Sellenbüren / Ofengüpf, medieval castle site, Medieval castle site in Stallikon, Switzerland
Sellenbüren is a medieval castle site on the Ofengüpf ridge near Stallikon, naturally protected on three sides by steep slopes and valleys. Fragments of ceramics, horseshoes, and arrowheads found at the location show that people occupied and used the fortress through the 12th century.
Excavations in 1950 and 1951 revealed that the original structure came from the Bronze Age. The site was later modified during medieval times and adapted to serve as a defensive fortress.
The name comes from the medieval fortress that once stood here on high ground. Visitors can observe how the elevated position made natural defense possible without heavy stone walls.
The site sits on a mountain ridge and can be reached on foot via walking paths from the surrounding area. The remains are quite subtle today, so it helps to know the exact location before visiting.
The structure was a simple wooden building on stone foundations with no surrounding walls, relying instead on wooden palisades for protection. This reveals that not all medieval fortifications were massive stone structures, but many were built quite simply and directly.
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