Chillon Castle

Chillon Castle is the most famous castle in all of Switzerland with a colorful and rich history. It seems that nature itself has prepared such a noticeable and convenient place for him. The castle complex is located on a cliff in Lake Geneva, which rises almost at the very shore. That is, in fact, the fortress stands on the water, a bridge connects it with the shore.

History of Chillon Castle

Naturally, such a strategically advantageous place was noticed by people very early. Historians suggest that during the Roman Empire there was a sentry port on the site of the castle. As proof of this theory, during excavations on the ground, coins of that time were found.

The first mention of Chillon Castle is found in the annals of the 12th century, but most likely the construction of the fortress began much earlier in the 9th-10th centuries. And already in the 12th century, the building became the residence of the counts of Savoy. Since that time, the territory has expanded and strengthened, and by the 15th century it took the form that can be observed today.

In those days, Chillon Castle was used as a prison. Enemies of the family were kept in high vaulted cellars, as well as sorcerers and witches, who were also burned at the stake in the fortress yards.

In the 16th century, after the siege, Chillon Castle passed to the Protestants of Bern and belonged to them until the end of the 18th century. During this time, it was used as a storage for weapons and provisions, as a base for the navy of Bern, in the basement, as before, a prison functioned. By the end of the 19th century, a global reconstruction was carried out by the "Association of the Chillon Castle" and the castle received the status and significance of a historical monument. It opens to the general public as a medieval museum-fortress.

Sights of Chillon Castle

Almost all the time of its existence, the dungeons of the castle were used as prisons. Political prisoners were kept here, for example, the reformer François Bonivard, who later became the prototype of Byron's Prisoner of Chillon. In earlier times, those suspected of witchcraft became prisoners of the dungeon, they were also victims of torture and often ended their lives on a fire or in the waters of Lake Geneva.

Today, the cellars of the Chillon Castle, with the help of installations, give a colorful idea of what a medieval prison looked like, barrels of wine are also stored in the dungeon. Many of the rooms in the castle are well preserved, one of the most interesting is the count's bedroom. The attention of tourists is attracted by a short bed by modern standards. In those days, it was considered useful to sleep half-sitting, according to another version - only the dead sleep lying down.

Another attraction is the dining room of the Savoyard counts. The room has a huge fireplace decorated with paintings, an old ornament on the walls, and an old chandelier above the table.

A visit to the castle of Chillon is an obligatory point of the tourist route for all lovers of antiquity, castles and the Middle Ages.