Rosenberg Castle

Rosenberg Castle is a hill castle ruin located in the Appenzell region near Herisau. The site consists of stone walls and a tower foundation that remain visible on the hilltop.

The castle was built in the mid-12th century as a seat for the Rorschach family, who held power in the region. In the early 15th century it was destroyed by Appenzell citizens during their uprising against the Abbot's rule.

The castle served as a gathering place for regional leaders and reflects the medieval relationship between nobility and church authority in this area. Today the stone remains speak to how power was shared between secular and religious figures who shaped life here.

The ruins sit on a hilltop and are reached on foot from Herisau on hiking paths. Wear sturdy shoes as you walk through the site, since there are no facilities or developed infrastructure at the location.

In 1271 the Abbot Berchtold von Falkenstein gathered about 70 knights here for a winter celebration, underscoring the castle's political importance. This gathering reveals how central the fortress was to regional power holders of that era.

Location: Herisau

Inception: 1150

Elevation above the sea: 872 m

Part of: list of cultural properties in Herisau

Address: Luzernerstrasse 5

GPS coordinates: 47.39636,9.28211

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:28