Château Bonmont (Chéserex)

Bonmont's origins date back to between 1110 and 1120, when a community of monks settled here, initially following Benedictine rules. In 1123, the site was first mentioned as "de bonomonte". A pivotal event was the visit of Bernard of Clairvaux in 1131, which led to the adoption of Cistercian rules, making Bonmont the first Cistercian abbey in Switzerland. The abbey church was built in the second half of the 12th century. In the 13th century, under the protection of the House of Savoy, Bonmont became one of the wealthiest monasteries in the region. With the conquest of Vaud by Bern in 1536, the monastery was secularized. The abbey buildings were partially demolished or repurposed, and the church subsequently served secular uses such as storage and a cheese dairy. On the site of the former monastery hospital, the current Château Bonmont was built in 1738, serving as the seat of the bailiff. The abbey church, which owes its existence to its secular use, has been a protected monument since 1942 and was restored from 1982 to 1995.

Château Bonmont is located in Chéserex in the Nyon district of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, at an elevation of approximately 592 m above sea level.

Today, Château Bonmont houses a golf club. The former abbey church is preserved and is a protected monument, while the convent buildings no longer exist. The castle remains in private ownership.

• Château Cheserex (castle), approx. 2.0 km away
• Château Gingins (castle), approx. 2.5 km away
• Château Changins (Nyon) (castle), approx. 6.4 km away
• Château Duillier (castle), approx. 6.6 km away