Its weathered stone walls, tumultuous history and exquisite location on Lake Geneva have made Chateau de Chillon an icon of Europe's Romantic movement. After visiting the castle in 1816, Lord Byron was inspired to write the poem "The Prisoner of Chillon" about the travails of a man who was held as a prisoner here back in the 16th century. Walking through the castle's gloomy underground rooms, visitors can imagine for themselves what a prison sentence here would have been like. Other, cheerier highlights can be found aboveground, including several magnificent great halls and a lovely 14th-century chapel.
Byron’s Signature in the Dungeon
The oldest parts of the castle have not been definitively dated, but the first written record of the castle is in 1160 or 1005. From the mid 12th century, the castle was home to the Counts of Savoy, and it was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Pietro II. The Castle was never taken in a siege, but did change hands through treaties.
No comments:
Post a Comment