Chillon Castle: A Guide to Visiting It
The Chillon Castle is one of the must-sees if you are going to travel to Switzerland. This beautiful place is the most visited monument in the country, so I recommend you include it now in the list of things to see during your trip. Its silhouette, which seems to float on the water, is one of the most beautiful postcards you will bring back from your trip, with the mountains’ permission.
If you are a lover of medieval fortresses, Chillon Castle will enchant you with its uniqueness, as it stands out from other European castles by being surrounded by water. The reason is that it is built on a very small islet in Lake Geneva, so the waters of this famous lake, an aquatic border between Switzerland and France, are the protagonists of the moat you must cross to enter Chillon Castle.
To make it easier for you to discover it, here is all the practical information you need to know to visit Chillon Castle.
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Why this place is special
Chillon Castle has a curious oval shape, with three interior courtyards, which corresponds to the same oval shape of the rocky islet on which it sits. It has everything you expect when you imagine a fairytale castle, and being on the water makes it even more special.
For centuries, it fulfilled two missions. On the one hand, being a defensive fortress due to its strategic location on trade routes which allowed it to become a prominent customs post.
On the other hand, Chillon Castle was also a palatial residence with notable inhabitants. The most famous, without a doubt, were the Counts of Savoy, an important dynasty that remained there for four centuries, from the 12th to the 16th.
Walking through its various rooms, you can also see the collection of weapons, armor, furniture, murals, frescoes, and important architectural details. The ancient prison where Lord Byron was inspired to write his famous poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’ deserves a special mention. It is about the prisoner François de Bonivard, a nobleman and prior, imprisoned there for six years in the 16th century for opposing the regime imposed by the Count of Savoy. If you look closely, you will find the column where he was shackled and the marks he left behind.
How much does it cost to enter Chillon Castle
If you have the Swiss Travel Pass, entry to Chillon Castle will be free because it is included in this transport tourist pass.
Otherwise, here are the current Chillon Castle prices (November 2023):
-Adults: 13.50 Swiss francs.
-Children from 6 to 15 years old: 7 Swiss francs. Children under 6 go free.
– Seniors from 60 years old: 11.50 Swiss francs.
-Family ticket: 2 adults and 2 children: 35 Swiss francs.
I recommend buying tickets in advance to speed up entry. If you want to learn in depth about the history of this special fortress, a good idea is to take the audio guide available in Spanish. You can request it at the ticket office and it costs 6 Swiss francs.
Opening Hours
Here are the Chillon Castle opening hours depending on the time of year you visit. Please note that access is only allowed up to one hour before closing.
-From November to February, it is open from 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on December 25th and January 1st.
-From March to October from 9:30 am to 6 pm.
-From April to September from 9 am to 5 pm.
Where is Chillon Castle located
As you have just read, Chillon Castle is in a privileged position on the shores of Lake Geneva, in Switzerland, specifically in the small town of Veytaux, very close to the famous Montreux. Thus, it is in the canton of Vaud. Its location on the shores of the lake, with the Alps in the background and close to many attractions such as the aforementioned Montreux, the relaxed Vevey, or the Olympic Lausanne, makes it even more irresistible.
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How to get to Chillon Castle
This incredible fortress is very well connected, so you can access it via different means of transport depending on what suits your location best or how you have chosen to get around Switzerland. Here I explain different options on how to go to Chillon Castle.
By train
If you have chosen to get around Switzerland by train (which is a great idea) the nearest train station is Veytaux-Chillon. From there, you have a beautiful walk of only seven minutes along the lakeshore with the silhouette of Chillon Castle. If you are lucky and it’s a clear day, you will also be able to see the peaks of the Alps in the background. Remember that if you have the Swiss Travel Pass this journey is included.
To check the train schedules to Chillon Castle, I recommend consulting the official website of the Swiss railway system which works perfectly.
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This Swiss transport pass is perfect for getting around the country. It also includes buses, trams, metro, and free access to museums and attractions.
By bus
Right in front of the castle, there is a bus stop where line 201 passes, which, for example, connects with Montreux, the largest nearby town, in about 20 minutes. If you have the Swiss Travel Pass, remember that it also includes the bus ticket. If you don’t have it, the ticket costs around 2.40 Swiss francs.
The schedules and stops for this bus can also be found updated on the same train website, you just have to enter the journey you want to make and it will appear.
By boat
For me, the most beautiful way to reach Chillon Castle is by boat, specifically a vintage steam boat that will transport you to the beautiful Belle Epoque. A cruise on Lake Geneva with beautiful views of both the castle and the landscape of the path with the vineyards of the Lavaux slopes. Right next to the castle, there is a pier where some of these 20th-century boats stop.
Again, if you have the Swiss Travel Pass, you won’t have to pay anything as the ticket is also included. However, make sure to check the schedules for these boats (there are several) stopping at the pier beforehand because they change depending on the time of year. Be aware that if the weather is bad, the crossing may be cancelled, as happened to me due to wind precisely on the day I visited the castle. (I returned the following day and did the route from Montreux to Lausanne as I show you in this reel)
The stop is called Chateau de Chillon and corresponds to the line covering the full route between Lausanne and St Gingolph making stops in Vevey, Montreux or Villeneuve, among others. I’ll leave you the link to the official website of these boats here so you can organize yourself. As you will see, some of these boats offer the option of eating in their restaurant while you sail.
By car
This is how I reached Chillon Castle. I recommend going early because there are few free parking spaces nearby. I was very lucky and found a spot on my second pass. The other option if it’s full is to go to the Tronchenaz parking lot which is paid and then take bus 201 to the entrance of the fortress.
Remember that whether you are going to rent a car in Switzerland or going with your own vehicle, you will need two things. On one hand, the vignette, an annual toll sticker to be able to drive on Swiss motorways. You can buy it at gas stations and it costs about 40 Swiss francs. It is a sticker that you will have to put on the car’s windshield.
On the other hand, for parking at Chillon Castle you need a blue disc made of cardboard with a clock on which you mark the time you leave the car. If you don’t have one, they give it to you for free inside the castle’s souvenir shop. Check beforehand how long you can leave it parked there for free to avoid a fine upon your return.
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Tips for visiting Chillon Castle
Keep in mind that the castle is Switzerland’s most visited historical monument, so especially in high season such as summer, I recommend arriving early to avoid having to queue.
If you’re wondering how long it takes to visit Chillon Castle, I would say two hours at most going unhurriedly and, in my case, with three very young children. If you go early in the morning you can combine the visit with others. For example, when we left we ate the snacks we brought at the pier and then visited the beautiful village of Gruyeres and the Maison Cailler chocolate factory.
Unfortunately, Chillon Castle is not accessible for people with reduced mobility in wheelchairs as there are many areas with narrow stairs, such as spiral staircases, and cobbled floors. The only option is to admire it from the outside or go to the cafeteria where they have interactive screens with the history of the castle.
If you are going with babies, it is better to bring a baby carrier because you cannot enter with strollers either; you will have to leave them in the cafeteria. At least they do have a changing table for diapers in the bathrooms.
For those visiting Chillon Castle with children, as was my case, I recommend asking at the entrance for the free children’s brochure that includes a children’s tour guided by Darko the dragon, with different challenges to complete in the various rooms. They have it in French, English, German or Chinese but they will still have a great time following the map and passing the tests.
Watch out for the souvenir shop if you are going with children because it has some beauties that will be very difficult to resist and I can tell you now that they are not cheap.
In case you travel with your pet, you should know that dogs are not allowed to enter the premises.
Respect the rules that state that you cannot smoke or eat inside the facilities. Just before entering the castle, you will find the Byron cafeteria and inside there is a small room with vending machines.
If you have time, I recommend walking along the lake shore towards Montreux to get a beautiful panoramic view with the Alps in the background; additionally, there is a circular structure that frames the castle from where you can take very cool photos. I missed out because the rain prevented us.
What to do near Chillon Castle
As I was telling you before, the visit to this Swiss monument takes at most two hours, so if you go early in the morning, take the opportunity to continue exploring the area because there are excursion options that are well worth it.
-Did you know there is a military fort opposite the castle hidden in the rock? It was operational from 1941 to 1948 as an artillery and infantry post. It is a very original place to visit and from where you will have beautiful views of the castle and the lake from above. Book your ticket for Fort de Chillon.
–A boat trip on Lake Geneva is a must for me. I did it from Montreux to Lausanne on a Belle Epoque steamship thanks to it being included in the Swiss Travel Pass. If you don’t have it, you can also do it by booking a Lake Geneva cruise excursion like this one departing from Montreux, but there are others departing from Vevey and from Lausanne
– Visiting Montreux is a very good idea. Say hello to the Freddie Mercury statue and look for those of other famous artists.
– Take a stroll through Vevey and visit the Charles Chaplin house museum
-Head over to Lausanne to walk through this great city and visit the Olympic Museum whose entrance is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass and it is a very interesting plan for both children and adults.
-Satisfy your sweet tooth by visiting the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in the village of Broc. If you go to Switzerland with children, they will love it! I recommend getting your tickets in advance; I had to wait three hours for an available slot.
-Discover the medieval charm of Gruyères, one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. I went on my own by car, but you can also go with an excursion to Gruyères from Lausanne that also includes a visit to Cailler and the Maison Gruyères factory-museum.
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