Top 10 Castles in Switzerland, Switzerland

This beautiful medieval castle overlooking the city has been recently restored.

The doors of one of Europe's most fascinating castle are open to you. This thousand year old historical monument is located in an natural setting on the shores of Lake Geneva in at the foot of the Alps in Switzerland. Individual or groups tours, unaccompanied, guided or with an audioguide are available. Chillon also organises exhibitions, artistic and popular performances, as well as concerts throughout the year. Open all year round (except January 1 and December 25).

The medieval castle above the town of Thun is a striking focal point at the entrance to the Bernese Oberland region. This almost completely preserved symbol of power contains the Knights' Hall, one of the few surviving halls of its type from the Middle Ages. Built at the end of the 12th century by the Dukes of Zahringen as a purely administrative castle, this striking building was extended by its new owners, the Bernese, with its impressive roof in the 15th century. The five floors of the castle now house a historical museum highlighting the region's history, as well as host temporary exhibitions on a variety of cultural, historical and current issues. Concerts and other public events are held in the intact knight's hall. The corner towers of Thun Castle provide an unforgettable view over the city of Thun, Lake Thun and the mountains.

Gruyères Castle has stood proudly atop a verdant hill in the heart of Switzerland since the 13th century. Surrounded by the magnificent panorama of the Alpine foothills, the medieval fortress houses prestigious collections that bear witness to its long and rich history. The treasures to be found within its walls include the capes of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the intricate stained-glass windows dating from the Middle Ages; the frescoes commissioned by the bailiffs under the Ancien Régime; paintings by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot and the troubadour decorations of the Salle des Chevaliers, created at Gruyères in the 19th century by a colony of passionate artists. From its ramparts to its French-style gardens, from the guard room to its romantic salons, Gruyères Castle takes you on an adventure through eight centuries of art, history and legends.

It is only a short hop from the romantic moated castle to the nature reserve on Lake Hallwil. Combine history, culture and nature to create an exciting experience! Travelling through time and space with the von Hallwyl family. Throughout its eight hundred-year history, the von Hallwyl dynasty, as part of the Argovian squirearchy, distinguished itself in a variety of ways: on confederate battlefields, at European courts, in science and politics, in trade and in the world of finance. On your tour of the castle premises you will discover medieval and post medieval areas of life divided into 11 themes. By means of an audio guide, selected family members will tell you the stories of their lives. However, the ordinary people, the farmers and subjects of the Lords of Hallwyl also have a voice.