Chillon Castle Entrance Ticket, Montreux

Chillon Castle: a Thousand Years on the Lake

Chillon Castle stands on a small rocky islet at Veytaux, a few kilometres from the centre of Montreux, joined to the shore by a short wooden bridge. A fortified site existed here by the eleventh century, and from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the Counts of Savoy turned it into a powerful fortress, a toll station on the road between the lake and the Alpine passes, and a comfortable residence.

In 1536 the Bernese captured the castle and used it as a governor's seat, arsenal and prison. Since 1803 it has belonged to the canton of Vaud, and careful restoration has made it one of the most visited historic monuments in Switzerland. Those who wonder whether Chillon Castle is worth visiting find the answer as soon as they cross the bridge: few castles in Europe sit so dramatically on the water.

Inside the Castle: Vaults, Halls and the Painted Chapel

The visit follows a marked route through several courtyards and more than twenty rooms. Below ground, the vaulted halls are carved partly into the natural rock, with Gothic ribs and pillars; one of them served as a prison, where a sixteenth-century captive was chained for years, a story that made Chillon famous across Europe. Upstairs, the great halls have painted ceilings and tall windows looking straight onto the lake.

Further on you reach the ducal bedrooms, the aula where the court received guests, and the castle chapel, whose fourteenth-century wall paintings survived the Reformation. Climb the keep and the wall walkways for wide views over the water, the Montreux bay and the mountains. Exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, explain life in the castle and its links with the region.

Planning Your Visit: Opening Hours and Getting There

Chillon Castle opening hours are generous: it opens every day, with longer hours from spring to autumn and shorter ones in winter, and last entry is about an hour before closing. It is closed only on a few holidays, such as Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Allow around two hours for the full route, a little more if you enjoy the exhibitions.

Knowing how to get to Chillon Castle from Montreux is simple: the local trolleybus runs along the lake to the Chillon stop in about fifteen minutes, regional trains stop at Veytaux-Chillon, and in summer lake boats call at the castle pier. You can also follow the lakeside promenade from Montreux for about forty-five minutes. Limited parking is available in front of the castle.

Around Chillon: Montreux and the Riviera

After your visit, the promenade leads back towards Montreux past flower beds, palm trees and the quiet village of Territet, with lake views all the way. Montreux itself has a sheltered, mild climate, grand nineteenth-century hotels and a lively Christmas market in winter, and the Rochers-de-Naye cog railway climbs from the town to a summit viewpoint.

Many visitors plan a Chillon Castle day trip from Geneva or Lausanne and combine it with Vevey or a Lake Geneva cruise, which passes right in front of the castle. If you would like help linking the castle with trains, a cruise or a private transfer from your hotel, our team can arrange it. Halal restaurants are limited around Montreux, so Lausanne or Geneva are better for dinner.