Chillon castle was important for control of the trade routes along Lake Geneva. The castle is first mentioned in history in 1150 when it was controlled by the Counts of Savoy. In the 1500's the Bernese took over the castle. It became the property of the Canton of Vaud around 1800 during the Vaudois Revolution. The castle became famous when writer Lord Byron wrote a poem called "The Prisoner of Chillon" about François Bonivard , a monk/politician who was held in the castle for 6 years. And that is about the extent of my knowledge of Swiss history.
The sentry walk
The safest place in the castle is the keep. The little door is the only way in. Once you climbed up the ladder into the keep, you would pull the ladder up after you so no one else could get in. 
Lord Byron carved his name on one of the pillars in the prison.
One of the prison rooms.
The castle is built right into the rocks.
Looking down into a prison room.
One of the rooms available to rent for parties. 
Chillon is technically built on an island. 
2 comments:
Where can I send my reservation information?
Those prisons are beautiful. How neat to see the Lord Byron signature. I always liked his poem "She Walks in Beauty" . . . maybe because is was easy to memorize.
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