Spaniola Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Pontresina, Switzerland.
Spaniola Castle is a medieval ruin on a hillside near Pontresina featuring a distinctive pentagonal tower with four preserved upper levels. The entrance was positioned on the second story, and the tower remains the principal visible structure of the original fortification.
The castle was built around 1200 to serve as a stronghold for the ruling family of the valley. Records show the family lost their influence by the early 1300s and the site was eventually abandoned.
The name Spaniola comes from the noble family that once controlled this area. The structure reflects how people adapted their buildings to mountain life and natural hazards.
The ruins can be reached via marked trails near the village of Giarsun that connect to the broader hiking network in the region. Sturdy footwear is recommended due to the sloped terrain and variable ground conditions.
The five-sided shape of the tower was specifically designed to resist natural hazards in the region. This unusual footprint helped deflect avalanches and falling rock debris from the steep surrounding slopes.
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