Haldenstein Ruin

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Haldenstein Ruin, the principal of the village's three fortresses (along with Lichtenstein and the fortified Grottenstein cave), overlooks the village from a rocky outcrop at the foot of the Calanda, in the canton of Graubünden. It gave its name to the locality and was the seat of the independent lordship of Haldenstein until its incorporation into Graubünden in 1803. The lords of Haldenstein formed a branch of the Lichtenstein family, attested in 1180, which split into two lines; the castle is first documented in 1299. The tourist office dates it to the mid-12th century, but recent conservation work suggests it was built at the same time as the neighbouring Lichtenstein castle, in the 13th century. The narrow keep of triangular plan and the palas retain part of their elevation; the east and south sides collapsed, notably during the earthquakes of 1769 (and 1787). Inhabited until the end of the 17th century, the castle was supplemented in the mid-16th century by a new residence in the village, the present Schloss Haldenstein. Consolidated in 2021 by the City of Chur, the ruin lies on the Haldenstein Castles Trail; access remains difficult.