During the Roman times, there were four strategic roads passing through Châtillon linking the surrounding settlements.  

These roads linked the river Saone to other roads which led towards Switzerland and Germany, so it was a useful trading settlement.

In 1023, Sire Hugo de Châtillon became the lord of the fief and gave the town its name. His castle was built at the confluence of two little rivers.  People came to live in the shelter of the castle, and the town grew.

Over the next five hundred years the little town became the plaything of its overlords.  At times, it was transferred in marriage dowries, at others, changed hands from overlord to overlord, and it even became part of Savoy. Eventually it became part of France in 1595. 

St Vincent de Paul is commemorated in the village since he spent five months here as the Parish Priest.  He was remembered for his charitable works. He founded a charity for better-off women to assist women in need.

A notable "son" of Châtillon is Philibert Commerson, born in the early 1700s in the village. He was the botantist who introducing Bougainvillea into France. As a keen botanist he accompanied Bougainville on his round the world exploration.  Commerson discovered the plant in Mauritius and christened it after his sponsor.  It’s a plant that is now popular around the world.

Plaque to commemorate Philbert Commerson, who introduced bougainvillea to Europe. The plant was known intially as "hortensia".

The Revolution did not pass the little village by.  The churches and religious houses were sold.  The church became a storage area for animal feed.  One of the convents became a prison where the nobles as well as the nuns and monks of the area were imprisoned. 

In 1910 youngsters found the remains of the builders of the church, carefully hidden during the Revolution under the eaves in the Church roof.  They had fun throwing them through the skylights and played football with the skulls.  Thus disappeared the last remaining traces of the town's forefathers.  “The youth of today have no respect” commented one person at the time.