From the poet-inspiring castle at Chillon to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the fortresses of Bellinzona, castles in Switzerland are always a grand day out for tourists and locals alike. Now, the National Association of Swiss Castles has confirmed that the battlements of the alpine nation saw a record number of visitors in 2023.

Castles in Switzerland welcomed record number of visitors

According to the association, the 28 major Swiss castles that are part of the group - including the famous ones at Lenzburg, Chillon and Gruyères among others - welcomed over 1,3 million visitors in 2023. Visitor numbers grew by 18 percent last year, cementing a new record for Switzerland’s major fortresses.

The association wrote in a statement that their success can be attributed to the extensive repairs and renovation work done to Swiss castles over the years. They noted all castles in the association were able to stay open from May 2023 onwards, boosting visitor numbers further.

Rapperswil Castle to reopen in autumn 2024

For 2024, the association will welcome two new members: Valère and Tourbillon in Valais and Rapperswil Castle in Canton St. Gallen. If all goes well, the imposing fortress on the banks of Lake Zurich will be open to the public in the autumn, after extensive renovations.