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.
TRAVEL WORDS 