Balcun At, Burg in der Schweiz
Balcun At is a castle ruin in Grisons that sits on a rocky outcrop high on a mountainside. The remains show stone walls and tower foundations from the 12th or 13th century, with a natural rock ditch on one side that made the location defensible.
The castle was probably built in the 12th or 13th century by the Carl von Hohenbalken family, who had ties to the nearby monastery. In the early 2000s, workers uncovered portions of the walls and preserved the standing stones to keep the medieval structure visible.
The name Balcun At comes from an old language and means "high balcony," referring to its position on the mountainside. The site serves as a quiet reminder of the region's medieval family networks and their ties to the nearby monastery.
The ruin is easily reached by a marked walking trail from the village of Müstair. Visitors should bring water and wear sturdy shoes, as the ground around the ruins is uneven and there are no facilities on the mountain.
The castle was called "morsche Burg" by local people, meaning "mushy castle," because the rocky and uneven terrain made maintenance difficult over time. Despite this name, the stone structures survived centuries and still show the original medieval architecture today.
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