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The griffin of Chill...
27 June 2023
The griffin of Chillon Castle
Do you know what a griffin is? If you’ve ever read Harry Potter, I’m sure you have a pretty good idea…
The griffin is on the left. It’s a blend of two animals; the body and the hindlegs of a lion and the head, wings and talons of an eagle. For people in the Middle Ages, it was a mythical beast. But a beast with a good heart. Just like in the J.K. Rowling books.
Straddling heaven and earth, over time, the griffin has become a symbol of Jesus who, according to Christianity, was both man and god.
At Chillon, you can see the griffin take on a dragon in the Camera Domini (room 19). Fights between a griffin and a dragon were often used in the Middle Ages to represent the battle between good (griffin) and evil (dragon).
10 points to Gryffindor!
There are plenty more griffins to see at Chillon Castle – just take a look in the coat of arms hall (room 18). You might find one hidden in a blazon or two…
Further reading
The Chillon dragons
The walls of Chillon Castle are marked by the presence of an impressive, legendary creature – the dragon. What better excuse than this summer heat to explore the king of the reptiles’ shady hiding places? We’ll dive into the mural paintings adorning the walls of this Lake Geneva fortress, as well as medieval and contemporary art.
Quiz about the collections
The Dissecting / Dressing Chillon exhibition tells the castle’s story through its collections – giving you a chance to rediscover a unique side to our lakeside fortress through its history, traces of the past and its staging. To help you get to know the monument and its historical objects better, why not take our quiz?
Take on the 10 Chillon challenges
To make the most of your trip while (re)discovering the monument, we’ve set you a (non-exhaustive) list of 10 fun challenges to complete at the castle.