Restiturm: A Medieval Castle Ruin in Switzerland
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.5
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Switzerland
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval, Modern
- Civilizations
- Habsburg, Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page5 sections
History
Restiturm, also known as Burgruine Resti, is a ruined medieval castle in Meiringen, Switzerland, built by the knightly family of Resti in the mid-thirteenth century. Its core construction began around 1250, when Peter von Resti established the castle as the seat of the Knights of Resti, vassals who held land or office under the authority of the Habsburgs.
Foundation and medieval role
Built above the Haslital, the castle controlled and protected the valley and the trade routes that crossed the Grimsel Pass, Joch Pass, Susten Pass, Grosse Scheidegg, and Brünig Pass. Construction proceeded from the inside outward, and the complex was enlarged several times. The tower was raised and completed around 1300, roughly fifty years after work on the castle core began.
Abandonment and restoration
The castle was abandoned during the sixteenth century and later fell into disrepair. Restoration took place in 1914 and again in 2004. Restiturm is owned by a nonprofit association in Meiringen and is a protected listed building.
Remains
The surviving tower
Restiturm stands at approximately 662 metres above sea level on a rockfall boulder at the foot of the Hasliberges, above the Haslital. Only the tower survives from the former castle, and it is the best-preserved part of the complex. Its nearly square plan measures approximately 8.6 metres on one side and 8.25 metres on the other.
The tower now serves as an observation tower. A viewing platform is positioned 23 metres above the ground, overlooking Meiringen and the Engelhörner, a nearby group of mountain peaks. The 2004 restoration added an interior staircase, steel ladders, an observation terrace, and information boards.
Nearby sites
