+Chillon Castle, stormy lake Léman. 24.10.2025. 19x23 cm

Chillon Castle. Stormy Lake Léman. 24.10.2025

This original plein-air oil painting was created near Château de Chillon on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), Switzerland, during a stormy day in October 2025. Painted directly outdoors, the work captures the dramatic encounter between the medieval castle, the restless lake and the rapidly changing autumn weather that swept across the landscape.

Château de Chillon, situated on a rocky island between the lake and the mountains near Montreux, is one of the most iconic landmarks of Switzerland. For centuries the castle occupied a strategic position controlling important routes through the Alps, while its distinctive silhouette became inseparable from the landscape of Lac Léman. (chillon.ch)

On this October day, the calm image often associated with Lake Geneva gave way to a more turbulent atmosphere. Dark clouds moved above the water, the wind disturbed the surface of the lake and shifting bands of light briefly illuminated sections of the castle before disappearing again. The contrast between the permanence of the stone fortress and the instability of the weather became the central tension of the painting.

Rather than depicting the castle as a historical monument alone, the work focuses on its relationship with the surrounding elements. The lake, sky and architecture seem engaged in a continuous dialogue, where changing weather transforms the perception of the landscape from moment to moment. The storm brought a heightened sense of movement, scale and drama to the scene.

Created during a single plein-air painting session, this work preserves a fleeting encounter with Chillon Castle under unusual atmospheric conditions. The painting records not only a place, but also the intensity of light, wind and weather experienced directly beside Lac Léman.

This work belongs to my ongoing series dedicated to the landscapes, architecture and changing atmospheres of Western Switzerland. Each painting is created from direct observation and reflects a specific moment in time before it disappears.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Château de Chillon, Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland

Subject: Chillon Castle and stormy Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)

Region: Swiss Riviera and Lake Geneva shoreline

Medium: Oil painting

Date painted: 24 October 2025

Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 19 x 23 cm

Size with passé-partout 38x45 cm

Date: 24 October 2025

Location: Chillon Château, Switzerland