Montreux is located on the foot of the majestic Alps and situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Geneva. Montreux is a popular tourist destination since the 19th century, well-known for its mild climate, tranquillity and beauty.
In this blog, we will tell you everything you need to know about the beautiful Chillon Castle, from how to get to the castle to the entrance prices, let’s start!
The famous Chateau de Chillon can already be seen from the promenade of Montreux. This castle is one of the most popular and most visited places in the whole of Switzerland. The castle dates back to the 12th century, built on a rocky island directly at the lake.
This was done to achieve a strategic position. The castle has already proudly standing for almost 1000 years. In our opinion, this castle is a true treasure from the past and a must-visit, if you are in or around Montreux.
How to get to Chateau de Chillon?
There are several ways to get to Chateau de Chillon, you can reach the castle on foot, by car, by bus, by boat or by train. We will explain every way below and will give our recommendation on how to get to Chateau de Chillon.
Walking
The first way is by walking to the chateau, this is our preferable way, there is a paved well-maintained footpath, which leads you along the lake to the castle. This is our favourite way because you can take so many beautiful photographs during the 3 kilometres walk to the castle!
By car
You can also reach the castle by car, there is a big parking lot directly at the castle, please be aware, parking is free but using a parking disk is mandatory. If available, you can get a parking disk at the castle. Check the location of the parking spot here.
By bus
If you prefer you can also take a bus from Montreux, if you are not in Montreux, take the bus from Vevey or Villeneuve. From Montreux, you can get to the castle in around 15 minutes. Take bus number 201, and get out of the bus at the bus stop called: Chillon. From the bus stop, it takes around 2-3 minutes to reach the entrance of the castle.
By boat
A lovely way to get to the castle is by travelling by boat. This is possible from Montreux, Villeneuve or Laussane. During the winter season travelling by boat to the castle is not always the best option. In 2-3 minutes you can walk to the castle from the boat dock.
By train
You can easily travel by the local Swiss train from Montreux, also possibly from Villeneuve. Taking the train from Montreux will only take around 3-4 minutes. When arriving at the train stop, it will take another 5 minutes to walk to the Chillon castle.
The costs for a ticket to Chillon castle are:
- Adult: 13.5 CHF
- Childern(6-15): 7 CHF
- Students: 11.5 CHF
- Senior: 11.5 CHF
Good to know, that the toilets at the castle are wheelchair friendly, the castle itself is not wheelchair friendly. The opening hours of the castle are from 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
From Monday until Sunday. This is the address, where you can easily view the route on Google Maps.
Our visit to Chillon Castle took around 2 hours, this is an estimation. Of course, this may vary depending on your interests.
One tip, there are many beautiful viewing points from the windows in the castle, but the last viewpoint is the most beautiful in our opinion. This viewpoint is from the highest tower, the panorama view is wonderful!
What to see and expect from Chateau Chillon?
The historic Chateau Chillon was built in the 12 century. Which means it is almost a thousand years old. Yearly hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the castle.
But why? People visit the Chateau to admire the beautiful wall paintings, dating back to the 14th century. The parade halls, and the subterranean vaults are famous as well. Maybe one of the rarest sights in the castle is the bedroom, still in its original form.
The complete castle consists of 25 buildings, two circular walls and three courtyards.
Guided tours in Chillon castle
There are amazing group tours, and possibilities for individual tours as well. There is an option to be guided by a guide, or you can make use of an audio device. In this way, you stroll through 1000 years of history. There are 8 films on several terminals situated throughout the Chateau.
Is there a cafe/restaurant at Chateau Chillon? Yes, there is a Cafe, called: Cafe Byron, with amazing huge windows, which offer a panoramic view overlooking the castle.
The cafe is located directly next to the castle. Cafe Byron, opened its doors in 2020 since then many visitors stop here for a cup of tea or a coffee while enjoying the breathtaking view.
Why is the Chateau de Chillon located on a rock?
This is a very interesting piece of history. The castle is built on a rocky island, which is called the island of Chillon. This is an oval-shaped limestone rock, on the shores of Lake Geneva. Located between Villeneuve and Montreux. It has a really steep side on one side, and the location of the castle is very strategic.
It performs as a defence for the passage between the Vaud Riviera. This passage allows access to the northern countries, France and Germany. The view from the castle is very wide, so this is also a strategic benefit. This means the castle could control access to the road to Italy, and earn money by applying tolls.
Is the Chillon castle fully finished?
The chateau was once built in the 12th century, historians think it was around 1150. From the 12th century, the Counts of Savoy were the owners of the fortress and controlled it. In the following centuries, it served as a fortress, arsenal and even a prison.
In 1798 the castle’s ownership was passed to the canton of Vaud. During this period, the castle got more attention from artists, writers and people looking for inspiration. At the end of the 19th century, a restoration started, nowadays restoration is still going on in Chateau Chillon.
Conclusion
All in all, Chateau Chillon is such a beautiful place to visit. The castle was built in the 12th century. Wonderful wall paintings and beautiful views make this place so gorgeous. We can conclude that Chateau Chillon is very easily reachable.
Several ways to get to the castle such as: by foot, by car, by bike, by train or by bus. In the blog, you can read more about the history of the Chateau and about ways to reach the Chateau.