The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-27
LOCAL PARTY VISITS
CASTLE OF CHILLON
Nv LIME ROBINSON


(By mail to Palladium THE Castle
of Chillon, a noteworthy monument of
the Middle Ages. made famous by
Lord Byron, in his poem The Pris-
Toner of Chillon," is at once the most
interesting and most beautiful sight
at Montreux, on Lake Geneva. We
spent an entire morning exploring
the castles dungeons, turrets, ban
quet hall, courts and guardrooms.
Chillon seems to have been profuse-
ly thrown between the lake and
mountains to intercept the passage. Il
rears its head crowned with turrets
above the wonderful lake, which is
500 to 1000 feet deep, situated in a
mountain setting of indescribable
beauty.
The present castle is actually the
one restored by Peter of SaxoDy. II
is not the first, but dates from the
18th century. Solidly constructed il
covers the whole of the isolated rocks
on which it is built. 1t is of an irregu-
lar oval form. In the center rises the
high square tower bearing the alarm
bell. On the north run two ranges
of walls with three sound towers. On
the east side is the principle tower
Square and masonic on one side OF
which is the only entrance formerly
closed by a draw bridge thrown across
from bank to rock.
Towns In Interior
In the interior are three towers which
rest one above the other in the portion
of the building along the south com
posed of two stories and the under
ground apartments.
The valuts of Chillon are prolonged
through cavities in the rock for a dis
lance of 256 feet. The underground
portion of the castle is partitioned into
seven chambers of various sizes, sepa
rated from each other by narrow, DARK
spaces which formerly were used as
places Of punishment for the con
demned Each of the large subterran
can cells is divided by a row of Pill
FAIRS, surmounted by arches in ogine
supporting the rock The last anC
, largest was Borirands, "the Prisoner
or Chillon." The entrance is by low
narrow doorway The chamber is di
vided by seven pillars and openings sill
! in rock, which admit faint rays O.
light Reflections from the lake cast &
strange blue light through the dun
! seon.
! The floor consists of the apartment
of the governor of Chillon. the Hall o
Justice, whence a staircase leads t.
| the underground, and several vaultet
chambers now used as military maya
zines. In one of them there still re
mains large fireplace and an elegant
| " sculptured column.
! In the upper story is the Knights
chamber. divided by three pillars, orna
mented by ancient arms and flags;
then there are the chambers of the
duke and duchess and few steps O.
stairs lead to the chapel.
Castle Important
| In the middle ages this military and
! feudal castle with its massive walls
thanked with towers and turrets. with
its battlements and loopholes, It's
bitches and drawbridge was of great
importance. It was the chief com
munication between Italy and Switzer
! land
1t is not known when the first foun
dations of Chillon were laid but 1,
has been in existence more than 6
| thousand years.
By his captivity and misfortunes
Francis Bonivard has made Chillon il
lustrious. Savoyan by birth, he was Z
member of the nobility. He gave him
self heart and soul to the cause OF
Geneva in the train of the Duke O,
Savoy. Surprising all the mobiles BIZ
his profound knowledge and brilliant
Imagination he devoted himself to Z
religious life. At 20 he became through
the inheritance of an uncle, prior O.
st. Victor. a monastery In the sub
urbs Of Geneva. Led by his predilec
tions, Downward contributed powerfully
in making Geneva join the alliance O
Swiss cantons thus bringing upon him
self the lively hatred of the duke, WHIT
kept him prisoner two years at Ge1
and later brought him to ChiiloI
where he was kept for six Years. After
two years of rather mild treatment b,
was thrown into the large dungeon
and bound to pillar In 1886 he wa.
freed.