Cagliatscha Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Andeer, Switzerland
Cagliatscha Castle is a castle ruin in Andeer in the Viamala region. Its southern wall still stands approximately 20 meters high, displaying large irregular stones with worked corners perched on a rocky spur above the Hinterrhein valley.
The castle was founded in 1266 when the Bishop of Chur transferred the region to the von Vaz family, who then built several fortifications across their territories. A fire during regional conflicts severely damaged the structure, causing most walls to collapse.
The name comes from Romansh language and originally means "bad castle". The ruins sit in a region where Romansh is still spoken today and shapes the character of the valley.
The ruins are reachable via several hiking trails in the Viamala region, with different routes suited to varying fitness levels. The location offers views down the valley and is best visited during clear weather.
Of the four original walls, three have been completely destroyed and vanished while the southern wall miraculously survived the centuries. This uneven destruction makes the ruin a rare example of how selectively fire and time can work on stone structures.
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