Chillon - the story of a fairytale castle.

Chillon, arguably the most beautiful castle in Switzerland, is located in the charming city of Montreux. Built on a large island in Lake Leman in the 13th century, it comprises 25 interconnected smaller buildings. Like many other castles, the land-facing side of Chillon features numerous archery holes, traps, and fortifications for defense. The fortifications allowed for observation of all activity from the outside, making it a crucial fortress during the Middle Ages. The lake-facing side, however, is exquisitely and romantically designed, with windows that let in sunlight, like something out of a fairy tale.

Despite its age, the castle remains untouched by nature and human intervention. Notably, Chillon is not an empty shell like many other castles in Europe. Inside, there are approximately 100 rooms of varying sizes, all fully equipped, from bedrooms, dining rooms, and reading rooms to armories and even bathrooms and toilets. However, only 50 rooms are open to visitors. Furthermore, Chillon is built entirely of stone, with most of its area situated on the lake, ensuring a consistently cool atmosphere within the castle.

Here, you will hear the stories of the lords who once lived in the castle. You can admire artifacts and manuscripts that have survived for centuries. Everything is preserved and respected; there are virtually no modern items on display here.

At this castle, a prisoner named Bonivard was held from 1530 to 1536. He was a religious activist at the time. During a visit to the prison, the English poet Byron wrote the poem "The Prisoner of Chillon," expressing Bonivard's feelings during his six years of imprisonment.

"...Chillon Prison stands alone, bleakly,

Seven massive columns support the gloomy vaulted ceiling.

It's like being submerged in a vast lake.

The sun is shining so beautifully outside.

"But there wasn't a single ray of light in the prison..."

After introducing the poem, the tour guide jokingly told us, "The poet Byron was a famous media figure at the time, and it was thanks to his poem that Chillon became more widely known." Approximately 300,000 visitors come to tour the castle each year.

More specifically, this architectural masterpiece also served as inspiration for Walt Disney's castle in the animated film "The Little Mermaid." Here, you can lean against the window overlooking the vast lake, gaze at the snow-capped mountains in the distance, or simply linger by the romantic bridge stretching out over the picturesque Leman River.

Chillon Castle

Address: Avenue de Chillon 21, 1820 Veytaux, Switzerland

Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Ticket price: 10 francs/person

Time: You can visit at any time of the year.

Getting there: Chillon is 3 km from Montreux; you can easily reach the castle by bus.

Bao Khuyen