Septième Musicales (Concert Series)

Chillon Castle, the Château de Chillon, is best known as a museum and a monument, but it is also used as a concert venue, and the Septième Musicales concert series belongs to that side of its life. Details of programmes change from season to season, so there is no fixed schedule, and anyone planning to attend should check the castle’s own information for dates, artists and tickets. The castle stands on a rocky islet at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, near Montreux, a town that has been associated with music for generations through its jazz festival, its classical concerts and the many composers and performers who have lived or worked on this shore.

Chillon offers settings that suit chamber and classical music. The main courtyards are enclosed by high stone walls that give the sound a clear and warm quality, and the vaulted halls, with their beams, thick walls and large fireplaces, give a more intimate acoustic that is well suited to small ensembles, solo recitals and early music. Concerts in such places have an atmosphere that is hard to reproduce in a modern hall. The castle’s lighting, the smell of stone and the sense of being in a building that has seen a thousand years of history all add to the mood, and in the evening, when the lake is dark and the walls are lit, the effect can be striking.

The castle itself has a long story. It began as a fortified toll post on the road along the lake shore, grew under the Counts and Dukes of Savoy into a residence and stronghold, passed to the Bernese in the 16th century and later became part of the canton of Vaud. Its dungeons were made famous by Lord Byron’s poem about Bonivard, the prisoner of Chillon, and its halls show the lifestyle of the Savoyard court. A concert evening can be combined with a daytime visit to the rooms, since the castle is one of the best-visited historic sites in Switzerland and offers a rich series of rooms and cellars, and the separate entry on the castle’s museum exhibits describes these.

Practical points matter for a concert. Tickets are generally separate from the standard castle admission and are often sold in advance because capacity is limited, and start times and the dress code depend on the event. The paths and courtyards are historic and have steps and uneven stone, so wear comfortable shoes, and bring a layer, since the stone interior can be cool even on summer evenings. Access by train to Veytaux-Chillon station or by bus and boat from Montreux makes it easy to reach, and the lakeside walk from Montreux is pleasant before an evening event.

The series suits lovers of classical music, history and unusual venues. It pairs well with a walk along the Lake Geneva Promenade and a meal in Montreux or Villeneuve.