Splügen Castle: A Medieval Fortification in Switzerland

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.viamala.ch

Country: Switzerland

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Splügen Castle is situated near the municipality of Splügen in Switzerland. It was constructed during the medieval period by the local nobility known as the Freiherren of Vaz. This noble family established the castle around the latter half of the 13th century, likely near the year 1275, amid regional power struggles in the Alpine valleys.

The castle’s initial purpose was military and strategic. It served as a fortification to safeguard the Rheinwald valley against the advances of the Freiherren of Sax-Misox, who sought to expand their influence by settling Walser colonists—German-speaking mountain settlers—in the region. Historical records from 1277 indicate that these settlers fell under the protection of the Vaz family, linking the castle to efforts to secure control over the newly established Walser community.

Once the territorial threat from the Sax-Misox nobles was contained and the Walser colonization firmly established, the castle’s strategic importance quickly declined. Documents from the early 14th century, notably by 1308, refer to the site as a “Burgstall,” indicating it had already fallen into ruin or been abandoned by this time. A lease arrangement recorded in 1462 mentions an estate close to the remains, though it remains uncertain whether the castle itself still stood intact then. By the late 15th century, specifically after 1493 when the Rheinwald territory was sold to Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, the castle disappears entirely from historical mentions, suggesting it had been dismantled or had deteriorated beyond recognition.

Remains

The ruins of Splügen Castle occupy a small hill positioned roughly 900 to 1000 meters east of the village of Splügen at an elevation of about 1,518 meters above sea level. This location lies beneath the path of the old valley road that once connected the Via Mala gorge with the mountain passes of Splügen and San Bernardino, highlighting the castle’s role in overseeing regional transit routes.

Structurally, the site features the remains of a fortified residential building, known as a palas, which had two wings arranged in a double-wing formation. Three sides of the castle’s thick walls, each more than a meter wide, still stand, with the eastern wall—facing down the valley—collapsed. The stonework includes sharply finished cornerstones, or quoins, which emphasize the craftsmanship. An internal wall divides the ruins into eastern and western sections.

A prominent feature is the main entrance located on the north side, raised approximately four meters above ground level. This gateway showcases a pointed arch characteristic of Gothic design, framed by tuff stone jambs. Evidence of putlog holes suggests that access was originally provided by an external wooden staircase. The door was set into a precisely carved stone ring that allowed it to pivot and could be secured using a locking bar.

Inside, the lower two floors served as cellars and storage rooms, illuminated only by narrow window slits suitable for minimal light and defense. The third floor’s western wing contained living quarters, as indicated by remnants of windows with built-in seating niches and fireplaces. A small projection from this level may have functioned as either a balcony or a garderobe—a medieval toilet facility. The eastern wing on the same level held the kitchen area, which had fewer windows and less natural light.

The northern curtain wall, a fortified enclosing wall also known as an enceinte or bering, is currently filled with rubble. This area likely housed stables and auxiliary buildings during the castle’s active period. Near the collapsed eastern wall, traces point to the position of an outer gate, which would have controlled entry from that direction. Additionally, further upstream along the valley near the old road, remnants of a Letzi—a defensive barrier or wall—remain visible, marking the broader network of fortifications meant to protect the valley’s access points.