Chillon Castle hosts Swiss Castles Day on 4 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 18:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon) will host Swiss Castles Day in Veytaux near Montreux on 4 October 2026. The programme brings a national heritage event into the medieval fortress, with activities centred on travel, craftsmanship and the castle's own history.
Swiss Castles Day brings live craft to Chillon Castle
The Chillon Castle Foundation lists Swiss Castles Day for Sunday 4 October 2026 in partnership with the Association of Swiss Castles. The event is scheduled from 10am to 5pm, giving visitors a fixed programme at the site during the October travel period.
Students from the ECAL University of Art and Design Lausanne will create works live on the themes of stone carving and typography. The organisers state that the work will be developed from 2 to 4 October, completed on 4 October and installed during Swiss Castles Day. The event programme and schedule place this activity within the castle's public programme.
Chillon Castle connects medieval space with new work
The fortress occupies a rocky island on Lake Geneva between the mountains and the lake. Its oval form follows the shape of the island, while its position controlled a route running from northern to southern Europe.
The first written mention dates from 1150, when the Counts of Savoy owned the castle. Its history then passed through Savoyard, Bernese and Vaudois periods. The official history of the castle records several centuries of construction and redevelopment, including the keep, courtyards, defensive structures and Gothic vaulted rooms. The ECAL work therefore takes place within a building whose architectural form reflects repeated changes in use and ownership.
From Via Francigena route to Swiss heritage venue
Chillon stood beside the Via Francigena, the route used by travellers, merchants and pilgrims heading towards the Great Saint Bernard Alpine Pass. In the thirteenth century, Peter II of Savoy developed the site as a summer residence, while later owners used it as a stronghold, arsenal, prison and administrative centre.
The Canton of Vaud has owned the castle since 1798, and the Chillon Castle Foundation manages the site for visitors and conservation. Around 300 objects are displayed throughout the building, while archaeological excavations from the late nineteenth century helped document its earlier occupation.
Visiting Chillon Castle: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Swiss Castles Day takes place at Chillon Castle on 4 October 2026 from 10am to 5pm.
- The event is held within the castle programme, with ECAL students creating and installing stone-carving and typography works during the day.
- The castle is in Veytaux near Montreux. The regional rail stop is Veytaux-Chillon, and bus line 201 serves the Château de Chillon stop.
- The site stands on a rocky island linked to the shore by a bridge, with courtyards, vaulted rooms, narrow defensive openings and uneven historic surfaces.
- Switzerland's official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh, and the national currency is the Swiss franc.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Chillon Castle
When does Swiss Castles Day take place at Chillon Castle?
Swiss Castles Day takes place on 4 October 2026 from 10am to 5pm.
What is Chillon Castle?
It is a medieval fortress on a rocky island in Lake Geneva, first mentioned in writing in 1150 and shaped by several centuries of construction.
Where is Chillon Castle and how do you get there?
It is in Veytaux near Montreux. Visitors can use the Veytaux-Chillon railway stop or bus line 201 to the Château de Chillon stop.
