Switzerland > The Castle of Chillon

At half past nine, we stand at a small station opposite our hotel. The platform is at most five meters wide. What kind of train would stop here? The track climbs steeply up the mountain. A little later, the little train arrives. It consists of two train cars. We board next to the driver. There are no other passengers. The driver asks if we want to ride all the way to Montreux? That’s not our plan. We get off a few stops earlier at Glion. From here, we walk down with a view over Montreux. The driver is fine with that and sets the train in motion again. At a calm pace, the little train descends the mountain. At most small stations, it doesn’t even have to stop. No one is waiting. At the larger station Caux, the train must wait for the opposite train. There is no rush anywhere; everything goes relaxed. We get off at Glion. The driver also gets off. He goes to get coffee at the kiosk. When we want to start our walk, we find a sign forbidding pedestrians. There are works in progress. The driver notices our problem and asks at the kiosk for us. We have to walk straight ahead and then return via the road. There we can pick up the route again. Unfortunately, a little lower the route is also closed due to works. We follow the detour here too.

Switzerland - Chillon Castle on the shores of the lake

Meanwhile, we have a beautiful view over Lake Geneva and Montreux. After a tight half hour’s walk, we enter Montreux. We visit the little church at the upper part of the city. Montreux is built against a slope. Steep streets and many stairs are unavoidable. Right at the bottom by the lake is a pedestrian boulevard. The view over the lake is beautiful. The waves hit the shore. Occasionally, water splashes high from the lake. We follow the boulevard along the lake toward Chillon Castle. This castle lies three kilometers outside Montreux. From afar, we already see the castle. The castle has stood on this strategic location since the 13th century.

Switzerland - The courtyard of Chillon Castle

Because of the steep mountains, the route to the St. Bernard Pass could be controlled by the Counts of Savoy. In 1536, the castle was conquered by troops from Bern. They used the castle as a storage place and prison. During the French Revolution, the characteristic fortress came into the hands of the Canton of Vaud. When we cross the access bridge, we enter the courtyard—one of three courtyards. Around us stand the defensive towers and walls. In the basement, we see the storage rooms and the former prison. One floor above are the reception rooms and the castle lord’s chambers. Through the chapel, the armories, and the galleries, we reach the donjon. This tower forms the center of the castle and is also the oldest building of Chillon. From the twenty-five-meter-high observation tower, we see all sides of the castle, the lake behind it, and the city of Montreux. Back on the boulevard along the lake, we walk through to the village of Villeneuve. The sun still shines above the lake. On the main street, we order a sandwich on a terrace for lunch. Then we head to Villeneuve station. We don’t have to wait long. All trains head towards Montreux. The train ride to Montreux lasts just a few minutes. In Montreux, we leave the train again. Montreux lies sheltered behind the high mountains and thus enjoys a mild climate. The city is known for the international television festivals and the Montreux Jazz Festival. The center consists of large luxury hotels and casinos. Everything seems to radiate luxury. The large Montreux Palace hotel takes a dominant place on the boulevard. How much would a room in this complex cost for one night? On the other side lies the old town. Narrow streets run uphill.

Switzerland - The last evening in Switzerland with cheese fondue

Actually, it’s just too warm to walk through the streets, especially uphill. We return to the lakeshore for a drink. At the end of the afternoon, we take the mountain train back to the Haut de Caux stop near our hotel. In the sunshine on the terrace, we enjoy the view. In the evening, we eat in the hotel garden. It is the last night in Switzerland. Tomorrow we drive toward Germany. What better way to end the last evening than with a traditional Swiss cheese fondue.