Nyon Castle

A magnificent historic fortress, Nyon Castle stands proud in the centre of the town, with stunning views over Lake Geneva. Of significant cultural importance, the castle is home to a famous collection of porcelain made in Nyon along with the History Museum, retracing 3,000 years of the region’s history.

In a sumptuously laid out dining room in Nyon’s mediaeval castle, the Museum displays a collection of porcelain produced in Nyon between 1781 and 1813.

The Nyon Porcelain Factory, one of only two factories in Switzerland at the time, produced neo-classical pieces, essentially for a local clientele of dignitaries and aristocrats. It obtained its raw material of kaolin from Saint-Yrieix near Limoges and the whiteness of its porcelain is comparable with high quality French production.

The Nyon Porcelain Factory did not have the support of a sovereign, rather the wealthy middle class, and the revolutionary and Napoleonic troubles were the undoing of this expensive industry: the production of porcelain started to fall in 1805 and ceased altogether in 1813. However, the factory continued to produce fine ceramics until 1979.

• Opening hours

  From Nov 6, 2018 To Apr 1, 2019

  Tuesday

  14:00-17:00

  Wednesday

  14:00-17:00

  
  

  Thursday

  14:00-17:00

  
  

  Friday

  14:00-17:00

  
  

  Saturday

  14:00-17:00

  
  

  Sunday

  14:00-17:00

  
  

• Practical information

  Free entry for children under 16.
  Nyon Région Museums Pass: 8 museums for the price of CHF 12.- . New: The Pass is valid for 1 year from the first day of use.
  The museums of Nyon are close on 24th -25th - 26th December.
  The museums of Nyon are open and free on 1st, 2nd and 3rd January