Chillon Castle: A Fairytale on the Banks of Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Visiting the Castle of Chillon is like going back in time! Each hall or room unveils a part of the castle’s history. Modern means enable us to better understand the daily life of the Court of Savoy and also of the Bernese bailiffs.

The castle looks like a fairytale fantasy, but it's an authentic Medieval site - and has foundations from back in Roman times. Over the years, it's passed between the hands of three noble families, who have shaped the castle into what you see today.

The little rocky island is pretty much surrounded by water - evidently, the lake forms a natural moat. As a result, access to the castle is via a modern bridge, which crosses the shallows of the lake. This modern bridge is the remains of the old drawbridge, and some of its workings can be seen to today.

Inside the castle, you'll discover that the buildings and out-houses of the castle are orientated around four small courtyards. The largest of the courtyards is 'The Courtyard of Honour", a site of ceremonial importance and the 'grandest' of all these communal-areas.

One important thing to bear in mind is that Chillon Castle wasn't constructed 'in one go' - it was originally just a collection of 25 little buildings crammed onto the rocky island.
Over time, these buildings merged and joined to form the impressive structure that's visible today. When you explore the castle, you'll see that each of the old rooms and outhouses have been connected to each other through a fairly ingenious network of internal and external passageways.

As a result of the writings of Lord Byron (see below), the awe-inspiring dungeons of Chillon Castle have earned themselves a place in castle-notoriety. Impressively, they are cut into the rock upon which the castle stands, and they offer a - damp and dark - taste of imprisoned life.

A view of Chillon Castle at night, gazing out across the Lake Geneva.