Blonay Castle

[1] The castle was built in 1175, by William II of Blonay (died 1197), a ministerialis in Savoy, on the site of a fortified structure that dated from 1095.

The oldest remaining portion of the structure is the sturdy, square castle keep, which has been strengthened, and seen a row of buildings attached to create another courtyard.

There is a forecourt with a Renaissance-style loggia, from 1677 on the western edge, and a chapel dating from the 15th century, with stained glass windows from 1577.

Gustave Courbet created a painting of the castle in about 1875, during the artist's self-imposed exile from France, living in neighboring La Tour-de-Peilz.

Maxime Reymond, Marc-André Genevey et Pierre de Blonay.

Blonay town with Blonay Castle in the background
The Chateau of Blonay (snow) by Gustave Courbet, ca. 1875. Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.