Chillon Castle (French: Château de Chillon) is a medieval fortress celebrated for its beauty and is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. Situated in Canton Vaud, Switzerland and only 3 km (2 miles) from the modern city of Montreux, Chillon Castle sits on a rock along the banks of Lake Geneva. From the 12th-16th centuries CE, Chillon Castle belonged to the powerful Counts of Savoy who became wealthy as a result of the taxes they imposed on merchants traveling through the area from the Great St. Bernard Pass or on sailing vessels operating on Lake Geneva. Swiss forces from Canton Bern captured Chillon Castle from the Counts of Savoy in 1536 CE, and Chillon Castle has been in Swiss hands since that time. Chillon Castle is today the most visited historic monument in Switzerland with over 400,000 visitors annually.
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Definition
Timeline
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1150First mention of Chillon Castle.
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c. 1240Renovation and expansion of Chillon Castle.
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29 Mar 1536Chillon Castle is captured by the armies of Canton Bern. .
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1733Bernese soldiers abandon Chillon Castle.
