Castles and museums
With eight castles open to the public and an even greater number of private buildings that can be rented for events, the Canton of Vaud is a region that values the vestiges of its past. Of various sizes and styles, these fortresses are well preserved and often complemented with varied interactive exhibitions. The Vaudois museums – as diverse as there are many – complete this vast cultural offer.
Museums, aquariums and other places of culture
The Canton of Vaud is a region with the most museums per capita. With such an offer, culture buffs are bound to find what they are interested in, be it history, local crafts, or contemporary art. Societal topics and famous guests are also the subject of lively and interactive exhibitions. The Olympic Museum, Chaplin’s World and Aquatis thus enjoy remarkable success with children and adults alike.
Fortified castles, palaces and majestic estates
Often located on the shores of Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel – eighteen castles in the Canton of Vaud are currently open to the public. They exhibit objects linked to their history, but also thematic collections. Examples are Aigle Castle, which houses the Museum of Vine and Wine, and Prangins Castle, where the Swiss National Museum has taken up its headquarters.
Most of these fortresses were built by great lords of the Middle Ages. Grandson Castle witnessed the battle between Charles the Bold and the Confederates. The castles of Yverdon-les-Bains and Morges were built by the Counts of Savoy, based on the model of the “Savoyard square”. With its iconic silhouette that seems to float above Lake Geneva, Chillon Castle is Switzerland’s most visited historical monument. Other buildings such as those of L’Isle or Vuillerens are more like palaces and sometimes feature splendid gardens.
And much more
Many other sites are also accessible to culture enthusiasts.
