Grottenstein castle ruin
Grottenstein castle ruin, Castle ruin at Mount Calanda, Haldenstein, Switzerland
Grottenstein is a castle ruin positioned at the base of a rock face on Mount Calanda, featuring a remaining wall section approximately 20 meters long built directly beneath an overhanging cliff. The ruins lie partly within a natural cave that formed an integral part of the original fortification.
The fortress was built around 1180 and remained undocumented for centuries until 1672, when written records first described it in a ruined state. This suggests the structure was abandoned well before any surviving documentation of it appeared.
The fortress incorporates a natural cave as a central element, visible in how the walls are positioned beneath the rock face. This approach shows how medieval inhabitants worked with the landscape for protection.
The ruins are accessible via a circular hiking trail from Haldenstein village that involves moderate climbing over rocky terrain. Proper footwear is recommended as conditions can change with the seasons and the path follows natural ground.
A natural spring flows within the cave, suggesting the site may have served as an emergency refuge during sieges. The name derives from 'Chrott,' a dialect word for toad.
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