Castels Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Luzein, Switzerland

Castels is a medieval castle ruin in the municipality of Luzein in Graubünden, with wall remains from the 13th century and structures from various building phases. The site stands above the village and still shows parts of the residential tower and defensive walls that once secured a strategic position in the mountain landscape.

The oldest ring wall sections date from the 12th century, and by the early 14th century the castle administered Aspermont estates in Upper Prättigau. In 1338 it was sold to Friedrich V von Toggenburg and Ulrich von Matsch, who divided the properties in 1344, with Castels going to the Matsch family. Gaudenz von Matsch sold it to Emperor Maximilian I in 1496. On 25 April 1622, Prättigau rebels captured the castle after cutting its water supply; in 1649 the Prättigau bought independence from Austria and demolished it.

The name Castels comes from an older Romansh term for a communal stronghold, adopted by German-speaking builders; locals called it "Castelg da Putz" after the nearby village. In the 17th century the tower held a dungeon with hand and foot shackles and a hoist on a new rope for lowering prisoners. A 1616 inventory lists a painted parlour with Italian leather chairs.

The site is accessible via marked hiking paths that run through the municipality of Luzein and offer fine views across the mountain landscape. It is advisable to wear sturdy footwear, as the paths can be uneven and the season affects accessibility.

The name Castels does not come from a noble family, which is not attested here; it derives from an older Romansh term for a communal stronghold, adopted by the German-speaking builders. Around 1573 Ulrich Campell recorded the Romansh form "ils Castelg da Puntz", meaning castle of Putz.