Radegg castle ruins, Castle ruin in Wilchingen, Switzerland.

Radegg castle ruins occupy a steep rocky spur of Rossberg mountain with the Wangental valley dropping away on three sides. The remaining structures include a large tower, a courtyard with a water storage system, and defensive walls of varying thicknesses that show medieval building techniques.

The barons von Radegg are first documented in 1188 with Heinrich Scado, and a knight Rudolf Schade de Radegg appears around 1225. The visible walls were built no earlier than 1200, and the castle was destroyed shortly after 1300, possibly in a fire; reddened limestone inside and arrowheads and crossbow bolts found in excavations support this. The baronial line died out in 1333.

The name Radegg refers to the baronial family von Radegg, first recorded in 1188 with Heinrich Scado; a knight Rudolf Schade de Radegg appears around 1225. The Schaffhausen writer Otto Uehlinger set his legend of Kätterli here: a robber baron's daughter who cared for prisoners in the dungeon and still, on moonlit nights, is said to sit on the ruins awaiting redemption.

Marked hiking trails lead visitors to the ruins and a rest area with a fire pit for outdoor use. Sturdy footwear is advisable since the terrain is steep and the ground is uneven throughout the site.

Excavations at the site uncovered arrowheads and crossbow bolts that reveal how medieval warfare was conducted here. These finds show the types of weapons used by defenders positioned on this exposed hilltop.