Castle Oberes Baliken, Medieval castle ruins in Wald, Switzerland
Castle Oberes Baliken is a medieval castle ruin located on a round hill in Wald. The stone remains sit on a rise roughly 30 meters across, positioned at 650 meters elevation.
The fortress was built around 1200 as part of a network of clearing-land fortifications during regional expansion of the Wald area. It served as one of several such structures that marked the settlement of this region.
The name Baliken points to an early Alemannic settlement from the early Middle Ages. The ruins show how significant such locations were for the first inhabitants of this area.
The ruins are reachable by hiking trails that pass through the area and provide good access. The historic pilgrimage route Via Jacobi runs directly above the fortification site, making orientation straightforward.
Archaeological digs in 1936 uncovered the foundation of a pentagonal tower with 1.5 meter thick walls. This uncommon design was unusual for this region at that time.
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