Schalun Castle: A Medieval Ruined Castle in Liechtenstein
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.5
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Liechtenstein
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
History
Schalun Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Liechtenstein, probably constructed in the late twelfth century in the mountains of Vaduz, about 1 kilometre northeast of the town centre. It was first recorded in writing in 1237 under the name Schalun. The castle is also known colloquially as Wildschloss, meaning “Castle in the Wild.”
Excavations carried out in recent decades recovered only small quantities of medieval and early-modern artifacts. This evidence has prompted the suggestion that the castle was later cleared and burned, although that reconstruction remains uncertain. In the eighteenth century, Schalun Castle came into the possession of the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, the monarch who holds ruling authority in a principality. Ownership of the ruins passed to the Municipality of Vaduz in 1933. Schalun is one of Liechtenstein’s five existing castles and one of its three ruined castles.
Remains
Surviving Structures
Schalun Castle survives in a mountainous setting as a fragmentary ruin. The grand hall is among its best-preserved parts, together with the surviving section of the keep, the principal fortified tower of a medieval castle that commonly served defensive and residential purposes. Other portions of the castle have been lost, leaving these structures as the clearest surviving elements of the medieval complex.
