Falkenstein Castle (Igis)

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Falkenstein
Falkenstein ruins

Falkenstein ruins

Castle type : Hilltop castle
Conservation status: ruin
Construction: Rubble stones
Place: Igis
Geographical location 46 ° 56 '25 "  N , 9 ° 35' 15"  E Coordinates: 46 ° 56 '25 "  N , 9 ° 35' 15"  E ; CH1903:  763,597  /  201039
Height: 928  m above sea level M.
Falkenstein Castle (Canton of Graubünden)
Falkenstein Castle

The Falkenstein Castle is the ruin of a hilltop castle at 928  m above sea level. M. on a rocky steep hill southeast of the village Igis in the municipality of Landquart in the Swiss canton of Graubünden .

location

The ruin can be reached from the upper part of the village (point 640) via a narrow, very steep path in about 45 minutes. The route to the castle is not marked as such, but it is easy to find with good maps. In the uppermost part, the path is secured with wire ropes. If the ground is wet, visiting the castle is not advisable because of the risk of slipping.

investment

Plant plan

The remains of the wall indicate at least two construction phases. The tower with a floor plan of approx. 12 by 8 m and a wall thickness of 1.9 m belongs to the older part. This is followed by a rectangular closes Palas of from 12 to 13.5 m, partly in spicatum Opus ; a vertical wall joint indicates a later construction. There are no traces of building in the hall itself. On the north wall there is a narrow notch with a vaulted niche with a bench and a pouring stone with a spout. A door with beam holes can be seen in the western demolition of the wall. Below the building a circular wall follows the edge of the rock. The entrance gate was probably in the east of the complex, but has been buried by the ruins of the hall.

The area of ​​the spacious outer bailey is surrounded by a barely recognizable wall; the wall thickness varies between 0.75 and 1.05 m. On the mountain side, the area is covered with rubble. In the northwest the approach of a gate with the beam channel is preserved.

history

There are no written documents about the history of the castle. In a document dated December 11, 1338, the castle is mentioned as Valkenstein , in the " Buoch der vestinen " from 1410 Falkenstain . Ulrich von Falkenstein is mentioned between 1365 and 1389; whether he was a nobleman is unclear. In the Urbar of Churwalden 1508 one is Falckenstainßwyß and a Falckenstain agricultural mentioned. In the catalog of Bishop Johann VI. Flugi von Aspermont (1636–1661) from 1645 are named successively Falckenstein and Fackelenstein , which is the same castle; the name Fackelenstein is a later change from the original name. At the beginning of the 16th century, Kury Butyg von Facklenstain, settled at Zuttzurs ( Zizers ), got himself a coat of arms with two torches, even if he was not of noble origin; on September 27, 1518 he is proven as Chuerin Buttig by Zizers. A noble family who named themselves after the castle cannot be proven. It is not known when the castle was abandoned.

gallery

  • Access from the east

  • East wall

  • inner north wall

  • northern palas wall from the outside

  • Demolition of the western wall

  • South wall

Web links

Commons : Burg Falkenstein  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

  • Otto P. Clavadetscher, Werner Meyer : The castle book of Graubünden . Zurich 1984, ISBN 3-280-01319-4
  • Castle map of Switzerland, Federal Office of Topography, 2007 edition
  • Anton von Castelmur: The castles and palaces of the Canton of Graubünden , Volume I, Birkhäuser-Verlag, Basel 1940