These vaulted and atmospheric dungeons are below the Château, a 13th-century castle on the shore of Lake Geneva, and only just above the water level.

François Bonivard, a Genevois monk and politician, was jailed here from 1532 to 1536 for inciting the people of Geneva to rebel against Savoy, and was chained to one of these pillars during his four years of captivity.

Much later, Lord Byron visited here in the summer of 1816 and this inspired him to write his famous poem "The Prisoner of Chillon". His name is carved into one of the pillars and can also be seen on the plaque in the photograph.

Château de Chillon Dungeons - Montreux visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Château de Chillon Dungeons' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Vaud.

The Château de Chillon is one of the most visited historic castles in Switzerland. The chateau stands on the edges of Lake Geneva near Montreux, and records of the castle date back to the 11C.

19th century excavations suggest that this site was occupied as early as the Bronze Age. The castle is built on a rocky islet, positioned to take advantage of the natural protection and strategic location to maximise the castle's defenses.

The history of the castle is categorised into three periods of time. The Savoy period lasted from the 11th century until 1536 during which time, the Savoy family held control of this area and of this arterial transport route alongside Lake Geneva. The Bern period lasted from 1536 until 1798, a 260 year period resulting from the Bernese having captured the castle and occupied it as a fortress and as a prison. Finally, the Waldensian period - following the 1798 revolution, the Bernese left the castle which then became the property of the Canton (district) of Vaud.

The castle comprises of 24 separate buildings which gradually connected to form one large fortress. Strikingly atmospheric in both architecture and in the beauty of its lakeside setting, Chateau de Chillon is a very popular visitor attraction and its large staff of guides welcome over 300,000 visitors each year.