Château de Nyon

White medieval castle on the hill above the old town, now a museum of porcelain and history

The white turreted château that gives Nyon its skyline. The earliest fortifications on the hill date from the 12th century; the building took its present form under the Bernese in the 16th and 17th centuries, when Nyon was a Bernese bailliage. The castle is in two parts: a public museum on the lower floors covers the history of the town, including its famous porcelain manufactures, and the upper floors house the still-active office of the Vaud cantonal government.

The terrace behind the castle is one of the best free viewpoints on the lake — out over the harbour, the water, and on a clear day, Mont Blanc directly opposite. The museum is closed Mondays and on the first day of each month. Allow about ninety minutes for the visit including the terrace.

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A story
Nyon was famous in the 18th century for its delicate porcelain, made in a workshop here from 1781 until the firm went bankrupt in 1813 — undercut by industrial production from Limoges. The castle museum's porcelain wing now holds the best surviving collection, including pieces that the workshop's founders had bought back from European courts in a desperate attempt to keep the company afloat.

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