Montreaux and Castle Chillon

A two hour coach journey to Montreaux today . After a restorative castle looking at the Castle and Lake Geneva, we had a really interesting wander round the castle . It was fascinating and had some really quirky displays such as furniture from the Middle Ages . The heat and humidity prevented us from seeing it all so after a sandwich we took a slow wander back alongside the Lake with beautiful gardens and lots of sculptures.
Obviously, we had to stop for a picture of Freddie Mercury’s Statue .
From guide book :
HISTORY
Chillon Castle in its current form is the result of several centuries of construction and redevelopment.

The excavations carried out from the end of the 19th century, particularly those led by archaeologist Albert Naef (1862-1936), indicate that the site has been occupied since the Bronze Age.

The rocky island on which the castle sits constituted both a form of natural protection and a strategic positioning to control passage from the north to the south of Europe. The castle took on the oval shape of the genuine island upon which it was built. It is approximately 100m long and 50m wide. It also took its name from the rock; the word ‘Chillon’ meant ‘rocky platform’ in an ancient language.

The history of the castle is marked by three great periods: those of the Savoy family, the Bernese bailiffs and the Canton of Vaud.