Aigle, its Castle, Monastery and Musée de la vigne, du vin et de l’étiquette

9 January 2026

The Chablais is a region located in Switzerland and France, comprising the Swiss Chablais in the cantons of Valais and Vaud, and the French Chablais, situated south of Lake Geneva in the northern part of Haute-Savoie.

Aigle (Aiglon) first appeared in a document around 1140. This document refers to the Priory of St. Maurice of Aigle, founded by the Abbey of Agaune (St. Maurice).

The castle of Aigle was built in the 12th century. The castle tells the (medieval) history of the region, the rule of the Kingdom of Burgundy (888-1032), the rule of the House of Savoy (1034-1475) and the occupation by Bern (1475-1798).

The former monastery St. Maurice, only the church survived the Reformation

The occupation of Aigle in 1475 was the first conquest of a French-speaking region. Bern also introduced the Reformation in 1528. The castle was the seat of the Bailiff (Landvogt).

Richly painted decorations and the bear of Bern from the 16th and 17th centuries still adorn the rooms and the castle gate.

Aigle

The castle was acquired by the commune of Aigle in 1804, following the establishment of the canton of Vaud in 1803. It is a monument that houses the wine museum Musée de la vigne, du vin, de l’étiquette today.