Castles to visit as a family in French-speaking Switzerland: our favourites

Castles, life-size adventure grounds

Keeps to climb, ramparts to walk, wall-walks, drawbridges and breathtaking views: for children, a castle is a huge playground where history comes alive. French-speaking Switzerland has a fine collection of them, from the legendary Chillon to the perched fortresses of Valais. Some are visited like museums, others can be explored freely. Here are our favourites for a family outing.

Fortress to explore or castle-museum?

There are two big families of castle. Fortresses are discovered by climbing the towers and walking the ramparts and dungeons — ideal for imagining yourself as a knight. Castle-museums house collections that speak to children: figurines and toy soldiers, vines and wine, regional history. Many offer activities (treasure hunts, quizzes, trails) that turn the visit into a game. From age 4–5, a child already enjoys the adventure; older ones get caught up in the stories and the puzzles.

On the shores of Lake Geneva

There is no other place to start than the Château de Chillon, in Veytaux: set on its rock by the lake, it is the most visited historic monument in Switzerland, a true fairy-tale castle. In Morges, the Château de Morges and its museums delight children with their thousands of figurines and toy soldiers. Further west, the Château de Nyon overlooks the lake with its white towers, the Château de Coppet is visited like a home of times past, and the Château de Prangins – Musée national has a large kitchen garden and activities designed for families. In Rolle, extend the day with a walk beside the castle.

In La Gruyère and the canton of Fribourg

Perched above its medieval town, the Château de Gruyères is a must, between legends, gardens and a Prealpine panorama. In Estavayer-le-Lac, the Château de Chenaux raises its round towers above the old town and Lake Neuchâtel — climb the keep for the view.

In the north of the canton of Vaud and the Chablais

The Château de Grandson, a huge fortress on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, plunges children into the world of knights. Nearby, the Château d’Yverdon-les-Bains houses a museum for the whole family. In the Chablais, the Château d’Aigle combines medieval fortress, vineyards and treasure hunts. And in the heart of the Jorat, the Château d’Oron, a lived-in and fully furnished castle, is discovered with a quiz trail for children.

In Valais

In Sion, two castles face each other on their hills: Valère and Tourbillon. Valère, a fortified basilica, houses the oldest playable organ in the world; Tourbillon, in ruins, can be explored freely and free of charge. A steep climb rewarded by a unique panorama over the Rhône valley.

Our tips for visiting a castle as a family

• Find out about the activities on offer at the time (treasure hunts, quizzes, children’s trails): they change everything for little ones.
• Wear good shoes: stairs, cobbles and wall-walks are rarely stroller-friendly.
• Make the most of free entry: it is often free for under-16s or under-18s.
• Combine the visit with the old town, the lakeside or a picnic.
• Check the season’s opening hours on the official website, especially outside summer.

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