Château Chillon (Veytaux)

The rock on which Château Chillon stands has been settled since the Bronze Age. The castle was first documented in 1005. In the 11th century, the oldest visible parts of the structure, including the main tower, were built under the rule of the Lords of Alinges. In the 12th century, the complex passed to the House of Savoy, who constructed the land-side castle wall and the still recognizable structure with several inner courtyards. Under Peter II of Savoy, three semicircular towers were added on the land side from 1255 onwards and later reinforced with loopholes and battlements. The castle served as a residence for the Counts of Savoy and an important customs post, controlling boat traffic on Lake Geneva and the land route to the mountain passes. In 1536, the castle was conquered by the Bernese. During this period, the Genevan Prior François Bonivard was freed, whose imprisonment later inspired Lord Byron's famous poem. Until 1733, Chillon was the seat of Bernese bailiffs before it became property of the Canton of Vaud in 1798, serving various functions including as an armory and prison. In the 19th century, it narrowly escaped demolition and underwent extensive restoration in the early 20th century.

Château Chillon is located in Veytaux in the Riviera-Pays-d’Enhaut district of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, at an elevation of approximately 382 m above sea level.

Visitors can explore the castle today, discovering preserved murals, the vaulted wooden ceiling of the Knights' Hall, and the historic prison cells. An 18th-century wooden bridge leads to the complex.

• Château Le Châtelard (Clarens) (castle), approx. 4.3 km away
• Château Crêtes (Clarens) (castle), approx. 4.4 km away
• Château Rennaz (castle), approx. 4.5 km away
• Château Sully (La Tour-de-Peilz) (castle), approx. 5.6 km away