The Latter-Day Prisoners of Chillon

During the drive from Lausanne to Montreux, we first stopped for lunch at one of the roadside rest stops.  This occasioned a photo op with some "fans" with World Cup events in mind. 

Then we caught a glimpse - just a glimpse through the mist - of the fabled Swiss "Riviera."

We left the main highway and made our way to Chillon castle.  The weather had occasional breaks, but, as you can see here, was still pretty wet.

Chillon has, in my experience, always been a favorite visit for the younger set.  I am not sure whether it is simply "castle mystique" or that this particular one - with its medieval underground dungeons and crenellated walls and seemingly endless series of rooms - just fits neatly into one's imaginings of what a castle should be.

In any event, Prince C and Princess C pronounced Chillon to be their favorite castle visit.  And that was even after we had visited Gruyères castle later on.  But first, the dungeon visit ...

This particular dungeon was made famous literarily by the English poet, Lord Byron, in his poem "The Prisoner of Chillon."  The poem was inspired by the four-year imprisonment of François Bonivard in the 16th century.

Lord Byron left his own mark in the dungeon ...

and one of the young'uns (audiotour headphones and all) decided to see what it would be like to be shackled to the post.

They were both impressed by how cold it must have been - given that the dungeon overlooks Lake Geneva.

They were also intrigued by the sanitary arrangements elsewhere in the castle, quite similar to those we had seen in Annecy castle but with wooden seats!

Bathing in the castle was also interesting.

The window seats, bereft of pillows, were hard to sit on.

And the fireplaces were big enough to roast a whole ox  - or a couple of teenagers.

Some of the porcelain stoves that served to heat the castle rooms were quite decorative.

There were a few moments where Dad B was in danger (not really).

We all survived the "imprisonment" and were impressed to see the medieval castle next to the modern roads and especially the big highway as it made its way down to Villeneuve.

Then we began the drive home, unaware that the day's adventures were not quite finished.