Château de Chillon (Montreux, Switzerland)

The Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon) is located on the shore of Lake Geneva, at the eastern end of the lake, near Montreux, Switzerland. The castle consists of 100 independent buildings that were gradually connected and now form a single whole.

The oldest parts of the castle have not been definitively dated, but the first written record of the castle is in 1160 or 1005. From the mid 12th century, the castle was home to the Counts of Savoy, and it was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Pietro II. The Castle was never taken in a siege, but did change hands through treaties. (from Wikipedia)

Tours are available and the Castle is also available for special functions (see their official site).

Credit: mairabc Source: flickr.com

Credit: Benjamin Gimmel Source: wikimedia.org

Credit: twiga swala Source: flickr.com

Credit: Benjamin Gimmel Source: gimmels.net

Credit: Dan Staehelin Source: panoramio.com

Castle Chillon was made popular by Lord Byron, who wrote the poem The Prisoner Of Chillon (1816) about François de Bonivard, a Genevois monk and politician who was imprisoned there from 1530 to 1536; Byron also carved his name on a pillar of the dungeon shown above.