Campell Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Sils im Domleschg, Switzerland
Campell Castle is a castle ruin sitting on a rocky outcrop above the Albula River in eastern Switzerland. A four-story central tower and fortified walls form the main structures, set against the Alpine backdrop.
The castle was founded in the early 13th century by the von Campell family. The 14th century brought major additions including a ring wall, gatehouse, and drawbridge that strengthened the fortification.
The name camp bel means "beautiful field", referring to the cleared land the von Campell held here. The family is first recorded in 1289, when Egeno de Campell owed the church of Hohenrätien fifteen shillings a year. The Salis rebuilt the west palas in 1635; the initials NVS of Nikolaus von Salis-Soglio were scratched into the still-wet plaster.
The stabilized ruins are open to visitors following restoration work completed in 2001. The location works well for hikers exploring the alpine landscape of the region.
The initials NVS and a date were scratched into the still-wet plaster after the 1635 rebuild, referring to Nikolaus von Salis-Soglio, father-in-law of Andreas von Salis-Rietberg. The Rhätische Bahn's Albula line was later laid through the outer moat around 1900. The ruin was stabilized and excavated between 1993 and 1998 and opened to visitors in 2001.
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