Museums, studios & shops

Type

Castle museum

Address

Avenue de Chillon 21, Veytaux (Montreux)

A medieval fortress set on a rocky islet on the shore of Lake Geneva, the Château de Chillon is Switzerland’s most visited historic monument; Byron immortalised it in “The Prisoner of Chillon”. A giant of Russian music followed in his footsteps: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, passing through the Riviera, visited the castle as early as July 1873 and, an admirer of the English poet, later borrowed from him the subject of his “Manfred” Symphony (1885). Its link to Montreux’s musical history also lies in an album sleeve. On 15 June 1968 the Bill Evans Trio (with Eddie Gómez on double bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums) played a concert at the Casino de Montreux that was recorded live. Released as “Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival”, it won the 1969 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group. Its cover is illustrated with a photograph of the Château de Chillon by Gene Lees, tying this jazz landmark to the shores of the lake. The castle is also among Charlie Chaplin’s first Swiss sights: he visited it at the end of 1952, a few weeks before moving into the Manoir de Ban, having just learned that the United States had revoked his re-entry permit. Today the castle can be visited as a museum: run by an independent foundation, it opens some forty rooms all year round, from the underground vaults cut into the rock to the lordly chambers and the parapet walk, and hosts temporary exhibitions and concerts, including those of the Septembre Musical.

Chillon, from Byron’s Prisoner to Bill Evans’ album cover

Switzerland’s most visited fortress

A medieval fortress set on a rocky islet on the shore of Lake Geneva, the Château de Chillon is Switzerland’s most visited historic monument. The poet Lord Byron immortalised it in 1816 with “The Prisoner of Chillon”.

In July 2016 the castle took on a cinematic role too: while visiting the Montreux Jazz Festival, the American rapper Ty Dolla $ign filmed a boat ride in front of its towers for his video “$”.

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1968: the Bill Evans album cover

Its link with Montreux’s musical history rests on an album cover. On 15 June 1968, the Bill Evans trio, with Eddie Gómez on double bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums, gave a live-recorded concert at the Casino de Montreux. Released as “Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival”, the record won the 1969 Grammy for best instrumental jazz album; its cover is illustrated with a photograph of the castle, tying this peak of jazz to the lakeside landscape.

Chaplin and Wagner at Chillon

The castle also features among Charlie Chaplin’s first Swiss images: he visited it in late 1952, a few weeks before moving to the Manoir de Ban, just as he learned that the United States had revoked his re-entry visa. Nearby, at the neighbouring Hôtel Byron, Richard Wagner had stayed during his Swiss exile.

Related artists :Bill EvansCharlie ChaplinRichard WagnerPiotr Ilitch TchaïkovskiSam Smith