Courtyard of Grandson Castle © Pierre-Yves Massot/FCG
The Château de Grandson, a landmark monument in Northern Vaud, stands proudly on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, in the heart of this small medieval village of almost 3,400 inhabitants, which is also listed as one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages.
And while the town’s many narrow streets lend it an unmistakable charm, one of its main assets and spearhead of its appeal is of course the Château, located right in the heart of the town. In recent years, as you passed by the building, you could make out scaffolding and the comings and goings of construction vehicles. In fact, the monument has benefited from an XXL facelift, with a restoration project lasting almost 15 years.
Today, the château opens its doors again, and it’s sumptuous.
Over 100 different companies were involved, and the monument was restored down to the very last nook and cranny: frameworks, paintings, etc. A detailed video series on the restoration work is available on the Château’s YouTube channel . On completion of the work, the Château has been redesigned to welcome the public, with most of the permanent exhibition rooms now accessible to people with reduced mobility.
When you arrive at the Château, its impressive stature will make it easy to understand why it took almost a decade to build, so tall does it appear when you face it from the parking lot below. Before entering the building, you’ll enjoy a lovely view of the gardens and Lake Neuchâtel below, then make way for the Château’s lair.
A few steps further on, you’ll be invited to enter the building, where the reception area will allow you to acquire the precious sesame necessary for your visit. You’ll quickly notice the imposing replica of Othon de Grandson, who built the fortress you’re standing in. Next, it’s time for “Grandson 1000 years of history”, an immersive exhibition spanning three floors and some 15 rooms, the powerful Grandson family, the evolution of the castle and the battle that changed Europe.
For families, a parallel sensory tour allows children (aged 2-8) to experience the exhibition in a different way.
Aerial view of the château during its renovation © ADNV – Lionel Bourgeois
Historically speaking, the Château de Grandson was at the heart of the conflict between the armed forces of Charles Le Téméraire and the Helvetic confederates, notably at the Battle of Grandson on March 2, 1476. In a nod to this historic date, the Château was publicly inaugurated on March 2, 2026, 550 years later. This is a central element of the museography, which approaches the subject through audio capsules and visual animations, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in history and understand how it has shaped today’s world.
Exhibition photos © Pierre-Yves Massot/FCG
And if you’re still reading, we’re not revealing everything here, rest assured 😉 The tour will take you through magnificent rooms such as the Hall of Knights, where the combination of history and architectural beauty make for an exciting visit. But all this, we’ll let you discover in real life, from Thursday April 2, 2026.
Castle opening hours :
Grandson Castle is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
For more information, visit www.chateau-grandson.ch