Château de Grandson

Om museet

The first tower of Grandson Castle was built around the year 950 by the Lords of Grandson. In the 13th century Otto I of Grandson had the complex expanded into a large four-winged fortress with four round corner towers, which still define its silhouette today. In 1476 the castle was besieged and set on fire by Charles the Bold; shortly afterwards the Swiss Confederates defeated the duke in the famous Battle of Grandson. Afterwards Bern and Fribourg administered the lordship jointly and alternately sent bailiffs.

After 1798 the castle served at times as a district prison, hospital and tobacco factory; from 1835 it was in private hands, where a first small museum was already established. In 1875 it was restored in a historicising style. From 1956 the Geneva entrepreneur Georges Filipinetti housed his collection of historic automobiles and weapons here. In 1983 the SKKG foundation of the Zurich collector Bruno Stefanini acquired the castle and reopened it to the public on 1 August.

From 2011 to 2026 the castle was comprehensively restored and completely redesigned as a museum; the Fondation du Château de Grandson operates it, and the SKKG is the owner. The new permanent exhibition “Grandson : 1000 ans d’histoire” extends over more than 1,000 square metres, 15 rooms and four floors and follows three guiding questions: why such a large castle, how Grandson made history and who still needs a castle today.

Højdepunkter

• Permanent exhibition “1000 ans d’histoire” on four floors
• Chapter on the Burgundian Wars and Charles the Bold
• Medieval fortress with four round corner towers on Lake Neuchâtel
• Sensory trail with nine animals for children aged 2 to 8
• Monthly guided tour and family workshops

Permanent udstilling

• Grandson : 1000 ans d’histoire – Permanent exhibition over more than 1,000 square metres, 15 rooms and four floors, from the first tower complex around 950 through the Burgundian Wars to the castle’s conservation today, with models, projections and audio stories.

Ejer

Fondation du Château de Grandson

Entrépriser & rabatter

Admission covers the castle, the permanent exhibition and the temporary exhibitions; special rates may apply for events. Free admission applies to, among others, holders of the Raiffeisen card and the Swiss Museum Pass, members of AMS, ICOM and AACG, residents of Grandson and persons with permit S, N or F.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Around 80 percent of the exhibition route is accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to a lift and lifting platforms; accessibility of the entire tour for electric wheelchairs cannot be guaranteed, an accompanying person is recommended. Dogs are not permitted in the castle, except assistance dogs.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Interaktive stationer
• Barnevognsvenlig: findes ikke
• Puslerum
• Børnefødselsdage

The main tour is aimed at children aged 8 and over; for children aged 2 to 8, nine animals lead through a sensory trail with wooden boxes to explore. Prams and back carriers are not permitted in the castle for safety and accessibility reasons (cloakrooms at reception). Changing tables in the toilets. By reservation there are family workshops such as “Bâtir une forteresse” (ages 10–14) and “Archéologues en herbe” (ages 8–12) as well as children’s birthday parties.

Transport & parkering

Service & spisesteder

• Garderobe

Cloakroom at reception.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Weddings, seminars, conferences, birthdays and private receptions in the castle’s rooms.

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