Strassberg Castle, Castle ruin in Churwalden, Grisons, Switzerland

Strassberg Castle is a ruin on a hill at about 1,100 m above sea level in Malix, above the road from Chur to Lenzerheide. The main castle was built in two phases: an irregular ring wall of layered rubble and boulders, then a square four-story bergfried set into the mountain-side corner, its outer walls aligned with the ring wall. Beam holes mark four floors plus an attic and intermediate level; the high entrance was on the south side of the second floor, and a latrine with a slanted drain sits in the northwest corner.

The castle was built around 1200 to protect the trade route from Chur over the Alpine passes. It was destroyed by troops during the Swabian War in 1499 and never rebuilt afterward.

The castle's name comes from the old road between Rome and Germany that it overlooked, and by 1413 tolls were collected "under the house at Strasberch". The Lords of Strassberg, first recorded in 1253 as Otto de Strazperc, were ministeriales of the Vaz family; their arms, a black chamois pole on a silver field, appear in the Zürich armorial.

The ruins are accessible on foot via Schlossliweg in Malix, making for a straightforward approach to the site. Local tourism services in Chur can provide details about conditions and the best times to visit.

The original ring wall dates back to the second half of the 12th century, making it older than the main fortress visible today. Remnants of windows and latrines are still visible in the north wall, offering glimpses into everyday medieval life.