Chateau de Chillon is a romantic castle in Lake Geneva near Montreux. Chillon Castle is the most-visited historic monument in Switzerland and a great family-friendly destination. It is a fine day-trip excursion from Geneva, Lausanne, and ski resorts in the nearby Alps.

Chateau de Chillon has a beautiful location on a small island in the far western end of Lake Geneva between Montreux and Villeneuve. This romantic castle was long of strategic importance in controlling trade in the Lake Geneva region. The dungeons inspired Lord Byron. Chateau de Chillon is family-friendly destination and kids of all ages will enjoy exploring the dungeons, endless staircases, sentries walk, and donjon.

Chateau de Chillon’s history goes back to the twelfth century when a castle was built on a small rocky island in Lake Geneva by the rulers of Savoy. From here, Savoy could control trade and traffic in the Lake Geneva region, as well as very important trade routes to Italy.

In 1536, the Bernese took the castle by force and kept it until the Vaud revolution (1798). By then the castle had lost strategic importance and served as storage space and gaol before becoming the most popular historic monument in Switzerland. From the nineteenth century onwards, the Chateau de Chillon has been a major tourist attraction for visitors to the Lac Léman region as well as for skiers in the Valais Alps in the Rhone Valley and the Chablais Alps in France.