The Castle

History

Chillon Castle as we know it today is the culmination of several centuries of construction and redevelopment.

The excavations carried out from the end of the 19th century, particularly those led by archaeologist Albert Naef (1862-1936), indicate that the site has been occupied since the Bronze Age.

The rocky island on which the castle sits was both a form of natural protection and a strategic position to control passage from the north to the south of Europe. The castle took on the oval shape of the genuine island upon which it was built. It is approximately 100m long and 50m wide. It also 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, the Bernese bailiffs and the Canton of Vaud.

 

Periods

Click on a period to find out more.

 

THE SAVOY PERIOD – 12TH CENTURY TO 1536

 

The first written mention of Chillon Castle dates back to 1150. At that time, the castle was owned by the counts of Savoy. It was in a very strategic location, nestled between the mountains and the lake, on a connecting route from the north to the south – the Via Francigena. The Savoy family controlled the route that passed in front of the castle and led to the new town of Villeneuve, a path trodden by travellers, merchants and pilgrims heading to Rome via the Great Saint Bernard Alpine Pass. The Counts of Savoy profited from this thoroughfare by installing a toll to cover security and maintenance costs for the road.

In the 13th century, Peter II of Savoy turned the castle into a summer residence. The underground vaulted Gothic ceilings mainly covering the wine cellars and the pantry were usually reserved for cathedrals, giving Chillon a unique twist. In the latter half of the Savoy period, a prison was built around the stone pillars and protruding rocks; the famous jail said to have housed Bonivard, a converted protestant priest who opposed the Catholic Savoys, and was imprisoned here for six years.

The Savoy dynasty furthered their conquests of the Pays de Vaud until their domination spanned two-thirds of the territory which makes up today’s French-speaking Switzerland. Since the counts had to move around to govern and liaise with their subjects, they appointed a constable to take up permanent residence at the castle and handle their affairs.

Chillon was gradually cast aside by the Savoy court in favour of other castles. In 1436, Amadeus VIII attempted to revive the castle before being summoned to the papacy under the name Felix V. He sent his master architect, Aymonet Corniaux – a carpenter tasked with building maintenance across Chablais and the Pays de Vaud – to carry out major works and modify the defence mechanisms on top of the towers and ramparts. These plans were short-lived and Chillon would be left derelict until the arrival of the Bernese in 1536.

 

The Bernese Period 1536 – 1798

 

The Swiss, or more specifically the Bernese, conquered the Pays de Vaud in 1536. They finally claimed Chillon Castle on 29 March after a three-week siege, when the constable fled with his servants by boat. The Bernese divided the Pays de Vaud into 12 bailiwicks and Chillon became the administrative hub for the bailiwick of Vevey as well as the bailiff’s permanent residence. Recruited under the Bernese patriciate, the bailiff held a second position as captain of Chillon and, as the sovereign’s representative, fulfilled various roles.

The new owners gained an asset; while it was somewhat dilapidated, it had been left mostly unscathed by the Burgundian War and was in good condition. Under the Savoys, the castle had been split into two sections: one for the constable/bailiff, and the other for the counts when they resided at Chillon. This division was no longer necessary, so the Swiss occupied the entire castle. Their excellencies of Bern emblazoned their coat of arms on the lakeside facade. Nowadays, only the upper part and the bear’s ears are still visible as the third owners of the castle – the Canton of Vaud from 1798 onwards – covered it with their own shield. For almost 260 years, Chillon Castle continued to play the role of stronghold, arsenal and prison. The castle defences were later adapted to fit contemporary firearms.

In 1733 the bailiffs left the castle, which had become isolated and uncomfortable, and moved to a more modern residence in Vevey. The castle, which was no longer suitable for war, was instead used mostly as storage. In 1785, there were plans to convert the northern section of the castle into a wheat granary, but the project never got off the ground… perhaps as the move seemed excessive and the environment unsuitably humid. The wall murals are living proof of the Bernese period and the crests of each bailiff can still be seen in the marvellous Coat of Arms Hall, former banquet hall and court.

 

The Vaudois Period 1798 – Present day

On 10 January 1798, patriots of Vevey and Montreux claimed the castle from the Bernese bailiffs, who left gracefully, surrendering without a fight. On 24 January, with support from local citizens and residents of Lausanne, they declared Vaudois independence. The castle became a national asset during the Vaudois Revolution and has since belonged to the Canton of Vaud, founded in 1803 under Napoleon Bonaparte’s Act of Mediation, which officially established 19 Swiss cantons. This old building was first used to store weapons and ammunition, and later as a state prison. Hence, the first visitors to the castle would find nothing but prisoners… under the watchful eye of a concierge and two guards. This medieval building really drew in the Romantics. During his visit in 1816, British poet Lord Byron found inspiration in the story of Chillon inmate François Bonivard, (1493-1570) making him the protagonist in his poem The Prisoner of Chillon, which shot the castle to global fame. It has been translated into 20 languages. This magnificent tale of suffering experienced by Bonivard, the Prior of Saint Victor’s Monastery in Geneva who was imprisoned at Chillon for his anti-Savoy views and then freed by the Bernese, transformed this historic figure into an emblem of freedom and sanctified his prison as a sacred symbol.

Fuelled by the Romantics’ fond reminiscence on the Middle Ages, Chillon made a new name for itself; in 1762, Rousseau had already drawn attention to the site by writing it into an episode of Julie; or The New Eloise, making a brief allusion to Bonivard’s captivity.

Many artists, such as Victor Hugo, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Leo Tolstoy, Gustave Courbet, Salvador Dali and Joseph Hornung to name a few, were so fascinated by the castle and the landscape in which it was nestled that they paid homage to it in their artistic works.

Towards the end of the 19th century, restoration work on the castle began, led by the cantonal architect, Albert Naef. Restoration projects are still carried out today.

Layout

While the so-called ‘Savoyard’-style castles were generally built on a square plot, flanked by cylindrical towers on each corner, what makes Chillon Castle special is the way it moulded with the oval shape of the rocky island on which it was built.

Surrounded by a natural moat, the castle can be accessed via the lake from all sides. It is considered a ‘waterside castle’. Chillon is connected to the land by a bridge (formerly a drawbridge, the remains of whose pulley system can still be seen). Chillon is a dual-purpose castle: the northern facade – pierced with arrowslits and later loopholes, and topped with machicolations – constituted the defensive section, which protected the Via Francigena road. On the south side, facing the lake, magnificent Gothic windows adorn the facade of the royal residence, looking out over the typical landscape of the Vaud Riviera, Lake Geneva and the mountains. In the centre, the keep and the treasury are connected to the corps de logis by sentry walks. Just picture yourself living here… the internal space is split into three main courtyards, each corresponding to how the buildings surrounding them were used: the constable’s and the lord’s residences, which date back to the feudal system.

 

Visiting Chillon Castle is like going back in time! Each room peels back another layer of history behind this castle on Lake Geneva.

Collections

Chillon Castle is an exceptional heritage monument, with around 300 items on display throughout. With the exception of the furniture, weapons and armour, all of the items exhibited here were found during the archaeological digs carried out at the castle from 1896 to 1903. The collections belong to the Cantonal Museum of Archaeology & History of Lausanne under the name ‘fonds Chillon’ (Chillon Collection).

In 1842, the Society for the History of Francophone Switzerland (SHSR) suggested setting up an antique museum in one of the castle halls. The Assocation for the Restoration of Chillon Castle was eventually founded in 1887. It put the society’s ideas into writing, building both the creation of a museum exhibiting the diverse periods of Vaudois history and the restoration of the castle into its statute. The state released funds for the purchase of various items for the collection. Ten years later, Chillon was literally stripped bare and archaeological excavations revealed hundreds of everyday objects dating from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.

These collections remained at the castle until 2007. A substantial inventory was then taken and a new visitor route was created. The Chillon Castle Foundation – to which the Association passed the baton in 2002 – made the decision to place the focus on the castle’s architecture. Most of the objects were repatriated into storage at the Cantonal Museum, but a small selection was kept on display as part of the visitor route, with the aim of illustrating the castle’s history.

Conservation work

When it comes to conservation and restoration, Chillon is a pioneer. Since 1892 work has been overseen by a Technical Commission of architects, historians and heritage specialists.

 

Work on the buildings can vary greatly in terms of nature and importance, from minor repairs to major restoration projects.

 

Any work carried out must respect the ethical standards in place for built heritage. New additions are in keeping with contemporary fashion, while conservation and restoration work are discreetly woven into the fabric of the buildings.

 

The particular challenge with this work is that the castle is open all year round, hence we must balance project requirements with the public’s enjoyment and expectations.

Online ticket office