Chillon Castle

Chillon Castle (French: Château de Chillon) is an island castle on Lake Geneva in the canton of Vaud, south of Veytaux. It is located near the lake's eastern extremity, on the narrow coast between Montreux and Villeneuve, which provides access to the Rhône Alpine valley. Chillon is one of Switzerland's and Europe's most popular medieval castles. From 1536 to 1798, it was inhabited successively by the House of Savoy and then by the Bernese. It presently belongs to the State of Vaud and is designated as a Swiss Cultural Property of National Significance. The Fort de Chillon, its contemporary equivalent, lies concealed in the mountain's steep slope.

The Chillon Castle is located on the island of Chillon, a round limestone rock advancing in Water Geneva between Montreux and Villeneuve with a steep slope on one side and the lake and its steep bottom on the other. The castle's location is strategic: it defends the passage between the Vaud Riviera, which gives access to the north towards Germany and France, and the Rhone valley, which provides a short path to Italy, and provides a view of the Savoyard shore on the opposite side of the lake. As a result, a garrison could control (both militarily and financially) access to the route leading to Italy and levy a toll.

It is presently protected as a crucial position for controlling the route from Northern to Southern Europe. They offer both permanent and temporary exhibits that cover a wide range of topics. The Medieval Factory displays medieval innovations, Magic Mountains displays the works of Daniel Frank, and Magical Water displays Rafael Rojas' photography.

Location: Veytaux, Vaud