En un regard
Le château en bref
Sasso Corbaro Castle is a castle located in Bellinzona, Switzerland.
It is also known as Saint Barbara Castle, Cima Castle or Unterwald Castle.
Together with Castelgrande, Montebello Castle and the wall surrounding the town, it forms a site that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Situated above Montebello Castle, on an isolated rock, it was built to prevent the mountain route from bypassing the ‘barrier’ formed by the two existing castles and the wall that closed off the valley.
A residential and defensive tower had stood on the site since 1400, but the castle dates from 1478. It was created by enlarging this tower.
The works were entrusted by the Milanese to the ducal architect Ferini of Florence, who died of the plague. He was then replaced by the architect Ghiringhelli of Bellinzona. The castle was completed quickly, in six months, to forestall attacks by the Confederates.
Facing the entrance stands the keep, which is 14 metres high.
A residential building opens onto the inner courtyard, typical of the style of housing in the region in the 15th century, with pointed-arch windows and projecting chimneys.
The castle also houses a chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara.
It is now home to the Museum of Ticinese Arts and Popular Traditions.
