Königstein castle ruin, Castle ruin in Küttigen, Switzerland

Königstein castle ruin stands at 610 metres on the Brunneberg in the Faltenjura, about 150 metres above the Bänkerklus gorge through which the road to Benken passes. The site is a hilltop castle (Höhenburg) above Küttigen in the canton of Aargau; a ground plan of the remains was drawn up by the Aargau cantonal archaeology service.

Built in 1277 by the lords of Kienberg-Küngstein, the castle was the seat of a small bailiwick covering Küttigen and Erlinsbach. In 1417 the family sold it to the city of Aarau, and in 1412 Duke Frederick had already pledged it to Ulrich von Hertenstein. From 1415 it belonged to Bern and in 1535 became part of the Landvogtei Biberstein; since 1803 it has lain in the canton of Aargau. The ruin is now owned by the civic community of Küttigen.

Local legend tells of a castle lord who forced Küttigen's farmers to supply leather for a suspension bridge to Achenberg, so he could ride to his lover; a farmer is said to have cut the ropes, plunging him into the Bänkerklus. Old farmers also say the cruel lord's treasure lies hidden in the Sodbrunnen beneath the ruin, though coins found there turned into snail shells on the way home.

Visitors can reach the ruin via marked hiking paths starting from Küttigen village, with informational signs along the way and at the site itself. The site is freely accessible, though the uneven terrain and elevation require sturdy footwear and some physical effort to reach the top.

The walls were built from stone quarried directly from the surrounding landscape, a material choice that allowed them to last for hundreds of years. This simple construction material reveals the craftsmanship and building knowledge of medieval builders.