Stunning Views and Palace Intrigue: Princesses of Chateau de Chillon

Clos de Chillon

The Castle has its own vineyard spread along the shores of Lake Geneva, just 10 minutes walk from the castle. Each year, its grapes produce a Grand Cru known as the Clos de Chillon. The white wine is made using the chasselas variety, and the red from a blend of the gamaret, garanoir and merlot varieties. I have no idea what that means but our guide mentioned it for the sommeliers in the group. On my visit, we sampled two varietals, enjoying a lovely fall afternoon with a glass of the “house wine” and beautiful views of Lake Geneva.

Illuminated Princesses

Today, the Chateau features a new exhibition of contemporary art, entitled Caroline Tschumi – Illuminated Princesses. The Chillon Castle Foundation has commissioned twelve exclusive portraits from the Swiss artist. Tschumi, a renowned artist from the Vaudoise region, reinterprets the countesses and duchesses of the House of Savoy who lived at the end of the Middle Ages.

The public is invited to walk through the rooms of the heritage building and to enter into the imagination and symbols of an anachronistic past magnified by Caroline Tschumi, by following a guided tour, a self-guided tour with chronological milestones or the family and children’s tour, the material for which is distributed at the ticket office.

This temporary exhibition is also complemented by a catalogue and a cultural programme in October and November.

In the drawing chosen for the poster of the temporary exhibition, Caroline Tschumi presents her portrait of Bonne de Bourbon. The artist reinterprets the countess on a horse of fire in front of the Castle of Chillon.

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The Real Story is the Women of Chillon

A promise to wed made as pre-teens. Strategic political alignments to satisfy a lust for power, land and treasure for the rulers of the House of Savoy. The Chateau of Chillon in Montreux Switzerland tells the story of these amazing women: Bonne de Bourbon, Mary of Burgundy, Anne of Cyprus, Yolande of France and Beatrice of Portugal. Mistresses of the Chateau in Middle Ages.

These medieval grand dames rocked the Chateau!

For hundreds of years the passage of ships on Lake Geneva and the important land route to the St. Bernard Pass was controlled right here. Chillon belonged to the Counts of Savoy from the 12th to the 16th century. During this time, the Illuminated Princess wielded far more political influence over the duchy than their husbands.

That is, until the end of the Middle Ages when nearby neighbors, the Bernese, conquered the water castle. Armies from the Protestant Canton Bern in the Swiss Confederation – a historical precursor to what is now modern Switzerland – conquered Vaud from Catholic Savoy and took possession of the Castle of Chillon. But by then, the Princesses were enjoying their heavenly rest.

What They Don’t Cover on the Tour

Against this historical backdrop, the Princesses labored through more than seventy pregnancies producing only a handful of heirs, managed vast estates, funded their husband’s armies all while entertaining the entitled and titled of Medieval Europe.

Murder and Intrigue

One quick example.

In July 0f 1382, with funds running low for her husband, Amadeus VII’s ongoing Italian campaign, Bonne de Bourbon sold some of her heirloom jewelry to equip his troops.

The plot thickens…

When he died of tetanus in 1391, Bonne became regent, but her influence over Savoy came to an end when the doctor considered to be responsible for Amadeus VII’s death, then accused the Countess of ordering her son’s death!

And this is mild compared to the remaining stories which include the purchase of the Shroud of Turin.

And the first tiger owned by a Swiss Princess in the Middle Ages.

Tschumi entertains all of the “behind the scenes” palace intrigue in her illustrations and you’ll enjoy this new perspective on the Chateau.

Visit Chillon for the chateau, the art, the wine and the views! But especially for the Illuminated Princesses! Click here for more information.