Postcards from Around the World

Taking a leisurely 40 minute CGN boat from Vevey, admiring the beautiful homes and hotels on the hillside above Lac Léman, we arrived at Chateau Chillon.

Built on a rocky island it took its name from the rock; the word ‘Chillon’ meant ‘rocky platform’ in an ancient language.

The history of the castle is marked by three great periods: those of the Savoy family (12th – 16th centuries), the Bernese bailiffs (16th – 18th centuries) and the Canton of Vaud (18th century to present day).

Chillon is unusual in that the shape of the castle moulds to the shape of the island on which it is built. It is connected to the land by a bridge (formerly a drawbridge, the remains of whose pulley system can still be seen).

There are several courtyards and many rooms to explore the history of the castle.

Furniture, Weapons and Armoury, Paintings and Murals, Architectural features and archaeological findings are some of the objects in the collections.

A full self-guiding tour takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours, depending on how fast you walk and how much reading you do. Castle of Chillon is the result of several centuries of constant building, adaptations, renovations and restorations with excavations affirming this site has been occupied since the Bronze Age.

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

17 thoughts on “Postcards from Around the World”

  1. There’s something about a castle on a lake that fits it for every fairy tale ever told. This one looks perfect.

      1. Arriving anywhere by boat makes it perfect. Are you taking that new car out this morning or tinkering in the garden? Avoiding Easter crowds, I’m sure. The sun is shining and the daffs are out in the park. Stopped off for coffee on the way to James. Have a good day 🤗🌾⚘️🌹🩵

        1. No sun here, rain forecast for the entire week! We might wait until the crowds have gone. Yesterday all the St Ives car parks were full.

    1. It’s a much bigger place than it looks. Lots of courtyards and rooms on several levels. A very interesting castle.

  4. I could live very happily in that castle, with a few modern ‘modifications’. (And reinstating the drawbridge of course!)
    Best wishes, Pete. x

  5. That’s a fabulous castle on a spectacular site. It makes me wonder what it must have been like trying to build there…very difficult, I should think!

  6. The setting of this castle looks perfect! And I see from Jo’s comment above that you finally have a car again?! You must be relieved 🙂

    1. I got the car back on Tuesday and traded it in on the Wednesday. I just wasn’t confident driving it any more and 8 weeks without a car is far too long.

  7. How exciting to have a new car. You’ll be back out exploring now. I find if there is reading to be done, we take much longer than the recommended time because Glen reads every word. I wear out much faster and go and find the cafe.

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