Pretty neat that Cedar’s first real castle experience—and no, Castle Fun Park definitely doesn’t count—is within walking distance of where we’re living. And walk we did!
The lakeshore promenade (the same one we ran/scootered earlier in the week) stretches all the way from Montreux to the drawbridge gates of Château de Chillon. The castle and surrounding island has been occupied—since around the 11th century. It’s been home to everyone from the Lords of Savoy to François Bonivard to the Bernese army.
It’s also inspired writers like Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Rousseau, and Victor Hugo. And today? It blew our 5-year-old’s mind.
We explored it room by room (and I mean EVERY room), from the dungeon prison all the way to the top of the keep. Cedar was on the lookout for dragons, knights, and bad guys—but after making it through the dungeon and seeing the “shadows” (a very cool interactive projection of the silhouettes of knights, lords, and princesses who once lived there), he got into it. He was all in—climbing stairs, opening old wooden doors, and poking around every nook and cranny.
Highlights? For him, definitely the castle toilets, secret passageways, and the dungeon prison. He had a lot of questions about both. For us, it was pretty wild to be walking the same stone floors worn smooth by imprisoned monks and touching the wall where Lord Byron literally carved his name.
This was Sheila’s and my second time visiting the Château—but seeing it through Cedar’s eyes? That made it something else entirely.
Pretty special.
One response to “Chateau de Chillon – Cedar’s First Castle”
Very cool you guys! You’re giving Cedar the gift of travel and that’s the most precious thing!