Free
Arve Valley Cycle Route
Cluses
40 km of greenway from Bonneville to Sallanches via Cluses on the V61 Lake Geneva-Mont-Blanc route. Arve footbridge opened December 2019, smooth asphalt, flat.
Free · Open access
Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses
Ruins of a 10th-12th century hill fort, the favoured residence of the Sires de Faucigny before Bonneville, on the Col de Châtillon at 862 m altitude.
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Ruined hill fort, municipal site
Access
Free, open access
Price
Free year-round
Duration
1 h to 2 h round trip
Best season
May - October · Year-round in good weather
Parking
Free in the village + 15-20 min walk
Animals
Allowed on a lead
Stroller / Reduced mobility
All-terrain, with effort (uphill path)
Town
Châtillon-sur-Cluses
What is Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses
The Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is one of the most evocative and overlooked heritage sites of the Faucigny: ruins of a 10th–12th-century castle perched on the Col de Châtillon at 862 m altitude. The strategic position controlled access between the Arve valley (Cluses, below to the east) and the Giffre valley (Taninges and the Haut-Giffre, to the west). The castle was the preferred residence of the Sires of Faucigny before the Château de Bonneville was built around 1260.
What survives today is two cylindrical tower bases, a partly preserved curtain wall running for some 50 metres, and the adjoining Saint-Maurice church (Romanesque, more modest than the castle itself). The site is partly collapsed after centuries of neglect following the Sires' move to Bonneville. A restoration project is currently being prepared by the commune of Châtillon-sur-Cluses and the Communauté de Communes Faucigny-Glières: way-marking, interpretation panels, securing of the ruins, schedule still to be confirmed.
Free admission year-round, open access. Marked trail of 15–20 minutes from the village centre of Châtillon-sur-Cluses, with a moderate 80 m climb. The path is earthen — sturdy trainers recommended. Car advisable (no direct public transport), A40 Cluses exit 10 minutes away, free village parking. Leashed pets welcome. NOT wheelchair accessible (sloping path). Can be combined with Cluses, the Col de la Ramaz 8 km away, or the Désert de Platé.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Col de Châtillon, 74300 Châtillon-sur-Cluses (marked trail starts from the village centre) View on map
Coordinates
≈ 46.083° N · 6.577° E (pass, to be verified on Géoportail)
Altitude
≈ 862 m (Col de Châtillon)
Opening hours
FREE ACCESS 24/7, year-round to the ruins of Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses. Marked trail from the village centre. Best conditions mainly May-October, winter conditions vary (snow, ice) - check with Châtillon-sur-Cluses town hall. Verified on the official website 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
FREE ENTRY to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses for all visitors, year-round. No ticketing or supervision. Verified 24 May 2026.
Booking
No booking needed for access to the ruins of Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses. Exceptional guided tours during European Heritage Days or CCFG events: check tourisme-faucigny-glieres.fr or the Châtillon-sur-Cluses town hall. Verified 24 May 2026.
Parking
Free parking in the village of Châtillon-sur-Cluses (village square, moderate capacity). Then a 15-20 min marked trail to the castle ruins.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on a lead on the trail and around the ruins of Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses.
Accessibility
The access trail to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is NOT wheelchair-accessible: a sloping mountain path, 80 m elevation gain over 15-20 min. An all-terrain stroller could manage with effort. Free entry for all. Verified 24 May 2026.
Visit duration
1 h to 2 h round trip at Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses: 15-20 min up + time to explore the remains + 15-20 min down + time for the view
Contact
Châtillon-sur-Cluses town hall +33 (0)4 50 34 04 27. Faucigny-Glières Tourist Office +33 (0)4 50 97 38 37 · tourisme-faucigny-glieres.fr. Verified 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
From Cluses (≈10 min, 6 km) via D902 then D26 towards Châtillon-sur-Cluses. A40 Cluses exit, 10 minutes away. Free parking in the village of Châtillon-sur-Cluses, then a 15-20 min marked trail to the castle ruins.
Open in MapsPublic transport
No direct public transport to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses. Occasional Haute-Savoie regional coaches on the Cluses-Taninges line depending on season. Cluses SNCF station (Léman Express) is 6 km away - taxi/ride-share or car recommended.
Open in MapsBy bike
Rural roads around Faucigny. Cluses-Châtillon cycle route (6 km, significant 280 m elevation gain). Bike parking in the village.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Mairie · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y92, Y93, Y94 · 645 m
- Mairie · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · 765 m
- La Côte · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y94 · 801 m
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses can be visited with free, open access year-round, with the best conditions from May to October. Summer (June-August): clear trail, maximum panoramic views, ideal for a picnic at the ruins. Early season (April-May) and late season (September-October): spring alpine blooms and autumn colours, very low footfall. Winter: variable conditions (snow, ice), check with the Châtillon-sur-Cluses town hall before setting out. Evening: spectacular sunset over the Bargy mountain range. THE FAVOURED RESIDENCE OF THE SIRES DE FAUCIGNY BEFORE BONNEVILLE (before 1260) - a historical key to the INDEPENDENT Faucigny dynasty in relation to Savoy. A STRATEGIC POSITION on the COL DE CHÂTILLON at 862 m altitude, controlling the route between the Arve valley (Cluses) and the Giffre valley (Taninges). 10TH-12TH CENTURY RUINS with 2 TOWER BASES + WALL + the adjoining SAINT-MAURICE CHURCH. A RENOVATION AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT UNDER WAY led by the local council and the CCFG. 100% FREE ENTRY year-round, a 15-20 min marked trail from the village. Ideal for enthusiasts of medieval history and Savoyard military architecture.
Events : No regular organised events at the ruins of Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses. Occasional programme during European Heritage Days in mid-September with guided tours led by the CCFG. Follow the Châtillon-sur-Cluses town hall and tourisme-faucigny-glieres.fr for announcements.
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is access to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses paid?
No. Access to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is free year-round for everyone. No ticketing or supervision. A marked trail leads from the village centre to the ruins.
How do I get to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses?
Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is accessible via a marked trail, 15-20 min from the village centre. Free parking in the village, then a moderate climb (80 m elevation gain) to the ruins on the pass at 862 m altitude.
What are the opening hours at Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses?
Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses: free access 24/7 year-round to the ruins. Best conditions May-October, winter conditions vary. Verified on the official website 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
What is the history of Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses?
Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is a 10th-12th century hill fort, the favoured residence of the Sires de Faucigny BEFORE the construction of the Château de Bonneville around 1260. A strategic position on the pass at 862 m between the Arve and Giffre valleys.
What can you see at the ruins of Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses?
Remains visible at Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses: 2 circular tower bases, an enclosure wall preserved over ~50 m, the adjoining Romanesque-style Saint-Maurice church. Partially collapsed site, renovation project under way.
Is Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses accessible to people with reduced mobility?
No. The access trail to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is a sloping mountain path (80 m elevation gain over 15-20 min), not wheelchair-accessible. Suitable for families with children aged 6-7 and up.
How can I combine Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses with Bonneville?
A historical combination: Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses (10th-12th century) + Château des Sires de Faucigny = tracing the residential sequence of the Sires de Faucigny from the 10th to the 14th century.
How do I get to Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses from Cluses?
Château de Châtillon-sur-Cluses is 10 minutes from Cluses (6 km) via D902 then D26. A40 Cluses exit, 10 minutes away. Free parking in the village, then a 15-20 min marked trail. No direct public transport.
Sources
Sources & verification
- haute-savoie-tourisme.org
- tourisme-faucigny-glieres.fr
- fr.wikipedia.org
- auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com
- alpesduleman.com
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
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