OUCHY CASTLE

Switzerland

The first castle at Ouchy was built around 1170 by Évêché of Lausanne and was a simple tower which today forms the main fortified remnant of the castle.

This was expanded around 100 years later by Bishop Guillaume de Varax who had a courtyard style castle constructed as a residence and prison. The Bishops of Lausanne kept the castle in use until 1609 when it was abandoned and a fire reduced it to a ruin.

In 1885 the land was sold by the State of Vaud to Jean-Jacques Mercier. He demolished much of the ruins, leaving only the tower remaining. Around this he rebuilt a new mansion which was completed in 1893 when he opened it as a hotel. It has remained in this function ever since.

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2019