Old Ramschwag castle ruin, Castle ruin in Häggenschwil, Switzerland
Old Ramschwag castle ruin is a medieval structure located near a crossing on the Sitter river, built with sandstone blocks that are still visible today. The main tower measures about 7.3 by 7.9 meters and forms the core of what remains.
The 1176 Konstanz document names Ulrich de Rammiswag, a member of the family, not the castle itself; the castle first appears in records in 1370, when Rudolf von Rosenberg-Zuckenriet received it through marriage. Around 1490, after landslides made it unfit for regular living, it was sold to farmer Hans Rudolf Koller, who dismantled and sold its woodwork.
The name Ramschwag likely comes from a "Wâg", a medieval term for deep standing water in the Sitter below, combined with "Rammis" (raven), as old maps call the site Rabenstein. Castle researcher Gottlieb Felder also linked "Ram" to the Middle German "hramsa" (wild garlic), which may once have grown here.
The site sits near a river crossing and can be explored easily from nearby, with the sandstone structures remaining clearly visible throughout the year. The ruins are accessible in any season since they stand in open countryside without restricted access.
The tower entrance sits about 8 meters high and was reached originally by a wooden platform, showing how the residents achieved security through height. This unusually elevated positioning was a clever way to defend against unexpected intruders.
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