibitions change, so check the official website, and bring a light jacket since the stone interior can be cool.

The exhibits suit history lovers, families with older children and anyone interested in the literary side of Chillon. Allow two hours, and avoid the middle of the day in summer if you want fewer crowds.