Belfort Castle (Graubünden)

Belfort Castle
Burgruine Belfort
Brienz/Brinzauls

Belfort Castle
Belfort Castle
Coordinates 46°40′16″N 9°36′37″E / 46.671151°N 9.610291°E
Site information
Owner Canton of Graubünden
Open to
the public
yes
Condition ruined
Site history
Built 1228/31
Built by Lords of Vaz
Materials stone
Demolished 1499
Battles/wars Swabian War, 1499

Belfort Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Brienz/Brinzauls of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.[1]

History

The castle was built in two parts, an upper and a lower castle, on a rocky ridge east of Brienz/Brinzauls. It was probably built between 1228 and 1231 by the Lords of Vaz. The castle passed through a number of owners before ending under Austrian control. The lower castle was abandoned in the 13th century when the residents moved to the upper castle. In 1499, during the Swabian War the castle was stormed and burned.[2]

Castle site

Aerial recording of Belfort Castle

The upper castle is built around a central courtyard with a round cistern. Portions of the outer walls, the main tower, a residential wing and a gate house are still standing. The northern ruins were repaired and reinforced in 1935-36. The entire site was cleaned and repaired in 2002.[2]

Inside Belfort castle

See also

References

  1. "Kantonsliste A-Objekte". KGS Inventar (in German). Federal Office of Civil Protection. 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Gesellschaft für Schweizerische Kunstgeschichte GSK accessed 21 January 2013 (German)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Burg Belfort.