Three Castles of Bellinzona, Medieval fortification ensemble in Bellinzona, Switzerland.
The Three Castles of Bellinzona is a defensive complex featuring three separate fortresses positioned on different elevations across the city. Connecting defensive walls run between the structures, creating an integrated system that spans the valley floor.
The complex was built between the 13th and 15th centuries to control a critical mountain pass linking Italy to central Switzerland. Each fortress was expanded and reinforced during different periods, reflecting changing military needs and strategies.
The three fortresses display construction techniques from their respective periods through visible masonry and wall patterns. Visitors can observe how medieval builders adapted their methods to the steep terrain and defensive needs of each location.
Marked pathways connect all three castles, with Castelgrande reachable by elevator from the town center. The other two require walking on trails of varying difficulty that reward visitors with views across the region.
Each of the three fortresses sits at a different elevation, creating a multi-level defense system rarely replicated elsewhere. This vertical arrangement was innovative for its era and allowed sight lines between the strongholds for coordinated defense.
Location: Bellinzona
Architectural style: medieval architecture
Address: Salita Castelgrande 18, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:30-18:00
Website: https://bellinzonaevalli.ch/en/discover/castles.html
GPS coordinates: 46.19278,9.02222
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03
The Swiss Alps include peaks, valleys, lakes, and passes that have impressed travelers for a long time. This collection brings together places where nature shows its best side: the Matterhorn with its recognizable shape, the green waters of the Verzasca Valley, the Gornergrat view facing 29 peaks, and the St. Moritz lake that becomes a natural ice rink in winter. Alongside these natural sights, you will also see signs of local craftsmanship, like dams hanging on the rocky walls, funiculars and cogwheel trains that have climbed higher for more than a century, or cultural sites such as the Pierre Gianadda Foundation in Martigny. Each place tells in its own way how the Swiss tamed their mountains while respecting them. A journey between high altitude and a gentle way of life.
Castelgrande
39 m
Montebello Castle
374 m
Sasso Corbaro Castle
800 m
Santi Pietro e Stefano
178 m
Defensive Wall and Ramparts of Bellinzona
424 m
Teatro Sociale
224 m
Palazzo delle Orsoline
215 m
Chiesa di San Biagio
814 m
San Rocco (Bellinzona)
327 m
State Archives of the Canton of Ticino
695 m
Torre Bianca
53 m
Palazzo Franscini
783 m
Castelgrande historical museum
44 m
Civic museum Montebello castle
367 m
Santi Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista
334 m
Rotalinti House
830 m
Evangelical Reformed Church with Rectory
378 m
Palazzo comunale
218 m
Teatro Sociale (building)
207 m
Villa Helsana
396 m
Bellinzona ex-praetorian hall
380 m
Palace
391 m
Ticino bank company
170 m
Public bath
736 m
Ex scuola cantonale di commercio di Bellinzona
370 m
Raiffeisen bank of Bellinzona
322 m
Scuola Media, Bellinzona
481 m
Wohnhäuser Bianco e Nero
233 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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