Château de Chillon is picturesquely located on the North Eastern shore of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. This fortress deservedly receives more visitors than any other building in the country. The castle sat on a key trade route that ran through the Alps connecting Germany and Italy. Its defensive position meant it could demand a hefty toll to pass and grew increasingly wealthy on this revenue. First mention of the castle is from the 11th century AD; the castle has a total of 25 independent buildings that, over time, were gradually connected to the main structure. You can spend hours exploring narrow medieval fortifications that connect towers, courtyards, staterooms with weapons and armour, and the infamous dungeons. The Castle was never taken in a siege and doubled as a prison over its history. It was made famous when a poem was written about a Genevois monk and politician who was imprisoned in the dungeon from 1530 to 1536. The pillar he was chained to still has some worn shackles and offers a reminder of the brutality and suffering that went on in this dark place for centuries.