Next Sunday, in observance of International Women’s Rights Day, the Château de Chillon and the Vaud Office for Gender Equality are co-hosting a special event titled “Women in the Life of the Castle – Yesterday, and Today.” The all-ages program will spotlight historical female figures often overlooked in medieval history, while also recognizing the vital role women play in cultural heritage today.
The day’s events will be structured around three panel discussions. These will focus on women in leadership positions within heritage sites and castles, those who preserve historical memory as curators, historians, and architects, and the rediscovery and rehabilitation of heroines within historical narratives.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience the castle and its history from a new perspective through activities designed for all ages. Families are invited to meet the Ladies of Chillon, portrayed by guides in period costumes at various locations throughout the monument.
An embroidery workshop will challenge stereotypes associated with the craft, presenting it as a genuine artistic and narrative language. The “Knightesses: Forget the Damsel in Distress” presentation will highlight women warriors from the Middle Ages—figures long ignored—and connect them with contemporary practitioners of medieval combat.
