🏰 The 51 Castles of Western Switzerland in 2020
🏰 The 51 Castles of French-speaking Switzerland in 2020
Sommaire
The fortified castles
The golden age of fortified castles (châteaux forts) ranges from the 11th to the 13th century when they are built, then declined rapidly from the beginning of the 15th century with the appearance of powder artillery around 1370 and the metal ball around 1450. The vast majority of castles in French-speaking or Western Switzerland are built, financed or inspired by the Counts of Savoy, who became Dukes in 1416.
The castles have been relatively well preserved over time, few of them have disappeared like those of Palezieux or Bossonnens in the state of ruins. Some of them cannot be visited because they are in private hands but others in the canton of Fribourg, although they are in public hands, house the administration of the district capitals and are therefore not visitable.
The splendid Chillon castle.
A video report from the TV show “C’est pas sorcier” about fortified castles.
The components of a fortified castle
Here is a small glossary that will help you to find your way around a fortified castle.
- Lower courtyard: First area surrounded by fortifications.
- Curtain wall: Walls connecting two towers.
- Keep: Master tower of the castle which acts as a place of last withdrawal if the castle is attacked
- Moat: Ditch filled with water surrounding the castle
- Scallop: Small corner turret
- High courtyard: Second space around the keep.
- Harrow: Heavy iron grate that can be lowered quickly and blocks the passage of the main entrance.
- Latrines: Primitive toilets inside the castle. In the case of Chillon Castle, the excrement fell directly into the water of the lake.
- Mashicolations: Elements overhanging a tower or rampart that allow to reach the foot of the fortifications with the throw of projectiles.
- Murderer: Vertical and narrow opening for archery or crossbow shooting.
- Oblivious: Prison located in a cellar of the castle to get rid of a prisoner.
- Drawbridge: A wooden movable bridge that raises or lowers to allow passage. At Chillon Castle, the drawbridge was replaced by a solid bridge in the middle of the 18th century.
- Poterne: Back door allowing to escape from the castle. The back door of Chillon Castle is located on the lake side. It was used in 1536 by the Savoyard lord to escape by boat in front of the Bernese attack.
An aerial view of Chillon Castle with a description of its various elements.
A video showing the different elements of a fortified castle.
The inventoried castles
Dozens of castles are listed in French-speaking Switzerland, la Torpille team visits the most important of them and only the castles dating back to the medieval period before 1450.
The following castles are not inventoried by the Torpille team:
- Buildings named as castles but of recent construction (e.g. Aile castle in Vevey or Mercier castle in Sierre)
- Old buildings that look more like beautiful houses (e. g. Prangins castle)
- Castles in a state of advanced ruins (e.g. Montorge castle in Sion or Chalais tower)
The tower of Chalais is not inventoried by the Torpille team.
Categorization
The castles of French-speaking Switzerland may be in different states of conservation and can be categorised as follows:
Large-sized castles which can be visited and kept in their original state:
Chillon, Grandson, Gruyère, Oron, Valangin, La Sarraz.
The castle of Oron remarkably preserved.
Castles of important sizes which can be visited but recycled in museums:
Yverdon, Morges, Romont, St-Maurice, Aigle, Nyon, Boudry.
The castle of Nyon contains the historical museum and porcelain.
Private castles not open to visitors:
Blonay, Châtelard, Champvent, Vufflens, Glérolles, Lucens, Les Clées, Vidomnes, Goubing, Vaumarcus, Gorgier, Saint-Barthélémy, Môtiers.
The Château de Blonay has been owned by the de Blonay family since its creation.
Castles owned by a canton or commune but not visitable:
Bulle, Châtel-Saint-Denis, Morat, Rolle, Vaulruz, St-Maire, Chenaux, Majorie, Colombier, Tour d’Anniviers, Tour Bertholod.
The castle of Bulle cannot be visited despite a magnificent structure known as the “Savoyard square”.
Castles in ruins with a visitable keep:
Saillon, La Tour-de-Peilz, Ogoz, Saxon, Orbe, St-Martin du Chêne.
The spiral metal stairs inside the keep of the Saxon castle.
Comparison table
Names | Links | Pictures | Altitude m | Canton | Visitable? | Public? | Construction | Keep | Under control in 1400 | Wars of Burgundy | Visit | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aigle | Link | 436 | ✔️✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 12th centrury | Square | Savoy | ☠️ | 19.02.2017 | Wine and Vine Museum | ||
Anniviers (Tower) | Link | 1208 | ❌ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13e centrury | Square | Hauts-Valaisans | 👍 | 26.05.2018 | |||
Ancien Evêché | Link | 510 | ✔️ | ✔️ | 11th to 15th century | Square | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 | 21.07.2018 | Historical Museum of Lausanne. Contains few original items. |
||
Avenches | Link | 478 | ❌ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 1175 | Square | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 | 11.03.2018 | |||
Bertholod (Tower) | Link | 400 | ❌ | ✔️ (Municipality of Payerne) | 13e centrury | Circular | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 | 11.11.2018 | |||
Blonay | Link | 646 | ❌👁️ | ❌ | 1184 | Square | Vassal de la Savoie | 👍 | 19.03.2017 | Habitation | ||
Bulle | Link | 769 | ❌👁️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 1301 | Circular | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 | 20.11.2016 | District Administration | ||
Boudry | Link | 477 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 13th centrury | Circular | Counts of Neuchâtel? | 24.03.2018 | ||||
Champvent | Link | 502 | ❌👁️ | ❌ | Beginning of 13th century | Circular | Allies of Burgundy | ☠️ | 21.01.2018 | Private | ||
Châtel-Saint-Denis | Link | 844 | ❌ | ✔️ (Canton) | 13th century | Square | Savoy | 👍 | 11.03.2017 | District Administration | ||
Châtelard (Montreux) | Link | 502 | ❌ | ❌ | 13e century | Square | ? | ☠️ | 24.12.2016 | Habitation | ||
Chenaux (Estavayer-le-Lac) | Link | 456 | ❌👁️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 1392 | Circular | Savoy | ☠️ | 21.01.2018 | District Administration Partly made of brick |
||
Chillon (Veytaux) | Link | 374 | ✔️✔️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 11e and 12e centrury Improved during 13th and 14th centuries | Square | Savoy (Baillage) | 👍 | 07.04.2016 | Temporary exhibitions | ||
Colombier | Link | 531 | ❌ | ✔️ | 12th century | Square | Lords of Colombiers Allies to Neuchâtel | 👍 | 24.03.2018 | |||
Glérolles (Saint Saphorin) | Link | 378 | ❌ | ❌ | Keep in 1150 Castle at the beginning of 14th century. | Circular | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 ? | 28.01.2018 | Has few original elements. | ||
Gorgier | Link | 524 | ❌ | ❌ | En of 12th century | Square | Lords of Estavayer Allied of Comtes of Neuchâtel | 👍 | 24.03.2018 | Not accessible because private. | ||
Goubing (Sierre) | Link | 565 | ❌ | ❌ Bourgeoisie de Sierre | Enf of 12th century | Square | Hauts-Valaisans | Non-conflicting | 17.03.2018 | Access around impossible because private | ||
Gourze (Tower) | Link | 923 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | Before 13th century | Square | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 | 15.04.2018 | |||
Grandson | Link | 449 | ✔️✔️ | ❌ Association | Before 1100 Improved at the 13th and 14th century | Circular | Savoy | ☠️ | 05.02.2017 | Vintage car show | ||
Gruyères | Link | 832 | ✔️✔️ | ✔️ | 11th century | Circular | Count of Gruyère vassal of Savoy | 👍 | 09.04.2016 | Giger Museum | ||
La Bâtiaz (Martigny) | Link | 539 | ✔️ | ❌ Association | 13th century | Circular | Savoy | ☠️ | 11.06.2017 | Siege engines | ||
La Sarraz | Link | 504 | ✔️✔️ | ❌ Fondation | 11th to 13th century | Square | Vassal of Savoy | ☠️ | 10.09.2017 | Horse museum | ||
Les Clées | Link | 625 | ❌ | ❌ | Savoy | Square | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 24.02.2018 | |||
Lucens | Link | 551 | ❌👁️ | ❌ | 13th century | Circular | Bishop of Lausanne | ☠️ | 24.02.2018 | |||
Majorie (Sion) | Link | 529 | ❌ | ? | Beginning of 13th century | Square | Bishop of Sion | 👍 | 13.02.2018 | Museum of Fine Arts | ||
Morat | Link | 458 | ❌ | ✔️ (Canton) | 1180 | Square | Savoy | ☠️ | 16.04.2017 | District Administration | ||
Morges | Link | 374 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Canton) | End of 13th century | Circular | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 29.04.2017 | Military Museums Tops made of brick |
||
Môtiers | Link | 840 | ❌ | ❌ | 1344 | Circular | Counts of Neuchâtel | Non-conflicting | 24.06.2018 | Bovet Watches | ||
Neuchâtel | Link | 455 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 12th century | ? | Counts of Neuchâtel | Non-conflicting | 23.08.2019 | |||
Nyon | Link | 400 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13th century | Square | Savoy | 👍 | 14.02.2018 | Historical and Porcelain Museum | ||
Ogoz | Link | 685 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13th century | Square | Local lords | 👍 | 21.06.2017 | Visitable ruins | ||
Orbe | Link | 485 | ✔️ | ? | 13th century | Circular | Lords of Chalon, allies of Burgundy | ☠️ | 24.02.2018 | |||
Oron | Link | 717 | ✔️✔️ | ❌ Association | 12th century | Circular | Vassal of Savoy | 👍 | 16.04.2016 | Old Library | ||
Rolle | Link | 377 | ❌👁️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | Around 1290 | Circular | Savoy | 👍 | 05.06.2017 | |||
Romont | Link | 782 | ❌👁️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 1240 | Circular | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 22.10.2016 | District Administration Vitromusée |
||
Saillon | Link | 552 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 11th century, improved at 13th, destroyed in 1475. | Circular | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 02.04.2017 | Visitable ruins | ||
Saxon | Link | 656 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13th century détruit en 1475 | Circular | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 08.02.2018 | Visitable ruins | ||
Saint-Barthélémy | Link | 615 | ❌ | ? | 12th century | Square | Vassal of Savoy ? | ? | 11.04.2018 | |||
Saint-Maire (Lausanne) | Link | 533 | ❌👁️ | ✔️ (Canton) | 1396 | Square | Bishop of Lausanne | 👍 | 02.01.2018 | Tops made of brick | ||
Saint-Martin du Chêne Molondin | Link | 619 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Canton)? | Enf of 11th century | Square 22m | Seigneurs vassaux de la Savoie? | 👍 | 28.04.2018 | Visitable ruins Destroyed in 1536 by Bern |
||
Saint-Maurice | Link | 417 | ✔️ | ❌ Fondation (Municipality and Canton) | 15th century | Square | Savoy | 👍 | 17.09.2016 | Drawing and comic book exhibition | ||
Saint-Triphon | Link | 477 | ❌ | ? | 12th century | Square | Vassal of Savoy | ☠️ | 08.02.2018 | Ruin Non-visitable tower |
||
Tour-de-Peilz | Link | 380 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13th century | Circular | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 19.03.2017 | Visitable ruins Game Museum |
||
Tourbillon (Sion) | Link | 657 | ✔️ | ? | End of 13th century | Square | Bishop of Sion | 👍 | 13.02.2018 | Closed in winter | ||
Valangin | Link | 665 | ✔️ | ❌ Société | 12th century | Square | Sires of Valangin | Non-conflicting | 13.05.2017 | |||
Valère (Sion) | Link | 608 | ✔️ | ? | 12th and 13th century | - | Bishop of Sion | 👍 | 13.02.2018 | |||
Vaulruz | Link | 843 | ❌ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13th century | Square | Savoy | ☠️ | 10.06.2017 | |||
Vaumarcus | Link | 481 | ❌👁️ | ❌ | Square | Neuchâtel | ☠️ | 24.03.2018 | ||||
Vidomnes (Sierre) | Link | 544 | ❌ | ❌ | 1490 | Square | Hauts-Valaisans | Non-conflicting | 17.03.2018 | |||
Vufflens | Link | 473 | ❌👁️ | ❌ | 1415-1430 | Square | ? | 👍 ? | 28.01.2018 | Fully made of brick | ||
Yverdon | Link | 433 | ✔️ | ✔️ (Municipality) | 13th century Construction ends around 1265 | Circular | Savoy (Châtellerie) | ☠️ | 05.02.2017 | Museum of Yverdon and region | ||
Tour de la Molière | To visit soon |
Légende:
- ❌ Castle not open to the public.
- ❌👁️ Castle not open to visitors but particularly pretty.
- ✔️ Castle can be visited but no longer in its original state.
- ✔️✔️ Visitable castle in a good state of conservation. To be visited first.
- ☠️ Damaged during the Burgundian Wars.
- 👍 Spared during the Burgundian Wars.
The 9 most beautiful castles to visit
As mentioned above, not all castles in French-speaking Switzerland can be visited. The Torpille team lists below the 9 most beautiful castles to visit in order starting from the most beautiful.
- Chillon Castle VD
- Grandson Castle VD
- Gruyères Castle FR
- Oron Castle VD
- Sarraz Castle VD
- Aigle Castle VD
- Valangin Castle NE
- Tourbillon Castle VS
- Bâtiaz Castle VS
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle is by far the most beautiful castle in French-speaking Switzerland. Located on a rocky island near the shore, it was mainly built by Savoy in the 12th century as a symbol of its power. The visitor follows an signposted path that allows him to discover the entire structure. It is an attraction to see absolutely!
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐
- 🔗 Chillon Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Veytaux
- 👁️ View: Léman, Dents du Midi, french Alpes
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Road between Pays de Vaud and Chablais-Valais-Great-St-Bernard
- 💪 Strengths: Castle as a whole, underground, keep, ramparts
- 🏃 Open for visits
A sailing boat next to Chillon Castle. On the left is the Chillon motorway viaduct.
A video of Chillon Castle.
Grandson Castle
Château de Grandson is an imposing monument built on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. He witnessed the Burgundy Wars, a key event in the history of French-speaking Switzerland and of the whole of Switzerland, which opposed the Swiss to the army of Charles the Bold at the end of the 15th century.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐
- 🔗 Grandson Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Grandson
- 👁️ View: Lake Neuchâtel
- ⚔️ Surveillance: West bank of Lake Neuchâtel
- 💪 Strengths: Armor, old cars, treasure of the Burgundy Wars
- 🏃 Open for visits
Chillon Castle from the car park next to the reception.
A video of Grandson Castle.
Gruyères Castle
Château de Gruyères is built on a hill overlooking the magnificent Gruyère region. It is built next to the old town of Gruyères in which you should not miss to stop to taste a half and half fondue (fondue moitié-moitié) and meringues.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐
- 🔗 Gruyères Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Moléson
- 👁️ View: Gruyère region, Pré-alpes fribourgeoises
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Intyamont valley
- 💪 Strengths: Natural environment and old town of Gruyères (fondue and meringues 😋)
- 🏃 Open for visits
Aerial view of the castle of Gruyères with the adjoining old town.
A video of the castle of Gruyères.
Oron Castle
Oron Castle is a small but very well preserved castle northeast of Lausanne.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐
- 🔗 Oron Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Oron
- 👁️ View: Préalpes fribourgeoises, Valais alpes
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Fortified point of the Oron region
- 💪 Strengths: Ramparts under the roof
- 🏃 Open for visits
Oron Castle with its keep on the right.
A video about Oron Castle.
Sarraz Castle
The Sarraz Castle is a very pretty castle between Yverdon and Lausanne at the foot of the Jura. It has two large towers, partially rebuilt after the Burgundy Wars. In recent centuries, a section of the ramparts has been demolished to bring light into the courtyard.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐
- 🔗 Sarraz Castle
- 📍 Municipality: La Sarraz
- 👁️ View: Old town of Sarraz, surrounding region
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Road leading to France via the Jougne pass
- 💪 Strengths: Two magnificent tours, Horse Museum
- 🏃 Open for visits
The castle of Sarraz with its two towers.
A video of Sarraz Castle from a drone.
Aigle Castle
Château d’Aigle is located in the Chablais region of the Canton of Vaud in the middle of the vineyards. It was conquered by Bern at the expense of Savoy after the Burgundy Wars in the 15th century and then returned to the new canton of Vaud at the end of the 18th century. It houses the Museum of Vines and Wine.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗Aigle Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Aigle
- 👁️ View: Chablais region, French, Valais and Vaud Alps
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Rhône valley, roads leading to the Col des Mosses and the Col du Pillon
- 💪 Strengths: Wine and Vine Museum
- 🏃 Open for visits
The Castle of Aigle in the middle of the vineyards.
A video about the castle of Aigle.
Valangin Castle
Valangin Castle is located between the city of Neuchâtel and the View of the Alps (Vue des Alpes) on the banks of the Seyon Gorge. It has an elegant central structure that serves as a main building and keep that is surrounded by partially ruined walls.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗 Valangin Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Valangin
- 👁️ View: Old town of Valangin
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Seyon gorges, Vue des Alpes road – Neuchâtel
- 💪 Strengths: Keep
- 🏃 Open for visits
The castle of Valangin with the surrounding walls.
A video of Valangin Castle from a drone.
Tourbillon Castle
Tourbillon Castle is located on one of the famous hills of Sion opposite the fortified basilica of Valère.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗Tourbillon Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Sion
- 👁️ View: Valère, city of Sion, Rhône valley and Valais Alps.
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Fortified point of the Sion region
- 💪 Strengths: nice structure on top of a hill
- 🏃 Open for visits
The steep path leading to the Castle of Tourbillon.
A video about the castle of Tourbillon.
Bâtiaz Castle
Overlooking Martigny, the Castle of Bâtiaz dominates the region with its high keep from which one can enjoy a very beautiful view. The castle overlooked the Rhone Valley towards both Sion and Saint-Maurice. He also monitored the path leading to the Great St Bernard Pass to reach Italy.
In the castle courtyard there are interesting reconstructions of medieval war machines such as the trebuchet.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗 La Bâtiaz Castle
- 📍 Municipality: Martigny
- 👁️ View: Rhône Valley towards Lake Geneva and Upper Valais, town of Martigny
- ⚔️ Surveillance: Rhone Valley, road to Grand-Saint-Bernard
- 💪 Strengths: Keep
- 🏃 Open for visits
The Castle of Bâtiaz with its imposing keep.
A video about the Bâtiaz castle.
The 7 most beautiful castles that are not open to visitors
There are some very pretty castles in French-speaking Switzerland but unfortunately they cannot be visited because they are in private hands or reserved for the district administration. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to come and see them. The Torpedo lists below the 7 most beautiful castles that cannot be visited in order starting from the most beautiful.
- Vufflens Castle VD
- Lucens Castle VD
- Blonay Castle VD
- Chenaux Castle FR
- Champvent Castle VD
- Vaumarcus Castle NE
- Bulle Castle FR
Vufflens Castle
The castle of Vufflens is the most important castle in French-speaking Switzerland with the castle of Chillon. Entirely made of brick, it is particularly impressive with its magnificent structure and imposing keep. It belongs to Saussure’s family.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐
- 🔗 Vufflens Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
The castle of Vufflens with its vineyard.
A video of Vufflens Castle from a drone.
Lucens Castle
Lucens Castle is a very pretty castle located in the north of the canton of Vaud. It impresses particularly by its elegance and in particular its many small side turrets. After the Bernese left, it became the property of the canton of Vaud in 1801, which put it up for sale. Since then, the castle has remained in private hands.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐
- 🔗 Lucens Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
The castle of Lucens with its many watchtowers.
A video of Lucens Castle from a drone.
Blonay Castle
Blonay Castle is a castle built on a hill in the heights of Vevey at the foot of the Pleiades. The Blonay family still owns this very pretty castle, whose keep resembles that of Chillon Castle.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐⭐
- 🔗 Blonay Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
The castle of Blonay with its central keep.
A video of Blonay Castle from a drone.
Chenaux Castle
The Chenaux castle in Estavayer-le-Lac is a castle built by Savoy counts. It houses the administration of the services of the Broye district. The “circuit of the ramparts” of about ½ hour allows you to discover the old defensive structures of the city.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗 Chenaux Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
The castle of Chenaux in Estavayer-le-Lac.
A video of the castle of Chenaux.
Champvent Castle
The Castle of Champvent is located in the immediate vicinity of Yverdon in the north of the canton of Vaud. It is a beautiful building built according to the principle of the “savoy square”.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗 Champvent Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
The castle of Champvent near Yverdon.
A video of the castle of Champvent from a drone.
Vaumarcus Castle
Vaumarcus Castle, located between Grandson and Neuchâtel, is an elegant castle lined with small elongated turrets. It overlooks the vineyard and Lake Neuchâtel. In the 15th century, he witnessed the Burgundian wars.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗 Vaumarcus Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
Vaumarcus Castle near Lake Neuchâtel.
A video of Vaumarcus Castle from a drone.
Bulle Castle
The Castle of Bulle is an imposing castle in the centre of the town of Bulle. It is built according to the “savoy square” model with a powerful keep.
- 🏆 Ranking: ⭐
- 🔗 Bulle Castle
- 🧘 Closed to the visit
The castle of Bulle with the Keep on the right.
A video of an aerial view of the castle of Bulle.