Blonay Castle, Medieval castle in Blonay, Switzerland.
Blonay Castle is a fortress with a rectangular floor plan, two standing towers, and a Renaissance loggia built in 1677 on the slopes of Canton Vaud. Inside, a chapel contains ornate stained glass windows from 1577, creating spaces that blend medieval and Renaissance styles throughout the structure.
The fortress was built by William II in 1175, but earlier defensive structures occupied the site as far back as 1095. This long occupation shows how the location remained strategically important across several centuries of regional change.
The chapel with its stained glass windows shows how important faith and art were to those living here. Visitors can see how carefully these religious spaces were decorated with fine craftsmanship from centuries past.
The fortress stands at 644 meters elevation and is maintained by the Blonay Foundation as a protected heritage site. Wear sturdy shoes when walking the grounds, as the paths are historic and uneven in places.
French painter Gustave Courbet painted the castle in 1875 while in exile in Switzerland, but he hid another artwork beneath the surface. This technique turned the fortress into a secret layer of artistic expression that few people knew about.
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