There are sites of nature that amaze, startle and leave you gasping for breath— and then there are awesome creations like Château de Chillon, that force you to glare at them without batting your eyelids while being transported into a new world. Standing imperiously on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, the castle of Chillon proves to be arguably the best preserved medieval fortification in all of Europe. One that will remain etched in your memory forever.

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The journey to the ancient place— a must if you are exploring the stunning landscape of Switzerland, starts best with a boat ride over Lake Geneva or a romantic shoreline walk. Once you get to the castle, you will see that it looks as grand from the inside as it looks magnificent from the outside.

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But the history of the castle has not always been as lovely as its current beautiful state.

Although it dates back all the way to the early Bronze Age, the actual Château de Chillon structure seems to have first come in to existence in the 1100s. It was in 1150 that the first reference to the castle was made and it was in this period that it was controlled by Counts of Savoy. It was then taken over by the Bernese and for the last 200 years has been under the control of Canton of Vaud.

Apart from its long history, it was most essentially made famous by Lord Byron who described Château de Chillon and Lake Geneva in such an exaggerated hyperbole, that it started evoking the interest all across Europe.

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The modern day castle is one large structure that welcomes you with its three grand courtyards which start at the entrance with the Lower Courtyard, then moves on to the Castellan’s courtyard and finally to the Courtyard of Honor.

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Apart from the obvious Gothic architecture and the large sweeping interiors, you will also find the extravagant castle in tune with the common image of an ancient castle, including a dungeon and plenty of murals. The underground dungeons of Chillon have been crafted out of the base rock of the island and are well-known for the imprisonment of Bonivard, who was depicted as a hero by Byron.

A trip through these dark depths is an absolute must.

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There are the four formal great halls which give you spellbinding view of Lake Geneva and the magnificent panorama that surrounds Chillon in all directions. The Camera Domini room— reserved once for the dukes, deserves a special mention for the impeccable mural work on its walls and the lavishness it exudes. Chillon’s chapel is such a rare entity because of the presence of icons that are non-existent today that a stop here is a privilege indeed.

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While the lake side of the castle is all about royal luxury, the mountain side is a lesson in defense strategy as it is fitted with watchtowers, sentry walks, double ramparts and turrets to ensure complete security. It is this exclusive stature of Chillon that has allowed it to remain untouched by the wars and strife that constantly affected the rest of Europe.

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A trip to Château de Chillon is not just an expedition to a marvelous, astounding and exquisite ancient castle, but a voyage back in time that takes you back to a Medieval Europe and its unmatched majesty.

Timeless and charming every inch of the way!

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