Chillon Castle hosts Relics tours on 31 October
Published on 10/31/2026 at 15:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSExhibition tours and castle setting
- Chillon Castle Foundation schedules the first guided tour for 31 October 2026.
- ECAL students and a castle guide connect the exhibition with rooms, objects and inscriptions at the site.
- The rocky island measures approximately 100 metres by 50 metres and has shaped the castle's oval layout.
- Veytaux-Chillon station is a six-minute walk from the castle.
Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon) in Montreux is the venue for a guided tour of Relics of the Future on 31 October 2026. A castle guide and students from ECAL will introduce the temporary exhibition and its contemporary responses to the medieval site.
Relics of the Future tours begin on 31 October
The tour is part of an exhibition organised in partnership with ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne. The official programme lists tours on Saturdays 31 October and 21 November 2026, followed by a further date on 6 March 2027.
On 31 October 2026, the tour runs from 2.15pm to 3.30pm, according to the official tour programme. The guide and ECAL students explain the works, their inspirations and the collaboration behind them. The same programme identifies the Fondation du Château de Chillon as the organiser and names the castle as the venue.
ECAL exhibition connects new work with old rooms
Relics of the Future runs from 17 September 2026 to 25 April 2027. It brings together work by students from graphic design, photography, media and interaction design, and type design. The projects respond to the castle's rooms, objects, decorations, coats of arms, inscriptions and atmosphere.
The exhibition therefore uses the building as more than a backdrop. Graphic design students studied painted decorations and objects, photography students worked from the castle's rooms, and type design students created inscriptions in the courtyard. The exhibition details describe these strands as separate approaches to Chillon's heritage.
The setting itself developed over several centuries. The first written mention of the castle dates to 1150, while restoration began towards the end of the nineteenth century under cantonal architect Albert Naef. That long sequence gives the 2026 student projects a precise architectural context rather than a generic gallery setting.
A lakeside fortress shaped by its rocky island
The castle stands on an oval rocky island beside Lake Geneva and is approximately 100 metres long and 50 metres wide. A natural moat surrounds it, while a bridge connects the site to the land. Its northern side formed the defensive section protecting the Via Francigena, and the southern side contains the former royal residence.
The building includes a keep, a treasury, sentry walks and three main courtyards. Around 300 objects are displayed across the site, with many found during archaeological excavations carried out between 1896 and 1903. These features give the guided tour several kinds of material to place beside the contemporary work.
The castle's conservation history is also ongoing. Since 1892, a Technical Commission of architects, historians and heritage specialists has overseen conservation and restoration. The Foundation says that work must be balanced with the castle's continuing public use.
Visiting Chillon Castle: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The guided tour of Relics of the Future takes place at Chillon Castle on 31 October 2026, from 2.15pm to 3.30pm.
- The event is an exhibition tour led by a castle guide with ECAL students, so visitors encounter the temporary works alongside the historic rooms and objects.
- Veytaux-Chillon station is served by hourly S5 regional trains and is a six-minute walk from the castle. The number 201 bus from Vevey, Montreux or Villeneuve stops in front of the site.
- The visitor route includes cobbled courtyards, narrow passages and numerous stairways. The castle is not easily accessible to wheelchair or walker users, although some courtyard and service areas are accessible.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Relics of the Future remains on view through 25 April 2027, with later guided tours listed for 21 November 2026 and 6 March 2027.
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Frequently asked questions about Chillon Castle
When does the Relics of the Future tour take place at Chillon Castle?
The first listed tour is on 31 October 2026 from 2.15pm to 3.30pm. Further tours are scheduled for 21 November 2026 and 6 March 2027.
What is Relics of the Future at Chillon Castle?
It is a temporary exhibition running from 17 September 2026 to 25 April 2027, created in partnership with ECAL. Students respond to the castle's rooms, objects, decorations and inscriptions through several design disciplines.
Where is Chillon Castle and how do you get there?
The castle is beside Lake Geneva in Veytaux, between Montreux and Villeneuve. S5 trains serve Veytaux-Chillon station, while the number 201 bus stops in front of the castle.
