Sargans Castle, Medieval castle in Sargans, Switzerland
Sargans Castle is a medieval fortress in the Swiss town of Sargans, set on a hilltop where two valleys converge, with thick stone walls, several towers, and a keep at its center. The buildings are arranged around a courtyard and were positioned to control the routes through the valleys below.
The castle was built in the 13th century as a residence for the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans, who controlled the surrounding lands. In 1483 the Swiss Confederation took over and ran the site as a center for managing regional affairs.
Inside the castle, a regional museum displays tools, everyday objects, and craft items from the Sarganserland area. The collection shows how people in the surrounding valleys lived and worked across many centuries.
The castle is only accessible on foot along a path up a steep hillside, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. Opening hours change with the season, so it is worth checking before you visit.
Archaeologist Franziska Knoll-Heitz found a corner of masonry beneath the keep, showing the tower was built over the foundations of an older building. The castle itself was first mentioned in a document in 1282, when Countess Elisabeth von Werdenberg-Sargans issued a deed for a land sale.
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