I recently visited the beautiful Château de Chillon with some family members. Sitting right on the edge of Lake Geneva, it truly feels like something out of a postcard.
The castle dates back to the medieval period, most likely the 12th or 13th century, although no one knows the exact date. Today, it is a museum and also the most visited historic monument in Switzerland. Walking through its halls, towers, and courtyards is an experience I would recommend to anyone visiting the region.
If you arrive by car, there is a parking area just a few hundred meters from the castle, with signs indicating that you can park for up to 3 hours. As we live in Switzerland, we already had a parking disc in the car, which allows you to park for free for up to 3 hours as long as you display it correctly.
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There is also a note in French saying that you can get the required parking disc "over there."
At first glance, it seems easy. Park the car, set your parking disc, and enjoy the visit.
That is exactly what we thought.
When we finished our visit and came back to our car, we noticed another car parked right next to ours. Two tourists were standing outside, holding a paper and talking to each other in a confused and surprised way.
They did not speak French and asked us if we could help them understand what the paper was.
It was a parking fine.
At that moment, everything became clear, and honestly, a bit frustrating.
The problem is surprisingly simple.
The sign that says the parking disc can be obtained "over there" is only written in French. If you do not understand the language, it is almost impossible to figure out what it means. Even if you do speak French, the message is still unclear. It does not really tell you where to go.
Naturally, most visitors expect to find a machine nearby or somewhere in the parking area.
But there is not.
Here is what many people do not realize.
Parking is free for up to 3 hours on the lakeside road in front of the castle, Avenue de Chillon. However, you must use a parking disc.
If you do not already have one, you need to buy it for 3 CHF.
And the only place to get it is at the castle ticket office.
Yes, the same place where you buy your entrance ticket.
This is what the sign is trying to communicate, but it is not obvious, especially for international visitors.
It is easy to see how this leads to fines. Visitors arrive, park their car, look around for a machine, find nothing, and assume everything is fine. Then they enjoy their visit without realizing they are missing the required parking disc.
By the time they return, the fine is already waiting for them.
If you are planning to visit Château de Chillon by car, remember this:
If you do not already have a parking disc, go directly to the castle ticket office and get one before or right after you park.
It costs just a few francs and can save you from an unnecessary fine.
Chillon Castle is absolutely worth visiting. The history, the setting, and the atmosphere make it one of the highlights of the Swiss Riviera.
Just make sure your visit does not end with an unexpected surprise on your windshield.
A small detail can make a big difference.