Oron Castle

Oron Castle was built in the 13th century. It was totally rebuilt in second half of the 15th century and renovated several times in the 17th century. In 1801 it was acquired the Roberti family of Moudon, and in 1870 it was bought by Adolphe Gaiffe. Beginning in 1880, a library was built in the castle. Today it houses 17,000 volumes and is one of the largest private collections of French novelists of the 18th Century in Europe. The castle was bought in 1936 by the Association pour la Conservation du château d'Oron, which was founded to preserve the castle two years earlier.

The upper floor of the castle was inhabited by a wealthy middle-class family in the 18th century: majestic entrance, old kitchen, six sitting rooms, and one music room. The library (18,000 books) contains most novels published in French between 1775 and 1825, some of which are unique editions: this is the world’s most important private collection of that period.

The ground floor contains four rooms open to castle guests. Banquets, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries offer the pretext to experience, in one “Murder & Mystery” evening, the atmosphere of the castle steeped in history.

References:

• Lake Geneva Region

Address

au Château 1, Oron-le-Châtel, Switzerland

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Switzerland