Chillon

Chillon, a celebrated castle of Switzerland, at the eastern end of the Lake of Geneva, $1\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile SSE. of Montreux. It stands on an isolated rock, 22 yards from the shore, and connected therewith by a bridge, though the strait between them is dry. Dating perhaps from the 8th century, it seems to have been partly rebuilt in 1238, by Amadens IV. of Savoy, and it long served as a state prison. Here for six years (1530-36) Bonivard (q.v.) endured the captivity immortalised by Byron's Prisoner of Chillon (1821). Among the thousands of names inscribed on the pillars of the dungeon are those of Byron, Georges Sand, and Victor Hugo. The castle is now used as a magazine for military stores.