Before the sunrise in Montreux

A sunrise, of course, is an awesome experience in pretty much any place. But there's something else that is also quite attractive to me. It's that serene time between the night and the sunrise. In some places they last just minutes, in others it might take a long time. But it's the quietness and the crispness of the air that makes this moment so special. Even the birds are still quiet. There's nothing that can distract you from meditation and calm observation of the beauty around you.

Château de Chillon, or the Chillon Castle, located near Montreux on Lac Léman (also known as Lake Geneva) played a part in Lord Byron's poem 'The Prisoner of Chillon' (1816), where a Genovese monk François Bonivard was imprisoned in 1500's.

The castle is approximately 1,000 years old; no one knows exactly how old it is, but its age can be assumed from the first mentioning in writing about a thousand years ago. Also, while doing some archeological work here in late 1800's, Roman coins were found on the site.

Today, the castle is a museum. It is also one of my favorite castles and I've visited it three times in the past few years. This early in the morning, the castle, of course, is still closed. But you can walk around it freely. 

If you are coming to the Geneva area, don't miss this Swiss jewel. More practical information on planning your visit can be found on the caste's official site:
http://www.chillon.ch/en/index-Horaires-0-0.html