Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in Switzerland
Palaces, castles, residences and monasteries with museums, guided tours and historic rooms.
Vaud (8)
Bern (4)
Ticino (4)
Zurich (3)
Aargau (2)
Thurgau (2)
Fribourg (1)
Glarus (1)
Graubünden (1)
Lucerne (1)
Solothurn (1)
Zug (1)
Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in Switzerland: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 29 castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland, spread across 12 cantons and 27 towns and cities. Most of them are in Vaud (8), Bern (4), and Ticino (4).
At the city level, Bellinzona (2), Winterthur (2), and Aarau (1) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several castles, palaces and monasteries in a single day.
3 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs CHF 12 at the median, and the middle half charge between CHF 10 and CHF 14.
1 museum is fully wheelchair accessible, 20 offer dedicated programs for families, and 14 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland
The best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland
Château d'AigleCastles & Palaces · Aigle
Château de GrandsonCastles & Palaces · Grandson
Château de PranginsCastles & Palaces · Prangins
Stadtmuseum AarauRegional · Aarau
Musée militaire vaudoisHistory · Morges
Palazzo CastelmurCastles & Palaces · Stampa
Centre Pro Natura de Champ-PittetNature · Cheseaux-Noréaz
Schloss HegiCastles & Palaces · Winterthur
Château de NyonCastles & Palaces · Nyon
Museum Burg ZugCastles & Palaces · Zug
Castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland with free admission
Castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland with programs for families
- Château d'AigleCastles & Palaces · Aigle
- Château de GrandsonCastles & Palaces · Grandson
- Château de PranginsCastles & Palaces · Prangins
- Stadtmuseum AarauRegional · Aarau
- Musée militaire vaudoisHistory · Morges
- Centre Pro Natura de Champ-PittetNature · Cheseaux-Noréaz
- Château de NyonCastles & Palaces · Nyon
- Museum Burg ZugCastles & Palaces · Zug
Burg MaurCastles & Palaces · Maur
Castello Visconteo – Museo civico e archeologicoArchaeology · Locarno
By canton
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many castles, palaces and monasteries are there in Switzerland?
Our directory currently lists 29 castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland across 27 towns and cities.
What are the best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland?
Some of the best known are Château d'Aigle, Château de Grandson, Château de Prangins, Stadtmuseum Aarau, and Musée militaire vaudois.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland offer free admission?
3 museums are free to visit – for example Burg Maur, Historisches Museum Thurgau, and Schlossmuseum Nidau.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 9 are open, such as Château de Grandson, Palazzo Castelmur, and Museum Schloss Thun.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland are wheelchair accessible?
1 museum is fully wheelchair accessible, including Château de Prangins. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit castles, palaces and monasteries in Switzerland?
A regular adult ticket costs CHF 12 at the median, with prices ranging from CHF 5 to CHF 16. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums